54} The chapter that didn't take nearly as long. :D
{There are some spoilers here regarding episodes 'The Return' and 'Jail Break'}
Emerald woke up feeling groggy. It was 9 am. The longest he had slept in twenty years. Then again, who could blame him? Between the fight with Onyx, his date with Pearl, meeting that strange man, her and Amethysts reaction to the word Kindergarten, and the last atom bomb lardo left him, anyone would be exhausted. Even gems.
Emerald: *groan* Okay Ryokki, pull yourself together. First item on the agenda; go see Pearl. Get her to answer your questions. Then.. Fuck it.. I'll just have to wing it.
He rolled his way out of bed, stretched outward, and then walked out the door and locked it. He began walking to downtown and looked around to see that the city was covered in snow. Though as the song goes, the cold never really bothered him anyway. There were plows clearing the snow that was still lightly falling from the sky. People were out shoveling the sidewalks. He didn't feel much like walking around them, so he just jumped to the top of the closest building and decided to hop his way to the beach. Once he got to the carwash though, he was stopped by Greg and Steven.
Greg: Yo emerald! Hi!
Emerald: Hey Greg! Can't talk now! Later!
Steven: Where are you going?
Emerald: [He stopped in his tracks.] I'm off to see Pearl. I've got some questions to ask her.
Steven: Well, that's nice and all, but she isn't at the temple.
Emerald: What?
Steven: Pearl Garnet and Amethyst all had to leave for some sort of important mission.
Emerald: Ah.. Well did they say where?
Steven: Nope. All I know is that they took Diamond with them.
Emerald: Did they now? Any clue why they'd need Diamond?
Steven: Not really.
Greg: Tough break man. Maybe we can help. What's on your mind?
Emerald: *pops lips* I don't think you guys can- [He fell silent for a second and then slapped his head.] Duh. Of course you two can help me.
Greg + Steven: Really?
Emerald: Yep. I need answers and I need them bad. Think you can help?
Greg: Uh, sure thing.
Steven: Ask away!
Emerald: Okay then. First question; What does the term 'kindergarten' mean?
Steven and Greg gave Emerald a worried look. He cocked an eyebrow at them.
Steven: Um.. Well..
Greg: It's.. It's where gems are born. Traditionally anyway. [Steven and Emerald gave Greg a look.] Rose told me back when we were dating. From the way she explained it, the kindergarten is a place where machines mine the ore of a planet and then merge them with special nanotech, thus creating life, though at the cost of the planet in question.. [Emeralds eyes were bulging out of his skull and looked at Steven. Steven simply nodded.]
Emerald: O-ok-kay then.. Anything else I should know?
Steven: Amethyst was born on Earth and my mom led a rebellion to save Earth.
Emerald: Er.. K? Kindergarten equals death of a planet in exchange for life.. (Was I born on Earth?) S-so uh.. I also had a question about a giant hand that's actually a spaceship.
Greg: *Groan* Not that mess..
Emerald: Oh this'll be fun.
Steven: Erm.. Maybe you should see for yourself Emerald.. I don't think me or dad can explain it properly.
Emerald decided that he was right, and followed Steven and Greg to the beach. Emeralds eyes glowed brightly after Steven gave him a time and date.
Emerald: Okay.. I see it. Pearl and the others are trying to knock it out of orbit, but they failed. Okay.. The hand is setting down and, three new gems have emerged. I see, a blue one. She seems so sad.
Steven: Lapis..
Emerald: Friend of yours? *pfft* Listen to me. Kid like you, can't imagine you have many enemies. [Steven just looked to the ground.] I see a large one now. I think his gem is located, on his face? Hm.. Definitely looks like the soldier type.
Steven: [His fist clenched.] Jasper..
Emerald: Last one. Her head looks like a-
Steven: That's Peridot.
Emerald: Oh.. I see. Huh. She looks, almost familiar. [Steven and Greg shot him a look.] I see the fight you all had. Garnet was, vaporized!? Shit. I don't understand. How-
Steven: Those swords they're carrying with them were designed with gems in mind. Jasper used it to divide Garnet back to Ruby and Sapphire.
Emerald: What are you- Wait. The ship is crashing! Ouch.. Jasper gave you one hell of a shiner. Speak of the devil. Hold it.. What's she on about? Fusion? Wha- wait. Steven. You said the sword divided Garnet. Is she really a fusion?
Steven: Yeah. They're both really cool.
Emerald: Uh-huh. Wait.. Why is this Lapis chick fusing with queen bitch? What's- Oh my god.. What kind of monstrosity have they made? [Steven was visibly saddened to be reminded of Lapis. Greg did his best to comfort him.] Hold it.. Now I see. She trapped Jasper in the bottom of the ocean. Though at the cost of her own freedom. [His eyes returned to normal.]
Steven: And now you know about the gem ship.
Emerald: Whoa.. This has been a heavy couple of days.. Wait. What about Peridot?
Steven: Um.. That's kinda complicated.
Greg: Did you have any other questions?
Emerald: Uh.. Well, I guess not. Although I am curious about this Lapis girl. She seems to be a good friend to you. [Steven tells Emerald Lapis' entire backstory as far as he knows, including the part where she tried to warn the crystal gems about Jasper and Peridot.] Uh-huh. Anything else I should know?
Steven: The gems have been looking for Malachite at the bottom of the ocean, though they haven't had much luck.
Emerald: *sigh* Right.. Well, I think that's all the questions I've got.. [He stood there, starring into the ocean.]
Greg: Hey uh, you okay? You seem a million miles away.
Emerald: *Monotone* I am fine Greg. I just think I will stay here for a bit. Enjoy the snow fall over the ocean. Wait for Pearl and the other gems to come back. I have other questions that I think only they can answer. I say this meaning no offense to either of you.
Greg: Uh, you sure Emerald? You look a bit out of it.
Emerald: I have had a trying few days. Please leave me. I would not forgive myself if either of you became sick.
Steven and Greg just looked at each other and shrugged. Then they left him on the beach, collecting snow. New questions formed in his mind. Questions he felt the other gems were asking.
Emerald: (Why did I try and recreate the kindergarten? Was I sent to do so from Omi'kah? Am I part of a new ploy to reclaim Earth? How do Diamond, Onyx, and this Ruby person fit into it? Were they aware? Was Rose aware? It would make sense since she and I apparently fought. What the fuck happened 20 years ago? How far along was I to obtaining whatever goal I set out to do? What will become of me? Will I end up hurting Pearl?) [He shook his head violently at that last thought.] Steel your nerves Emerarudo Midorioni. These questions won't answer themselves.. If they do I'll eat my hat..
Emerald just stood there for an hour, before he figured it was best to wait for them inside the house. He walked up the stairs and his eyes flashed involuntarily. He saw himself and Pearl. It was the night of their first date. The night Steven and Garnet were attacked by the creature. He shook his head again and the vision was gone.
Emerald: Swell.. On top of everything else, now I'm losing my grip on my powers.
He entered the house and shut the door behind him. He sat down on the couch, perfectly still, and waited. One way or another, he was going to get the information he was due. He just had to figure out what he was up to. He had to know what his past intentions were. He had to know if his past was going to come back to haunt him, or those he cared about the most..
Emerald: *sigh* Pearl..
1) Well that didn't take nearly as long as it could have. :) I'm still a lazy asshat but still. As always, tell me what you think and where I can improve. Tell me how I might have fucked up and I will try my best to correct it.
2) Alternate title for this chapter is 'Exposition that most SU fans already know about but its new to Emerald.'
3) Did they ever say what the gem home worlds real name was? If not and they never do, I call dibs on Omi'kah.
4) I wish you all a happy and healthy life complete strangers I've never met before in my life. :)
