It was when they reached the halfway mark of the distance it toke to reach the temple from the town when the fusion finally spoke what had been on their mind. They had merely been discussing the events that just occurred and were about to happen with themselves inside their head.
"What did you mean exactly, when you implied you were Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond?" They found themselves asking, one pair of arms crossed while the one from their waist rested at their side. The idea was just purely ridiculous; Rose Quartz had shattered Pink Diamond. They, as a fusion anyway, with a shared head, knew it firsthand. They knew how the diamonds and all of Pink's followers had grieved and changed, becoming solemn and being sent away to other courts respectively.
Steven wasn't really surprised when the gem asked him that question. He'd been expecting it. He just hadn't know when they would have asked. "I didn't discover it myself until around.. two years ago, when I was 14." then Steven corrected himself. "Well, I'd always known I was Rose's son-"
"Rose Quartz; the legendary leader of the rebellion against Homeworld... had a son?" asked Apatite. It wasn't the idea of a son in particular that surprised them. They knew exactly what a son was from Stine... part of them had been treated like one by the traitor for a long time, after all.
"-Yeah. She uh... she fell in love with earth when it became her colony. So, to protect it, she toke the identity of Rose Quartz and led the rebellion... she even faked her own shattering and fought in the war." explained Steven. "She gave up her gem so I could be born. Don't worry- I've still heard a lot of good things about her."
In reality? He didn't fully know how to feel himself about all of that lying and it hurting so many gems, even now as a 16-year-old. He still hadn't become fully adjusted to all of that, even before Spinel came along and ruined his view of his mom even more with how she just abandoned her 'best friend' without much, or possibly any remorse. At least now all of those problems had been fixed. But this one still needed to be.
The next few minutes had grown to be quiet as they continued walking amongst the sand. Steven knew the fusion was just trying to process it all inside his head (which he was). However, the last thing he had expected was for the blue gem to start chuckling. The human-gem hybrid turned, his expression showing just a hint of concern, but mostly pure confusion.
"Now that.. that is despicable." the fusion said, clearly trying to hold back an all-out laugh. And they weren't even lying when they said that. They had probably hurt a lot of people with that scheme; for some examples, the diamonds, her court followers, and probably even the other gems in that stupid rebellion of hers. They probably could have come up with something just as devious and cruel, especially with all three of their heads as one. But a diamond- a ruler- doing that to, not only her subjects, but fellow queens? Truly, it was wicked, even if she hadn't intended such an outcome. And all three of them could appreciate it. They, after all, toke pride in their 'evilness'.
Steven, on the other hand, had absolutely no clue how to feel about this. He kept silent, his hands in his jacket pocket as he continued down the path, eventually reaching the Big Donut. He then said (with slight distaste at the name lion lickers), "That's the Big Donut, currently run by our previous mayor, Dewey. It basically sells food like donuts, drinks and other stuff... like lion lickers." gesturing over to the store as he kept moving, continuing the tour.
While the fusion did bat an eye over at the building, they shook their head and kept following suit after him. (Hah, pun! Get it? Cause their in a suit!) They didn't mind food very often. In fact, Zircon used to have a bit with Stine once and a while... 'eating dinner as a family', Robert used to say. Spinel and Agate, on the other hand, were a bit on the opposition of the topic.
He'd also introduced the fusion to restaurants such as Fish Stew Pizza and Beach Citywalk Fries along the boardwalk, Spacetries (a new pastry shop Lars runs), along with other places like Buddwick Public Library, Funland, and his dad's carwash. However, it was the theater that caught the gem's eye. Agate told the others that he could remember a theater, but it hadn't played films. He didn't go into any other details then that though, and the other two didn't feel the need to pressure him.
Of course, Steven was confused at why the theater of all places caught their eye, but he smiled. "Maybe I'll bring you back so we can watch a movie when we're done?" he offered. The gem turned with a bit of a scowl, but it forced itself to soften.
Zircon could remember watching a few specific movies with Stine back when they were still friends, but the other two had no real clue what they were. However, all three of them were equally curious about what kind of films it played, and they hoped that maybe watching one might satisfy their curiosity. so they faced the theater again, specifically some of the posters advertising a few minor-blockbusters, and slowly nodded.
Steven, with a little bit of excitement, turned on and continued on the path, with Apatite quickly following, a bit solemn.
Finally, after quite a walk (well, for Steven. Apatite had used teleportation to cut ahead with ease and little strain.) they had made it out of the beach-side town and reached the place known only as Little Homeworld. It was filled to the brim with colorful houses within a stone wall. But a giant, beige, hexagonal-shaped tower stood near the middle, visible from miles away. Some strange, yellow whirly-bird like structure spun at the top that not even Steven fully understood, let alone Apatite. Out front was a flag similar to the one at the Beach House, likely almost meant to represent earth (which it was).
It was home to all the uncorrupted gems and any other gem from Homeworld that wanted to find themselves. They stood at front of what was once the location of the barn, with Steven looking back at the gem with stars in his eyes and a bright smile on his face that could cause any heart to brighten. He made a 'come on' motion with his hands at the gem as he went through the entrance, wishing for them to follow. Ill be it, a bit reluctantly, they stepped through.