AN: Hello, everyone! Welcome back to Templeschool: Office Hours. Continuing from the last chapter, this chapter has a slight Warriors style writing since it's from Centi's perspective. There are two major notes I need to share.
First off: Twoie changes pronouns from he/him to she/her for most of this chapter. That is completely intentional because Centi suspects that Twoie is a gem and gems go by she/her pronouns.
Second: Twoie is Kindred, and Steven is Little One. I wanted to have a little fun with the fact that Twoie was corrupted and make it more of a 'monster' reunion because Twoie gets in touch with his corruption instincts. Since he has remnants of corruption, I wanted him to have remnants of those instincts as well.
It's a tiny detail, but if anyone is wondering what song I imagine Twoie singing, it's "Everything Stays" from Adventure Time. I just didn't think I needed to write out him actually singing it. I hope you all enjoy it!
At first, there was only light. Centi wasn't sure what to make of it, but she knew she liked it. Then there was this voice inside of her, trying to remind her of something. What exactly, she couldn't recall. It didn't matter, though, because everything was warm and comforting. All she knew as that comforting feeling.
Centi was startled when her world exploded in a burst of color. She screeched in terror, trying to understand the feeling of her body changing when two things hit her eye. Centi shrieked in surprise and recoiled. Finally, the light died down, revealing two creatures in front of her. One was smaller than the other, but they both looked really similar. The smaller one reached out to her, chirping loudly as he did so. The larger one stepped protectively in front of him, and Centi hissed at them for getting close. "Careful, Steven. She needs time to adjust from being partially healed." There was something about the bigger one that was… familiar. Centi couldn't quite place it.
The partially corrupted gem stepped forward, looking the bigger one up and down. He reminded her of herself. He had familiar marks on his face, and she felt a form of kinship from the creature. Kindred must be like her! Centi turned her attention to Kindred's packmate. He was also familiar to her, but she didn't know why. Little One stepped out from behind Kindred and approached her carefully. She smiled this time, knowing that neither creature was going to hurt her. "Hi, Centi. Do you remember me?" Little one pointed at himself. Centi tilted her head in confusion. "Guess not. Did she forget you when you did this?"
Kindred smiled sadly at Little One. "Yeah, she did. It took her a little bit to recognize me. I think it was the jingle for chaaps that made her remember? It's been a while." Little One picked up the crinkly bag and opened it.
"I love chips." Centi perked up. She knew that song! "Chips, chips, chips!" The partially corrupted gem cawed out the melody alongside him. Little One and Kindred smiled at her. "She remembers the song!" He ran up to her and hugged her. Centi smiled, placing her claw on his head. She did remember him. He was her Little One, that she protected from the falling rocks. Centi had missed him. "I'm so happy you're back, Centi! Oh, I guess Centi isn't actually your name. What is your name?"
Centi tried to call out her name. She was Nephrite. She was Centi. But Little One frowned when he couldn't understand her. "Nephrite. Her name is Nephrite." Kindred knew her name! Centi crowed happily, pulling Kindred and Little One into a big hug. so she could point to the chaaps. The smell had been taunting her, and she really wanted them. They laughed as Little One handed over the bag. She excitedly dug in. They were as good as she remembered them being.
"I guess I won't be calling you Centi anymore." She froze mid-bite. But she liked the name Centi? Little One jumped when she angrily screeched at him. "Nephrite? What's wrong?" She shook her head.
"She doesn't want you to stop." She smiled at Kindred. Good. That was the name her Little One gave her. There was no way she would give it up. Kindred stepped forward and patted her shoulder. "Even after she was healed, she went by Centi. Always liked the name."
Little One smiled and grabbed her hand. "Okay! Then I'll still call you Centi! I'm glad you like it!" Little One started pulling her to the door. "Come on! We gotta introduce you to the gems!" Centi frowned. She liked him and Kindred, but she wasn't so sure about the other non-corrupted. It was too late to object, though, as Little One led her into the house. Centi looked around. The cave itself was pretty, but she was really interested in the house. The colors were very warm, and she felt comfortable for being in an unknown place. Little One guided her over to the soft chair, which felt so nice. "I guess they left already. Oh well. What should we do now?"
Kindred looked over at her. He looked upset, so she cawed out softly in concern. He shook his head. "Sorry, Centi. I know you're going to change soon. I just… I want you to enjoy something from earth before you do."
Little One whipped around to face Kindred. "What do you mean soon? I thought we'd get more time with her?" Little One stared at her brokenly when Kindred shook his head.
"In my time, she stays like this long enough to explain her story, and then she began reverting. I don't want to make her remember that. It's painful for her. I'd like her to enjoy this moment a little before she reverts back to her corrupted state." Kindred knew her really well. Centi wondered how he knew everything about her. Was Kindred a gem like her? So then, she didn't escape either? She recalled the familiar feeling she had about Kindred. That was enough to convince Centi. KIndred was a corrupted gem too, except... Kindred had somehow managed to survive the attack. Well, if she wanted her to be happy, then she knew something that could help. Centi enjoyed being around her Little One and Kindred, but she wanted to be with her crew. She looked around and saw a sheet of paper and some color sticks on the floor. The partially corrupted gem set the items on the table and began drawing. Little One watched her curiously as she drew her ship and her other friends. Kindred gave her a knowing smile. "Oh, you want to see your friends?" Centi nodded happily. Kindred was the best! She chirped her approval to Kindred while Little One looked at her picture.
"Do you know where they are?" Little One pointed to her friends. Centi nodded and ran over to the warp pad. She wanted to stay with her friends, but she was worried about her crew. She needed to see them. She needed to be with them again. Kindred grabbed something from the wood storage, and then the two met her at the warp. She pressed her hands to the pad, but it didn't work. She screeched and pressed it again. "It won't work because you're corrupted." Centi turned to Little One in surprise. But if she couldn't activate the warp, they wouldn't be able to get to the ship.
"I know where the ship is." Kindred herded Little One onto the warp pad. Relief flowed through Centi when Kindred activated the warp, and they appeared in the forest. She recognized the path and took off running. She felt an uncomfortable buzzing in her body, and she knew she didn't have much time left. Centi almost cried when they finally arrived at the ship. It was covered in vines. Kindred immediately went up to the ship and started ripping the vines off. Little One ran up to the door and did the same. Centi chirped in appreciation as they uncovered the entrance in seconds. "Are you ready?" The partially corrupted gem nodded. Kindred placed her palm on the hand pad, and the door opened. Little One and Kindred followed Centi inside. The partially corrupted gem looked around and called out to her crew when she saw them on the ceiling of the ship.
"This is Centi's crew. They stayed behind because they were worried about her." Little One made a soft sound at Kindred's explanation. Centi didn't catch her reply, though. She was too focused on being reunited with her friends. The other two centipeetles looked at her in confusion before screeching happily. They crawled towards her. Centi could tell that they were worried about her and so happy to see her again. The feeling was returned. She gestured to Kindred and Little One, introducing them as some friends that helped her. She grinned when her crew surrounded Kindred and Little One. They laughed as the centipeetles nuzzled them.
Suddenly, the buzzing in her body got louder. Her arm glowed, and she shrieked when it began thinning out into a leg. Her friends flinched and turned to her. Little One called out to her, but Kindred held them back. "I'm sorry we couldn't heal you fully!" Centi collapsed to her knees and looked up at Kindred. She was crying. Little One continued, and Centi wished that she could stay this way just a little longer. It was hurting her to see Kindred and Little One so sad. "I promise you that we'll heal you soon! You and every corrupted gem we can find." Little One sniffled, and Centi flashed them a smile. She hoped they really could.
In a flash of light, Centi looked down at Kindred and Little One. She towered over them, but not in a menacing way. She was just bigger than them. Centi lowered her head and cheerfully nudged her smallest pack members. They were sad, but she wasn't sure why. She didn't know how to help them. "How much longer before we can cure the corrupted gems?" Centi wasn't sure what the noises her Little One was making meant, but Kindred seemed to know.
"About a year. One year, Steven, and we can heal what the Diamonds did." Centi turned to her two larger packmates, White Fur and Sharp Claw, and cawed at them. They crawled over and curled up beside her on the ground. She knew her smallest pack members would be leaving soon, but she wanted them to stay just a little longer. Kindred reached a hand out to her, and she nudged it happily. "I think she wants us to stay a little longer."
"How can you tell?" Little One sat down and leaned against White Fur while Kindred sat in front of her and Sharp Claw. Kindred held her gaze for a moment before facing Little One again.
"I think it's because of my own corruption. There's something inside me that understands her. I don't really know how to describe it. It's like… a voice… or a song that I can hear faintly in my mind." The three centipeetles perked up. Kindred looked around at them in surprise, then huffed. "Really? You guys want to hear a song?" Centi crowed loudly at that.
Yes. She did want this 'song.' Her instincts told her that this was important. White Fur and Sharp Claw chirped in encouragement. Even Little One chirped loudly at him. Kindred huffed and got up. "Alright, but I'm gonna need my guitar. Steven, do you want to stay here or come with?" Little One giggles as White Fur nuzzled him again.
"I'll stay here. Hurry back! I wanna hear you sing too!" Kindred shook her head fondly and left. Little One soaked up the attention that Centi and her pack mates gave him. When Kindred returned, several minutes later, she sat down and sang for them.
Centi and her pack relaxed in the old shop for a while before Kindred and Little One eventually got up to leave. "We'll come back and visit. I promise." The corrupted gem watched Kindred wave her paw at her before the door closed. Although she would miss them, Centi knew they would come back. Their pack always stayed together.