Normal POV.
From far above the sun shined down upon Steven and company with an unforgiving light as they trek through the desert. Steven wasn't really affected by the desert heat and neither were his companions that followed him. He still couldn't understand why the corrupted and mutated gems still continue to follow him. When bringing this question up with Peridot she just shrugged.
Peridot:"I have no idea as to why they follow you. But if I had to take a guess as to why then I'd say it's because they see you as their alpha"
Steven:"Alpha?"
Peridot:"*Nods* Yes alpha. When I was looking up Earths species I stumbled across a few that were lead by an alpha. Upon looking up the term I learned that it basically means the dominant member of the group"
Steven:"So they follow me because they see me as superior to them?"
Peridot:"Most likely. It also doesn't hurt that they probably trust you since you freed them all"
Steven:"Not all of them were from the facility though, so it doesn't make sense as to why they still follow me?"
Peridot:"*Shrugs* I've got nothing for that. Maybe they follow you because of some other factor"
That had Steven looking down at his gem and began to wonder if that was the reason. He already knows that gems serve the diamonds and admire them. Could it be that because he was also a diamond that they unconsciously follow him.
Steven:"*Mumbles* Would explain how mom was able to get an army to rebel against the other diamonds so easily. But then begs the question as to why she started the rebellion in the first place. There has to be some reason-"
Peridot:"What are you talking about Steven?"
Her sudden voice broke him out of his mumblings.
Steven:"Huh? Oh it's nothing really important Peridot"
She looks at him for a moment before shrugging and walks ahead of him. He still doesn't understand why she didn't want to stay sitting on his shoulder but didn't really question it.
Steven:"*Thoughts* One things for certain, I can't trust anything the gems tell me anymore. Any one of them could be lying and for all I know everything they said about mom could be false"
Looking down at the blue angel that's nestled in his arm he couldn't help but smile. Even in a somewhat corrupt state he still loved her with all his being.
Steven:"*Whispers* At least this is not a lie"
It was at this moment that Lapis began to stir from her sleep. With a yawn she stretched her limbs and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She then realized that she was not on the ground but instead being carried. It took her a moment to remember who exactly was carrying her and immediately greeted him.
Lapis:"GoOd MoRnInG STeVeN"
Steven:"*Chuckles* It's the evening Lapis"
Lapis:"Oh..."
Silence ranged between the two as neither of them knew what else to say to each other. Just as the silence began to be unbearable a thought crossed Stevens mind.
Steven:"Hey Lapis, I've got a question if your willing to answer?"
Lapis:"SuRe, wHaT iS iT?"
Steven:"Back during my birthday party you said that two gems were capable of having gemlings, as you call them. My question is how that is even possible given the fact that both partners are literal gem stones. Their physical forms are nothing but hard light constructs made by their gems. By all accounts it should be impossible for them to 'reproduce' like that at all. So how is it possible?"
Lapis was honestly stunned by the question and also agreed with some of the points he made. Before she could even answer Peridot, who was apparently eavesdropping on them, did it for her.
Peridot:"That's actually pretty easy to answer. You see when two gems want to conceive they begin to combine their gems energy together. Then one of the two partners take the combined energy's into their psychical forms. The energy's then start to become denser and denser while merging together until becoming a single, or in some cases multiple, solid/physical objects. These objects are what we call geodes, in a sense you could refer to it as an egg of sorts that will incubate a gem inside it. Halfway through the incubation period the geode exits out of the gem that's carrying it, as to not add anymore strain onto them. The geode would continue to incubate until hatching and bring a new gem into the world"
When she finished her explanation she looked to the other two for their reactions. Lapis had a faint blush on her face while Steven just gave her a blank stare.
Steven:"And how do you know all of this?"
Peridot:"*Shrugs* I got bored during one of my breaks back on homeworld and stumbled across a file on the subject"
Steven:"*Sighs* Good enough for me"
He then turned his attention back to Lapis.
Steven:"By the way, why did you get so angry when Connie said that gemlings were unimportant.? You looked about ready to murder her before flying off to who knows where"
Lapis expression was unreadable as she refused to make eye contact.
Lapis:"ThAt'S a StOrY i'M nOt CoMfOrTaBlE wItH tAlKiNg AbOuT rIgHt NoW"
Steven wanted to press for more but stopped himself. It wouldn't help trying to force her to talk about something that clearly left an impression on her.
The rest of the journey was mostly silent except for when one of the corrupted decided to roughhouse with another. Steven did not wait for things to escalate into something dangerous as he put Lapis down and immediately separated the two by the scruff of their necks. The instigator tried to bite at Steven as it was held in the air, and was rewarded by being slammed into the ground HARD. The gem whined in pain as it slowly got to its feet and looked at one responsible for the pain.
Steven:"*Growls* Next time DON'T pick fights with the others!"
The gem bowed in submission as Steven returned to his lovers. Just as he got next to them did he suddenly keel over with a shout of pain. Lapis and Peridot start panicking as Steven started groaning in pain while clutching his stomach tightly.
Lapis:"StEvEn?!"
Peridot:"Steven what's wrong?!"
The two didn't know what to do as Steven soon entered a coughing fit. The coughing got worse and worse until it became a gurgling sound. Lapis and Peridot watch as Steven hurls up a gem, an Amethyst to be exact. For a moment the two stared at the gem that was just hurled up by Steven, trying to process the whole situation.
Peridot:"*Bewildered* What the-"
Before she could finish Steven began hurling up even more gems. Most common among the ever growing pile were Amethysts, Jaspers, and Ruby's. Though there was the occasional higher cut gem like an Emerald or Topaz, there was even an Onyx in the pile. After what felt like ages Steven stopped hurling up gems and was now lying on his side groaning.
Steven:"*Groaning* I regret so many things right now"
Lapis and Peridot took this moment to start questioning him.
Peridot:"Mind explaining why your throwing up gem stones!?"
Steven:"Ugh... I think their from the gem shards I ate back at the facility"
Lapis:"WhY dId YoU eAt GeM sHaRdS?!"
Steven:"*Grumbles* I don't exactly have any pockets to put them in"
Peridot:"Then why didn't you just bubble them!"
Steven:"... I didn't think of that at the time"
Peridot:"*Facepalms* Your lucky I don't just-"
She was cutoff yet again by the pile of gems beginning to glow brightly. The three, along with a few curious corrupted and mutated, watch as the gems took form into various beasts. Once fully formed they looked around in what could only be confusion before spotting Steven. Steven tensed up a little and readied himself for a fight, what he didn't expect was for them to bow in their own ways before joining their kin. This act only cemented Stevens earlier thoughts on why these corrupted and mutated gems were following him.
Steven:"*Sighs* Lets just get moving"
Moving forward he lead the way to what he could only guess was the way home.
...
After hours of traveling through the desert Steven and his horde found themselves in a chasm. Upon further inspection Steven could see many gem injectors lining the rocky walls along with a number of humanoid shaped exit holes. He was honestly confused as to where exactly they were and made his confusion known.
Steven:"I thought there was only one kindergarten?"
Lapis:"SeEmS yOuR cArEtAkErS kEpT eVeN mOrE fRoM yOu"
Steven let out a growl as he wondered just how much was kept from him. He then spotted Peridot who seemed to be deep in thought.
Steven:"Something on your mind?"
Peridot:"Just trying to figure out which kindergarten this is"
Steven:"Well any idea which one it is then?"
Peridot:"Hmm... Judging by the red sandstone and the number of exit holes we've seen so far I say we're in the beta kindergarten"
Steven:"Anything special about it?"
Peridot:"*Shrugs* Not really. The only thing worth noting is that Jasper was made here"
Steven stopped in his tracks. Slowly his expression changed from that of curiosity to outright murderous.
Steven:"*Growl* We are talking about the SAME Jasper correct?"
Peridot was a little put off by the sudden hostility but still calmly reply's.
Peridot:"Yes. We are talking about the same Jasper that arrived with me to Earth"
She watched as Steven clenches his fist, inadvertently digging his claws into his palms, while taking deep breaths to calm himself. After a few minutes of this he finally calmed down somewhat and moved forward without a word.
As they travel through the now apparent kindergarten they started to notice that the exit holes were less and less like their suppose to. Some looked taller then it's counterparts and others looked far shorter or straight up connected with one another. But soon they stumbled across holes far too big for any gem and resembled more like caves then anything else. Some of them even had metal bars blocking the entrance to the hole and making it look more like a cage of sorts.
Steven:"These holes appear to have been tampered with"
Peridot:"*Deadpanned* What gave you that idea"
A roar rang out across the chasm causing the others to look int the direction of the noise. Seeing that it came from further in the kindergarten Steven motioned for everyone to stay put while he goes ahead to investigate. The corrupted and mutated complied without protest but Lapis and Peridot sure did. After a few moments of promising that he'll be alright he went ahead to checkout the source.
Moments later he found himself in a large clearing of sorts. Those makeshift cages lined the sandstone walls with some corrupted and even mutated gems inside them. Then he spotted someone that made his blood boil.
Steven:"*Snarls* Jasper"
Said ultimate quartz was standing in front of one of these cages with her foot on a corrupted gems head that's sticking out between the bars.
Jasper:"Look at you, nothing but mindless animals"
While she was focused on the gem beneath her foot Steven went on all fours and quietly got closer.
Jasper:"What happened to the warriors I fought alongside during the war? What happened to the gems I could call comrades?"
Steven was slowly creeping up behind Jasper, making sure not to make too much noise.
Jasper:"I use to call you all my sisters of war, but now... your nothing but beasts"
He was right behind her. Slowly he opened his mouth wide, showing off rows of razor sharp teeth and preparing to bit her in half.
Jasper:"*Growls* Just like you!"
Without warning she spun around and hit Steven in the side of the head with her right leg. He stumbled to the side a bit, disoriented from the sudden blow to the head. This moment of vulnerability was all Jasper needed to start throwing punches and kicks. The force, the power behind her blows involuntarily shook him but didn't damage his armor, let alone scratch it. Jasper quickly leaped back as Steven tried to swipe at her with his claws. With some distance between them Steven took the chance to get back on his feet. Now towering over the ultimate quartz he bared his teeth and spoke.
Steven:"*Snarls* How did you know I was behind you?"
Jasper:"*Smirks* After a millennia of war you tend to develop a sixth sense for danger"
The two began circling each other, fingers/claws twitching.
Jasper:"And it seems that you've become an even bigger freak since I last saw you"
Steven almost charged at her blindly for that comment but restrained himself. He knew that she was just trying to rile him up and have him attack first. After all one couldn't have survived a war on brute strength alone.
Steven:"Well you've never managed to beat this 'freak' by yourself. If what I was told is true then during our first fight you had Peridot assist you in beating me. The second we fought you had to use Lapis as a hostage to save yourself from being torn apart by me. Face it Jasper, your WEAK!"
That pushed all of the right buttons as Jasper summons her crash helmet and spin dashes towards him with an enraged battlecry. Steven quickly sidesteps as the quartz barrels passed him and into the wall behind him. While Jasper was disoriented from crashing headfirst into the sandstone walls of the clearing Steven took the opportunity to go on the offensive and throw a left hook. Due to the fact that Steven was a LOT bigger than Jasper his fist, upon contact, covered most of her torso and embedded her deep in the stoney wall. Seconds later Steven grabs Jasper and roughly pulls her out of the wall and throws her across the clearing.
Jasper slams into the adjacent wall of the clearing and shakes her head before hastily dodging to the side as Steven tried to ram/impale her with his horns. She expected Steven to slam himself into the wall and give her an opening to attack, what she didn't expect was for him to start running up the wall instead. For a moment Jasper was bewildered by what she was seeing until noticing how Steven was moving across the vertical surface.
Steven was using his clawed fingers and toes to move up the wall. It also helped that his immense strength allowed him to traverse the vertical surface with great speed. Just as Steven reach the top of the chasm did he suddenly leap off it. He flew over Jasper for a moment before landing a dozen or so feet from her position. Not even a second on the ground and he was already charging with full intention of skewering the ultimate quartz.
Instead of dodging like before Jasper decides to reciprocate his charge with one of her own. With a mad grin she spin dashes towards Steven, intending to face him head on both figuratively and literally. Seconds later the two collide with a loud bang as the both of them were now pushing against each other, trying to overpower the other. This stalemate didn't last long thanks to the fact that Steven was far larger and, by extension, far stronger then the quartz. In mere moments Steven had overpowered her with a mighty push and sent her flying into the chasm wall.
The resulting impact cause the chasm to shake violently and crack in a few areas. This resulted in the makeshift cages surrounding the chasm to come undone, freeing its occupants. Jasper watched in horror as the corrupted and mutant gems that she spent so long tracking down and capturing began to escape.
Jasper:"*Horrified* NO MY ARMY!"
Jasper tried to give chase after them but quickly fell to the ground. The fight was finally taking its toll on her as she felt her strength begin to fade. Her introduction with the chasm wall didn't really help matters. Looking up she saw Steven slowly stalk towards her with claws twitching and teeth bared in a demonic grin.
Panic filled the ultimate quartz as she looked around frantically for a way out. She quickly spots a corrupted gem still trapped in its cage, biting the bars. Only problem is that the cage is on the other side of the chasm with only one obstacle in her way, Steven.
Not having any other option Jasper chooses rushes towards the corrupted gem as fast as she can. As she got closer Steven took a swipe at her with his claws and she narrowly avoids being turned to ribbons. After dodging the claws Jasper ran with all her might to claim the advantage but made one fatal mistake.
She forgot that Steven had a tail.
Said tail slammed right into Jaspers side and she went tumbling across the ground. She then came to a stop dozens of feet away and unable to move. Seeing that she won't be moving for awhile Steven walks over to the still caged corrupted gem and frees it. Said gem rubs against him as a sign of 'thank you' before running off to join the others.
Now with that out of the way Steven returns his gaze back to Jasper and approaches. It didn't take long for him to reach her and wanting to finish this here and now raises his right hand into the air, claws at the ready. Just as he was about to bring them down to end this Jasper hiccuped.
Confused Steven got down on one knee and got a better look at her. What he saw was that the so-called ultimate quartz was crying, hard. Steven was hesitant on what to do next, he didn't expect for Jasper to suddenly start crying.
Jasper:"*Crying* I-I have f-failed..."
Steven leaned against in a little closer to better hear her.
Jasper:"*Crying* All I-I wanted was t-to get my REVENGE o-on Rose Quartz!"
Her face shifted into a scowl.
Jasper:"*Angry* For what she did to my COLONY!"
She slams a fist onto the ground.
Jasper:"*Angry* For what she did to my PLANET!"
Her fist slammed even harder onto the causing cracks to form.
Jasper:"FOR WHAT SHE DID TO MY DIAMOND!"
The last bit confused Steven.
Steven:"Yellow Diamond?"
Jasper looked up at him baffled before crying even harder.
Jasper:"MY DIAMOND! HER DIAMOND! PINK DIAMOND!"
As the tears stream down her face she notices a shine. Looking with blurry eyes she noticed that it came from Stevens navel. At first she was gonna chalk it up to his armor reflecting the light until noticing the formation of said armor. Around where the bellybutton should be the armor separates around another piece that looks like a gem, more specifically HER gem.
This revelation at first shocked Jasper, how did she not notice till now. She then realized that it blended in perfectly with the armor and was only noticeable if you looked hard enough. But as the shock wore off it was quickly replaced by white hot rage.
Jasper:"YOU!"
She throws a left hook with all her might at Steven, only for him to impale her with his claws. Jasper looked down at the sharp digits impaling her torso before locking eyes with their owner. Tears fell even harder as she stared into Stevens eyes who intern stared back with diamond shaped pupils.
Jasper:"M-My Diamond?"
*Poof*
Jaspers gem fell to the ground with a small thud. Steven stares at it for a moment before picking it up. As the gem payed in his hand he thought of how easy it would be to just crush it here and now. Slowly his fist closed around the gem as the temptation to end her became almost intoxicating.
Then a bubble appeared in Stevens hand with the gem suspended inside. He couldn't kill her, he would NEVER stoop to his enemies level. It was what separated him from them, besides the obvious difference.
?:"Steven!"
Snapping out of his thoughts he looked around for the one who said his name. He quickly spotted Peridot and Lapis running towards him with the horde not to far behind. Steven could also see that the ones Jasper had captured were amongst the horde, getting along with the others quite well.
Peridot:"*Worried* Steven are you alright?!"
Lapis:"*Worried* Ya, We FeLt ThE gRoUnD sHaKe ViOlEnTlY aLl ThE wAy FrOm-"
Lapis then sees the bubble in Stevens hand as well as the gem inside.
Lapis:"*Growls* JaSpEr!"
Her shout drew the attention of Peridot who then spotted the gem as well. Peridot yelped and quickly hid behind Lapis.
Peridot:"*Alarmed* Why do you have Jasper?!"
Steven:"I was fighting her. Literally just before you arrived I had managed to poof and bubble her"
Lapis:"WhY nOt JuSt ShAtTeR hEr HeRe AnD nOw!"
Steven:"Cause that would make me no better then her"
That shut Lapis up and she looked a bit apologetic.
Lapis:"I'm SoRrY"
A smile spread across Stevens face and he pulled her into a one arm hug.
Steven:"Apology accepted. Now I suggest we get a move on, it a long walk back to civilization"
Peridot:"Then why don't we use this kindergartens warp pad, would save us a lot of time"
Steven:"*Shakes head* No too risky, especially with the corrupted and mutated with us. The gems back home might be tracking warp pad usage like we did you. I don't wanna risk any confrontations with them right now so we'll just move on foot"
His logic made sense. The gems were able to track when and where a warp pad was used thanks to Peridots escape pod. If they used the warp pad the gems would know exactly where they are.
Peridot:"*Sighs* This is gonna be a long walk"
Steven:"Then I suggest we get moving"
With that he scooped Peridot up and place her on his right shoulder before handing her the bubble.
Steven:"Keep that safe for me would ya"
She nods and Steven then lifts Lapis into his arms and continues the journey home.