Chapter 6

"Ngh, the Bloodstone!" Carnelia growled out as her own eyes glowed orange.

"Surprised?" Zircon stepped forward as he summoned his sickle back into his own hand. "Surprised that I haven't been beaten down by this curse you laid upon me, you witch?" The more Zircon talked the more vicious his tone got. Before long he would chuck his sickle again, but this time right at Carnelia. Carnelia reformed her whip to block the sickle and throw it away but kept her distracted long enough for Zircon to deliver a jumping, flying punch straight to Carnelia's face, sending her back onto the ground, "I've been waiting to do that for months now!" Zircon hurried back to his feet only to get knocked back to the floor by a kick from Carnelia. It wasn't long until Garnet joined, throwing punches at the now standing Carnelia who could only dodge the punches since all it would take was one to from Garnet to put Carnelia out. Ducking back from a right hook from Garnet, Carnelia would backflip multiple times before getting back to her feet only to see Zircon jump at her with a kick to her chest. "Always good to fight with ya again." Garnet smiled as Zircon smirked back.

The two turned to look back at Carnelia as she stumbled back to her feet, "Darn you, you green and red Neanderthal!"

"It seems the powerless is just resorting to threats now, hm?" Zircon glared down Carnelia as he summoned forth his sickle once more.

"Heh, don't think you've won, Bloodstone! Because soon, my Chromites will-" Carnelia turned to look down the building only to see her Chromites all fast asleep. "WHAT?!" She looked out in the middle of it as she could see Pearl and Labra hugging each other tightly and laughing, "ANOTHER ONE?!" Carnelia's rage was livid as she turned back to look at Zircon, Steven, and Garnet. "Don't think this is the end!" Carnelia readied her hand up as Zircon tried to jump at her, "You're not gonna get away!" Throwing her hand down, a puff of orange smoke surrounded Carnelia as when Zircon leaped over, he went through the smoke and almost over the edge, needing Garnet to pull him back. Carnelia was gone. "Shoot, I almost had-"

"Zircon!" As Zircon was talking he was immediately interrupted by Steven who tackled Zircon down in a hug. "Guah!"

Back at the Hotel

"You've been all over the world?" Steven asked Zircon, who was sitting down on one of the room's beds, "Yes. My search for Carnelia led me everywhere, even back here." Zircon looked down with his eyes closed.

"Yeah, back here to us!" Steven called out optimistaclly.

"Steven, you know I can't return yet." Zircon retorted.

"And why not?" Steven whined.

"I have to agree with Steven." Garnet intervened, making Zircon roll his eyes, "Garnet not you too."

"What? We now obviously know what Carnelia's plans are. And it's better to use our Gem Pads instead of you just trecking on foot the entire time." Garnet continued.

"She's right. My little piggies have been aching for some time now, Zircon." Labra felt her own toes up, whimpering some.

"That's…another thing." Pearl started in now. "Zircon, how do you know Labradorite?" Zircon looked over at Pearl with a raised eyebrow, "…How do you guys know Labra?" Zircon looked over at Labra afterwards for some answers. Labra seemed hesitant at first to answer, but she eventually did. "I-I…I used to be a part of the Crystal Gems, back during the Rebellion." Zircon's eyes widened, "The Rebellion…that was one that…" Zircon looked over at Pearl and Garnet as Garnet answered, "The same one that your mother was sent to put down." Zircon looked back at Labra, more intrigued than ever, "So you knew my mother…"

"Only by name, Zircon." Labra continued. "I wasn't a fighter, more of an advisor to Rose Quartz."

"My mother?" Steven stood up now making Labra look straight at him, "So you're Rose's son. It is indeed a pleasure to finally meet you." Labra smiled, making Steven blush. "Hahaha, you're definitely her son." Labra commented, "Just as I knew you were Bloodstone's." She spoke, looking back at Zircon.

"…You knew?" Zircon tilted his head at her, "H-How long?"

"Mmmm, s-since Thailand." Labra smiled nervously.

"Since we knew each other?!" Zircon yelped.

"H-Hey I wanted to make sure you weren't your mother. It's nice to know I was right." Labra shrugged, still smiling making Zircon rub his palm over his forehead. "But I would've never known that the friends you told me about were also mine. It's definitely destiny that we met, Zircon." Zircon rolled his eyes at Labra at the mention of the word "destiny". "So, I wage that we stay with them." Labra brought up.

"What?! L-Labara you know I'm not-" Labra would then interrupt Zircon, "You're what?...Not well? You trusted me enough to be around you…trust your close friends too." Zircon and Labra were now face to face, making Zircon look back over at the others of the Crystal Gems and then Steven. "Please Zircon…" Steven spoke. "Let us help you." Zircon couldn't stare at Steven after having suddenly left from last time, "Steven, you know I can't…I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

"But I know you won't." Steven held Zircon's hand, "We're friends, Zircon."

"…Oh Steven…" Zircon sighed out as he would finally submit. Turning towards everyone, Zircon would take a deep breath. "So, where to first?"