After eating, there was a debate whether to go home or continue shopping. The sun was falling fast from the sky, and Toaster's increasing fatigue was becoming evident.
As the little Ruby began to nod off while walking, she started to stagger behind the rest of the party at a slow rate.
Garnet quickly noticed the excess fatigue, and picked Toaster up. As she held the Ruby, the little Gem fell asleep in her arms, and began to snore. The entire scenario reminded Garnet of what it was like taking care of Steven at a younger age.
"Toaster acts...very similarly to a human child." The fusion made this simple observation.
"Yes...a Keronian tadpole too." Gamma nodded. "It's a bit odd...I'm pretty sure she is MUCH older than I am. I can't see a Gem like her being used as a soldier..."
"On Homeworld, you are assigned a job and status depending on your Gem type. It doesn't really matter how your personality forms. Some Gems simply turn out more...immature than others." Pearl nodded.
Acapella spoke up: "Speaking of strange things...when we were riding on the human bus the other day- that odd word came up again..."mother". This incredibly rude woman thought I was the Ruby's "mother". However, the Ruby said that YOU were her "mother" Keronian. What exactly does this word mean?"
"S-She...said that about ME?!" The frog blushed in his invisible state.
Garnet butted in:"Typicly, a "mother" is someone kindly that raises and protects you. In organic life, the term is often used for whichever individual gave life to their younger little one." The fusion attempted to explain the best she could.
"So, Toaster thinks that you're her mom? That's adorable!" Pearl clapped her hands in excitement.
Gamma laughed slightly. "I've never had kids before...guess I have someone to spoil rotten now...". The Keronian felt flattered that the little Gem classified him so highly.
As Toaster continued to sleep, a holographic film appeared from her gemstone. She was sitting with a group of other Rubies, and excitedly telling them stories, while giving each one of them an ice cream cone. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. A massive crevice appeared, swallowing all of her Ruby friends. In a state of panic, Yellow Diamond emerged from the crack in the ground, and proceeded to shoot thunder at the little Toaster...
The Ruby suddenly woke up in Garnet's arms! She was shivering terribly, gasping for air, and her body temperature had significantly increased. The Gem looked around frantically for a few seconds, before seeing Garnet, and falling back asleep.
"A nightmare." Garnet nodded. "That was probably her previous platoon we saw just now."
"Poor dear. She's been through so much..." The Pearl nodded sadly.
"I still can't believe how intense the punishment on Homeworld is." Gamma's voice mumbled to the croud. "How can you stand it?"
"We couldn't." Garnet replied simply. "That's why we moved here and rebelled. You must know this though Gamma- Toaster, as well as Acapella have probably seen some very disturbing things. You must be there for them when these memories manifest themselves in different ways."
"PSSSH!" Acapella scoffed. "I'll be fine! Yeah, I've seen some horrible stuff-but they're just memories...nothing to worry about!"
"Denial will get you nowhere. It is ok to admit when help is needed." Garnet was blunt to the Yellow Pearl. The comment was followed by an uncomfortable silence.
"So...we might as well go to your house and help set up the new furniture!" Pearl attempted to make the conversation less awkward. "How did you guys get here in the first place?"
Pearl was uncomfortable. She was currently smooshed between two human strangers.
Garnet was still holding the sleepy Toaster, with Acapella, and "Fred the Slice of Bread" sitting next to her on the bus. Pearl had to choose a different row however- resulting in the current uncomfortable situation she was in right now.
When the bus finally arrived at the right station, the party left the vehicle briskly. Pearl seemed to be on a verge of a panic attack. "STARS! That...was...AWFUL!"
"I KNOW! ISN'T IT?!" Acapella nodded as she led the new party into the house.
The massive pink bubble that was hovering in the middle of the living room was popped, resulting in an avalanche of furnishings and appliances falling to the ground.
The din of all the items hitting the floor woke Toaster with a start. The Ruby looked about quickly before seeing her new mattress again. Toaster struggled out of Garnet's grasp, before approaching the pile with excitement!
Garnet was easily able to carry the matresses and bed frames up to their respective rooms on the second floor. Pearl, meanwhile, assisted by following the instructions to a tee in order to install all furniture that required extra assembly.
After (finally) setting up the beds Pearl demonstrated to Toaster how to use the fitted sheets, pillows and blankets properly. She then assisted Acapella with her various cooking appliances.
The Yellow Pearl looked at all of her new cooking toys with stars in her eyes.
"Now Acapella...I need you to promise me NOT to mess with these tools until I teach you how to use them...ESPECIALLY the electronic ones...Alright?!"
"Yeah...sure...whatever..." the Yellow Pearl seemed...increasingly distracted.
Pearl rolled her eyes, before walking toward Gamma again. "Soooo...where is this "Evil Box" you guys were having difficulty with?"
The Keronian hesitantly pointed to the living room closet, and braced himself with fear, as the Pearl stuck her head in the miniature space with curiosity.
"OH!" Pearl pulled the object from the closet. "This is just a television set!". The renegade seemed proud of herself as she plugged the thing into the wall, and pressed the "on" button...
"BBBOOOOOOOOOMMM!"
The television eemitted a massive blast! Pearl held her ears in shock, desperately looking for the remote.
Gamma quickly jumped behind the new couch in a panic!
Pearl located the tool and turned the volume down quickly. She fixed the treble and picture. "My goodness! No wonder this thing was making such a ruckus! The volume was turned to the highest setting!" The Pearl turned to the couch and smiled. "You can come out from behind the couch now Gamma..."
The Keronian peaked out from his hiding spot.
Pearl began to explain while pointing to the appliance. "This is a human television set. Humans use it to receive news and entertainment. Here...let me show you..."
The Pearl poked several buttons on the remote, until the main cable was enabled.
Immediately, the frog was hypnotized. The channel landed on a colorful array of cartoons. Curious, The Keronian sat in front of the box and tilted his head. "What...is this? A broadcast?"
"That's a children's cartoon. It's used to entertain young humans."
"Sooooo...with these than..." Gamma got up, and dug through the closet to fish out the DVDs.
"OH! Those are nature documentaries! They educate on different types of Earth creatures and natural phenomena! I can understand why they would want you to see those!"
Toaster came downstairs from her bedroom. When she spotted the "evil box", the tiny Ruby dashed behind the couch- much like Gamma had done prior. She peeked around the furniture in a slight panic.
"It's alright now Toaster! I fixed it for you!" The Pearl smiled.
There was a pause before Toaster slowly scooted herself on the floor from behind the couch. The Ruby carefully planted herself, and began to look at the strange box.
On the tv, there was a cartoon cat howling at the moon. Toaster tilted her head slightly, before approaching the cat to pet it...
...which resulted in a slight electrical shock!
"Ahh! Aggghhhh! What is this? What? What?!"
Pearl piped up: "Calm down Toaster! It's just a film...a series of images being projected from a station. As long as you don't touch it, the television won't shock you."
"Oh!" The Ruby nodded before sitting down again.
The cartoon seemed to almost hypnotize the little red Gem. The story concluded with all the animals joining the cat to howl at the moon. Toaster tilted her head in curiosity again.
"HHHOOOOWWWWWLLLLL!"
Both Gamma and Pearl jumped as Toaster mimicked the television characters and let out a howl of her own.
Conserned, Pearl quickly turned the television off.
"HEY! I was watchin that! Why'd you turn it off?!" Toaster began to snap at the Pearl.
The Gem ignored her. "Gamma...May I speak to you...PRIVATELY?"
"Um...sure, I guess?" The Keronian got up, and followed the renegade to a small nook around the corner.
Pearl immediately began to whisper in a very serious tone: "(Did you see how Toaster mimicked the television set just now? I hate to recommend this, but she seems...very malleable when it comes to mimicking what she sees. A LOT of human entertainment can be...scary or violent. If you don't mind, I would like to get a few lessons under my belt before we allow her to watch any more television...just so I can teach her the difference between what is real, and what isn't.)"
The frog thought to himself, before nodding. "(Well, if you think that would be best...)"
The duo re-entered the living room, before proceeding to push the tv back into the closet.
"Hey! Why are you doing that? Hey!" Toaster tilted her head.
"Pearl said that the tv still isn't working quite right. It will take a bit in order to fix it." Gamma lied.
"Oh...ok than." Toaster accepted this answer, before getting up from her sitting place, and proceeding to climb up the stairs to admire her new mattress again.
After everything had settled a bit, everyone re-gathered in the living room.
"Well! This visit has been most pleasant! Thank you for inviting us into your home." Garnet smiled.
Indeed...although I didn't particularly like the bus ride it took to get over here. I will try to contact Peridot tomorrow and see if we could create a Warp Pad easily nearby." Pearl nodded
"A...kindergartener?" Acapella seemed...skeptical.
"Maybe on Homeworld...but here on Earth she has a vast knowledge of science and technology." Pearl answered.
At this comment, goodbye's were exchanged and thanks were given.
"We will be back tomorrow." Garnet smiled before closing the front door.
