Chapter 2

Blustery winds flew outside over Beach City as it was starting to get into the start of winter. However, as tropical as Beach City gets, really, all they were getting was just a chilly breeze compared to some of the other places in the world. Steven was laying down on his bed as he looked out his bedroom window and out at the beach while the weather forecast was playing on his TV. "Well, seems like up north is going to be getting a pretty big snowstorm." Steven looked over to see Pearl staring at the TV.

"Is something wrong with that?" Steven asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Well, it makes me hope that a certain someone isn't caught up in that weather. Just hopeful thinking, I guess." Pearl shrugged.

Meanwhile in Canada

"I hate snow…I hate the cold…and I HATE WINTER!" Zircon yelled out into the raging snowstorm that they were in as he had an arm wrapped around Labra to keep her moving with him. She was shaking ever so slightly as they tried to make their way through the impeccable, weather condition, "Z-Z-Z-Zircon, a-a-are we th-th-there yet? You said th-th-that there was a little tavern stop u-u-up ahead."

"Hey, don't worry, we're almost there." Zircon tried to keep her spirits up until a very violent gust blew right into them, making the two stagger slightly and forcing them to stay in place. Labra started to cry out some, "I-I-I don't like this! I don't like this!" She started to panic a little as the intense chill was beginning to get to her. Looking away to think for a moment, Zircon took both his trench-coat and hoodie off to wrap around Labra, leaving him in just his short-sleeved, grey shirt and jeans. "Z-Zircon?!" Labra looked over.

"Just shut up and hold on!" Zircon worked through the cold as he carried Labra on his back and started to run through the snowy mist.

Clockwork Tavern; One Mile Ahead

Inside of the cabin tavern, there were a group of workmen who were laying around the place either having drinks or resting by the open fire as everyone had to take shelter because of the snowstorm's intensity. "Man, it's getting very bad out there." One of the taverneers commented as he was looking out the window.

"Yeah, makes ya wonder what them animals have to do in order to survive out there." Another one commented. "I can't even think about a single human being who would try to walk through that." At that very moment, a loud knock came from the tavern's front, mahogany door, startling everyone inside, "What the sam-heck was that?!" The owner yelled before someone quickly ran over to open up the door with the snowstorm's gust blowing into the tavern as a shivering and trembling Zircon was at the front door with Labra still on his back. "S-S-S-S-Someone t-t-take her…" Zircon struggled before collapsing to the floor. "Zircon!" Labra leaped off.

"Greg, get some blankets from the back, now!" The owner yelled out as him and Labra picked up Zircon to bring him inside and place him down on the lounge chair as close to the fireplace as they could have him. Someone immediately came back with several layers of blankets trying to warm Zircon up as fast as possible. While this was going on, the owner brought Labra to the side to check up on her, "What the heck were you guys doing out there in such a storm like that?"

"We're sorry, sir. We were just caught up in it while we were travelling around. It just showed up and we immediately tried to book it here." Labra explained.

"No need to be sorry. I just hope your friend over there hasn't frozen to death. You don't seem to be all that worried too much." He eyed out.

"Trust me, Zircon has taken much worse than this." Labra smiled.

"Well, I can tell right now just from your looks that you lot aren't exactly normal people." The owner sat back in his own chair across from Labra. "Are you two very close?" He asked.

"Well, I mean…we've only known each other for two weeks." Labra admitted.

"And yet you travel alongside him." The owner pointed out.

"It's because I am indebted to him, sir. Zircon saved not only my life, but the lives of an entire group of people." Labra spoke out, rather passionately toned.

"Hmmmm, do tell?" Labra looked away from the owner when he made the request before looking straight on towards Zircon, "This all started back way before I even met Zircon. It started when I found myself, awaking from an unconscious state, in Thailand."

"Thailand? What were you doing in Thailand?" The owner asked.

"Oh, w-well that's a very long story with a malfunctioning Gem Pad." Labra giggled, swatting her hand in dismiss, making the owner look confused.

"Anyway, when I awoke, finding myself in a different land, I was apparently brought into a secluded village by its people who cared for me. This place wasn't well off, sir, as the people were plagued by a ferocity of creatures that…I knew rather well of. These creatures would ransack their fields, destroying their crops, their only means of survival from hunger. Seeing that this village needed my aid, I stayed and did what I could to protect them."

"And how was that?" The owner questioned.

"I used my power to form a protective barrier around the village as when any of the creatures got close, they would be immediately put to sleep." Labra smiled, making the owner look at her wide eyes, "Um…right."

"Oh! I hope this doesn't sound too strange to you. I keep forgetting that things I know of are seen as strange by your kind." Labra tried to dismiss.

"In all honesty, I've seen enough news about Alien Attacks that really, nothing should surprise me anymore." The man smirked, making Labra feel more comfortable in return. "So, where was I?...Oh yes, my sleep barrier." Labra continued.

"So for decades, I have been able to defend this village from its threat until," Labra eyed over at Zircon. "He arrived. Although, hehehe, not really in a way I think he wanted to happen."

"What do you mean?" The owner leaned forward.

"Hehehehehe! He accidentally got put to sleep from my barrier!" Labra laughed out as it was clear now that only her sleep ability seemed to work on Gems. "The villagers found him on the outskirts of the village while cleaning up the creatures who were also asleep at the moment. The villagers were rather frightened, thinking Zircon was some sort of demon, because…well, you've seen his complexion." Labra's comment made the owner laugh lightly. "But seeing that Zircon was similar to me, I had the villagers bring him back for him to wake up. I noticed that he was definitely one of experience because of the shape he was in and not to mention he was alone in the middle of a jungle with dangerous creatures roaming about. He seemed like a very reckless boy to me at first, but when I started to talk to him, I realized…he WAS a very reckless boy, downright insane when it comes to dealing with dangerous situations. However, it was because of his bravery that not only was he able to help us with the creatures, he defeated their Queen and overall saved the village from their terrible times. Doing me a very great favor, and no longer having a reason to be at the village anymore, I decided to follow Zircon from then on, wanting to give him aid as much as I could." Labra's head slowly sunk now, "Although as of recently, I'm feeling like I'm more of a nuisance and a burden to him than help…" Before the owner could try and comfort, "Please…when the heck did I ever say that?" Labra's head immediately jolted up to see Zircon looking straight at her as all of the guys in the room jumped back in shock, "H-He's awake already?!" One of them yelped.

"Zircon! You're alright!" Labra shouted in joy as she ran over to kneel next to him.

"Tch…of course I am. You said so yourself, I've taken worse than this." Zircon smirked, making Labra pout again, "There you go with your macho talk again." Her pouty face made Zircon chuckle lightly before looking straight over at the owner, "Um, sorry to say, but I don't exactly have any money on me to afford a night here."

"Heh, please," The owner scoffed with a smile, "After what you did just now has put all of us men in this room to shame. You deserve a good night's rest, on the house."

"Wow, um…thanks." Zircon's eyes widened not expecting this reaction due to his past experiences with people. He then looked over at Labra, thinking, maybe it was the fact that it was because I hurt myself trying to save her. He chuckled to himself, making Labra look at him in curiosity, "What's so funny?" Zircon responded by rolling over away from her, "I'll tell ya in the morning."