My eyes shoot open and I regain enough vision to see that I am situated in Steven's home, and from my posture I can tell that I am currently lying on the couch, "Ugh, my head feels like a ton of shcl-"

"Emerald, language!" a sharp pain to my cheek almost sends me back into the amazing embrace of slumber.

I look around the room and see that everybody is situated around the area, though there is only one person who fully grabs my attention, "Sorry dear, I guess I'm just getting used to being here."

Pearl shook her head, "Well if you think being comfortable is an excuse for using such… unsavory language, then think again."

Amethyst called from her post near the fridge, "Aww c'mon P, I don't even know what's wrong with what he was going to say."

"Amethyst, it doesn't," my betrothed pinches the bridge of her nose, "Never mind; Emerald, the others and I are leaving on a mission, can I trust you not to curse in front of the children while we are gone?" I nod my head, I may have almost let a curse slip but I am rather good with watching people, and Pearl understands that. She and the other Gems step onto the warp pad, "I mean it Emerald, if I come home to either of the children cursing I will be seriously disappointed." I don't get a chance to reassure her before the warp pad activates.

Not even six minutes have passed before I feel two sets of eyes on me, "Oh, Connie, I see you are spending the night?"

She nodded sheepishly, "Yes sir, I already made sure with my parents that it was ok."

I toss Steven a look, "And you, I'm guessing you want something?"

My nephew scratched his head nervously, "Yeah, I know you haven't gotten much sleep and I've been pestering you for information the entire week, but I want at least one more story… if it's not too much to ask for."

I weigh the pros and cons in my head, if I don't tell him and try to get rest, he'll either be sad, which I could not handle, or he'd keep on pestering me, which I also couldn't handle. The benefits of telling him would be that I get it done and I get to rest, "Alright, I will once again present a choice to you."

He nods, "Ok."

"Do you want a myth or a war story." He looked at Connie and she looked at him, they turned away from me to devise a plan. It reminded me of how my sister would try to hide information from me whenever one of my students would talk with her, it was both depressing and adorable, the memory that is…

Anyhow, the two of them decided their answer and turned to face me, "We want to hear a war story!"

I heave a sigh, I just realized that if I tell a war story then they might get scared and Pearl will clobber me down a photonic layer. But, it was too late now, "Ok, this story will be about a prison, and how a certain Sage and friends conquered it."

Earth, Five-Thousand and One-Hundred Thirty-Eight Years Ago:

I hammered in the last peg of my tent when I felt the eyes upon me, "Hold on, let me guess, Feyfolk, or are you Quartz?"

A contemptuous scoff, "It's Feyfolk, Emerald sir."

I turn around and face the human adolescent known as Feyfolk, his scowl ever present. You know, I do not think I've ever actually seen the guy smile, "Well Feyfolk, I guess it is about that time of day where you've come to tell me how to do my job better?"

A smirk, the closest thing to a smile thus far, "Why yes, those are my people in that prison. They can't afford another day trapped in that thing, so if we could hurry-"

"That is quite enough child," the wind perks up as my legate lands by my side, "The Praetorian has enough on his mind without you trying to irritate him all of the time."

Feyfolk crossed his arms, "Heh, you wouldn't think it from his work ethic."

"Care to bring that one by me one last time?"

I raise my hand, "Quartz, stop this right now."

"But sir, he cannot expect to disrespect you and-"

"Get away with it?" I finish Quartz's sentence, "Of course he can, he does have a point. I have been rather lax as of late. Maybe we should start for the prison right now." Feyfolk surprised me by actually chuckling, it wasn't a smile but I take what I can. I whistle and from seemingly nowheres appears three more of my favored warriors: Jade, Amber, and Fire Opal. Each of them bearing a fist upon their left breast, the universal sign of equality in my legion, "Ok, so is everyone ready for this assault."

Fire Opal snaps a finger to produce his flame, "Yessiree."

Amber scratches his head and chuckles, "As much as I can be lad."

Jade produces a satchel, no doubt full of medical supplies for humans that are in dire need of it, "I've got bacta shots, nutrition pills, and universal antidotes… though I wish we could have assaulted that storage depot on the way here."

Feyfolk snorted, "I wish that too."

There was no keeping this kid happy was there? "Alright, so what I'm getting from this is that we're all ready?"

All eyes turn to Quartz, the only person of dissent. He naturally felt everyone else against him, "Alright, let us rid this prison of it's oppression."

Feyfolk led us to an abandoned tunnel that he had used to escape this prison, "The guards will most likely have started using this again so be careful."

I step into the dimly lit exit first, my hands by my side. I don't look behind me, it was obvious the others would follow suit. We walk for what feels like half an hour before I hear the first signs of life, feet scuffing on stone. I hold a hand up and command everyone to the sides of the tunnel in a whisper.

Soon the shuffling becomes louder, "Come on grandmother, the tunnel is almost up."

"Dearie, I told you to leave me, I'm living on borrowed time as it is."

Humans? I thought this tunnel would have surely been more heavily guarded, had they not noticed even one person escaping? I step out, "Don't freak out, I'm with the Crystal G-"

"Grandmother get behind me!" the younger human takes a swing at me and even I am surprised when Feyfolk emerges in front of me, grabbing the assailant's fist, "Feyfolk, is that you?"

He held a finger to his lips and turned back to me, "The elder's leg is badly lacerated, if it isn't too rude, can you get Jade to heal it?"

Speaking of the Gem, she stepped up without need of my command, "Excuse me, if you do not mind I shall carry you farther down." Neither human spoke, that also meant neither of them objected to Jade's treatment.

"We should continue. Jade, meet us whenever you get these two to safety; and if you can, wailstone back to the legion for support, that'd be grand, anything will do." her affirmative whistle signaled back to me. I turned back to everyone else, "Come on, we've at least got to get the gates open."

I opened a door and found that the tunnel lead to an armory, I turned around and made three consecutive signs: shift, blend, deceive. My other soldiers took the hint and shifted their forms to blend in with the loyalists, we were all pretty infamous amongst them so it was only natural we do this. I was more noticeable though, almost my entire clan was on Earth fighting against Homeworld like they did back in the clan wars, and the outcast brand that wound around my right arm to the back of my hand wasn't doing me any favors either. Quartz checked many of the lockers and found an energy-cuff, "Here sir, put these on." he turned towards Feyfolk with another pair, "You do the same."

Feyfolk stared at the restraints with utmost disgust, but even he understood the strategic value of them, "Fine, but I swear if this backfires I will haunt you."

"I'm willing to take that chance sweetheart," Quartz said with a shrug.

My eyes turn in a circular fashion at the scene, "Both of you stop it. This is, quite possibly, the only way we can sneak in. Nobody is going to die."

Quartz bows his head, "My apologies, Preator."

Even Feyfolk frowns, "Yeah, I'm sorry too."

The point of a sword pricks my back, "Get a move on, Praetorian Emerald." The ruse, so far, was working. Quartz was playing the part of bounty hunter and was acting it out rather well, "Wait until the Diamonds find out about this."

Two Amethyst guards cross their weapons, the bigger one glares at me, "Let them through."

The smaller Amethyst looks at her superior, "But ma'am-"

"But nothing," she wheels around to the rookie, "This is the Emerald Sageson! Let them pass for Meteor's sake!" As they let us pass I felt a card be pressed into my hands, I look at the Amethyst and she winks, "Get going bounty hunter, the cells are waiting for these two."

I look behind me and see Quartz is as dumbstruck as I am, but Quartz, the method actor he is, quickly regained composure, "I could care less about their cells, I want my credits."

"You'll get paid once the prisoners are secured."

I smiled once we were past the guards and in the detention center. 'It's good to know that we've got sympathizers even on the inside.'

A voice with a fatherly tone answers my thoughts, "I'm sure it is son, just make sure you keep your wits about you."

'Why, do you feel something serious?'

Indecision fills my head, "If you mean another Sage then no, but something is tugging on my head; why are there barely any guards?"

'True, besides those two Amethysts I haven't seen any other guards… I see what you mean, I'll keep my eyes peeled.'

Our little caravan stopped when we heard the groans and saw the cal-steel bars. There were thousands of them, cells that is, I could only feel about thirty or so humans. I tossed Quartz the gifted card and he acted accordingly, flying up and down the detention center and unlocking cell doors. He then proceeded to grab the humans by two and bring them down to us, Feyfolk helped the sick ones, of which there were five, stand and walk.

I stared at the meager number of humans and began to feel confusion set in. With a quick jerk I pull Feyfolk to my side, "I thought you had told us there were hundreds of them?"

The frown on his face scared me, it was full of genuine sadness. He shook his head and in his eyes I saw a feeling I knew full and well, guilt. "They were executed when it was found out I had escaped." I tried to think of something, anything I could say to console the poor kid. Before I could, though, a knot quickly filled my gut.

"That they were, organic slave." I turn around and it takes all I have not to scream when I see Quartz has disappeared, wait no… he was poofed and was now being held by the warden of this terrible establishment. I stared missiles at the Jasper, and he stared harder at me, "I know who you are Sageson. I personally could care less. In fact," she raised a hand and the knot in my stomach tightened as the walls fell to reveal the rest of the hidden guard, "I won't even bother with you."

I stood completely still, not frozen in fear but frozen in concentration, "Feyfolk," I only break my stillness to hand him a cylinder the same green as the prison walls around us, "When I give the signal, please press that brown button."

"Sir?" I don't answer him, he obviously heard me. No, I instead prepare my stance and close my eyes upon hearing the sound of weapons being summoned. I breath in and let loose a shrill whistle

The first wave of soldiers charged ahead and they became the first cannon fodder of this fight. Emerald grabbed Quartz's sword before the next wave steeled their nerves. But when they did it was as if he had become a hurricane of crystal dust as he slashed to and fro.

An Amethyst guard almost made it pass Emerald, but unfortunately for them he had anticipated the prison's cal-steel and brought with him some stone. He channeled his energy into the contraband and gave a manic laugh when he felt it slacken like rubber in his hands. The Amethyst guard never saw what had pierced their gem, they only heard the manic laughter of our hero.

The Jasper warden by this point was intrigued, she had known the Sage to be a rather spectacular fighter but she hadn't expected such poor movement… almost as if he were mocking them, "Enough!" the other guards return to their leader, "Emerald Sageson, I will not tolerate such mockery against me. I demand you fight like the title that precedes you!"

Emerald sighed, 'I guess this is going to be another day.'

"Do you require me for this one son?"

'No Dad, I've got this.' he frowned and clasped his hands together, almost as if he were in prayer. No one moved, they truly thought the Sage was praying. But he was doing anything but that, as evident by the eerie green aura that soon began enshrouding him.

The Jasper warden smiled, this was going to be a great fight. Pretty soon the air tensed and an orange cloud that mimicked Sagestate cloaked him, "You think you're power is so amazing. But you see," he flies into the air, his trajectory aimed at our hero, "I have Moonstone at my very back!"

The warden soon found their statement meant nothing more than paper to Emerald. He grabbed the warden's leg and swung him back towards his soldiers, "Moonstone be damned, she has never provided me anything but sorrow."

The guards shifted uncomfortably, this was the Moonstone he was referring to. The warden stood back up, their eyes narrowed angrily and the cloud grew thicker. Emerald raised his fists and prepared for the eventual attack. The warden's frown became an insane smile, "You have insulted the very wellspring of our life. I, J.F7, shall make sure that you pay dearly for it."

Emerald felt the atmosphere tense, F7 soon after faded into nothing. Emerald looked everywhere for him, even tried sensing him, but he found nothing. He looked at the guards who only stared back him, though they now stared at him with pity. A massive blow to his skull revealed the reason behind their pity. F7 stood where Emerald had once stood, he laughed as Emerald fell off the wall and crashed on the cal-steel floor, "Come, let me show you the strength I possess!"

Emerald slowly stood up, 'Father… I need some energy.'

"I can't give you too-"

'Yeah, yeah, I'll die if you give me too much. C'mon!'

F7 took a step but stopped when sirens began blaring. A small gem rushed through the crowd, "Sir, enemy forces are flooding in through front gate!"

F7 pointed at the guards, "Well, we don't get paid to laze around. Defend this prison you worthless sack of clods." He turned around to face the Emerald sage and now found that he and a human stood side by side. The human held up the Quartz that the warden had poofed and placed him gently on the ground as he began reforming.

Emerald turned towards Quartz, "Take the humans out of here, Jade brought reinforcements from the legion. Find a place to hide them, quickly."

"Praetorian, what about you?"

"Oh me?" Quartz shields his eyes as a sudden burst of wind emanated from the Sage. Emerald turned towards Quartz and then to Feyfolk and reassured them with a smile, "I think this Jasper has more in store for him than he thinks."

Quartz crisply saluted and turned towards the humans, "Please, follow me. There are Quartizine…" Quartz's voice trailed off as he got further and further away.

Emerald turned back towards his opponent and changed from a reassuring smile to something akin to that of a child left to his toys, "Now, let's see about you."

'Son, please try not to get carried away.' Emerald rolled his eyes, he knew the risks of using his father's energy with his. He could instantly burn up and, with all that energy inside his gem, implode.

Our hero turned towards the Jasper Warden and found he had disappeared, though he wasn't gone for long as all Emerald had to do to find him was tap a foot backwards, "Ah." With one deft movement Emerald curled the Warden's whip around his arm, ignoring the cuts that the jagged crystals made in his arm, and yanked him into his green fist. Then, with as much effort as it takes to lift a pebble, Emerald picked the Warden up and threw him across the room. The Warden exploded onto a spike of cal-steel soon afterward.

Emerald sighed in relief as the Warden fell to the ground, poofed properly. But before he could rejoin his fellow soldiers in the glorious battle for the prison, he heard a chime from behind, "D-Don't leave yet…"

Emerald continued walking, his boots clacking against the cal-steel, "It's over, I will leave you for yourself. Don't fight or I will kill you."

"Why you insufferable," the Warden pounded a fist against the green floor below him, how could he have lost… no, he still had one ability left; he closed his eyes in concentration.

Emerald tensed, 'Where is this energy coming from?' He turned around and sure enough the warden was swarming with shadows, "What in the world are you doing?" Emerald knew full and well that he was using umbrakinesis, though that also meant that this Jasper wasn't blowing steam when he said his power came from a celestial being. He was a sage, "Umbrakinesis…"

"So you know what comes next." F7 smiled grimly and raised a hand, this would assure his enemy's death, that much was certain.

Emerald was now frozen in fear before the torrent of shadows that clawed around his opponent's body, and it sure didn't quell any when a storm of needles hailed their way towards him. He tried to move but since this was his first time seeing another Sage's power on the battlefield he was terrified, despite himself being one too. The first needle of the deadly and dark rain neared Emerald's eyes, and for a second all was still. He had allowed himself to be so foolishly trapped.

Time resumed and mortal liquid fell upon the ground, Emerald was unscathed, however someone else was not; that someone took the full brunt of each and every needle that was meant for a greener target, "Feyfolk!" Emerald ran over to the adolescent to try and save him, take his position, but by the time he gotten there it was all over... Feyfolk had barely any light left in his eyes, how did he get back here? Quartz was supposed to have kept him while Emerald fought the warden!.

Emerald caught the poor boy on his tumble to the ground, "Why, why in the world did you… why did you save me?"

Feyfolk gave the only smile that Emerald had seen him bear, though it was stained with red, "Heck, I don't know… for kicks?" He chuckled but it hurt so he stopped, "No… I really don't know why… I guess I just wanted to be something other than just be a pain in your side. You risked your life to save my people."

"That hardly ju-" Feyfolk slackened before Emerald could finish his sentence, "Feyfolk? Feyfolk!"

Emerald began shaking with rage, "Praetorian?" Feyfolk had one last burst of energy it seems, "You're going to win this right?"

Emerald nodded his head, "Yeah, I will."

The young adolescent slowly nodded off into death, "Good, 'cus if I died for nothing…" he didn't finish, the Reaper had come for the young child.

Watery paths trekked their way across green skin, the earthquakes of fabric began as their core trembled with rage; Emerald let loose a wail of sorrow for the young child. The Warden, who had little care for the scene, chuckled delightfully, "Ah, is someone sad their wittle 'ol pet died?"

Emerald went silent, he stopped moving, and he slowly stood up, "Get up."

The Warden did so willingly, "Why, are you going to fi-"

A green fist crunched their way into the Warden's face and he flew against the wall. Emerald picked F7 off of the ground, "Fight on your feet!" A second punch, then Emerald grabbed F7 by his hair and slammed his knee into his mouth, "Where is all that fricking bravado now! C'mon, you wanted my strength, have it!"

F7 tried to fight back, managing to catch his assailant's fist. But that was only a symbolic victory, the arm was soon sliced off. "Fight!"

Emerald repeated this over and over until all that was left was the Warden's Gem, and he didn't stop until there was nothing but shards-

I realize Steven hasn't interrupted the story with a question and so I stop. I look over to the children and notice the fear in their eyes, "Oh… did I scare you?"

Steven shook his head, "N-n-no, it's f-f-fine…"

I frown, Pearl is going to kill me, "Steven, by now I can tell when you are lying."

"C'mon Uncle Emerald, finish the story… I-I-I'm fine."

I shake my head defiantly, and wag my finger just like what I assume Pearl would do, "Steven, I said no. I'm not going to be responsible for any sort of nightmares you will quite possibly have. How about we watch Camp Pining Hearts instead?"

Connie smiles, "I'd actually like that."

He sighs in defeat, but he is visibly relieved,"Alright."

I ruffle his hair and look for the box of movies he had, "It's ok Steven, I promise. There is always time for more stories… I promise."