The pain of exactly one millions suns spreads across my senses, I wail because of this. The magma and molten gold covers my insides and burns me from the inside out, "Ow! Hot, hot, hot!"

Steven laughs rather loudly, "Uncle Emerald, you have to let the pizza cool off first."

I hear chuckling, "You even commented on the heat emanating off of the triangular food dear."

"Bhut I didn'th know ith would huwt like thith!" I hold my tongue in a desperate attempt to soothe it from the fire it had so greedily received.

Pearl laughs again at the scene, "You really are quite impulsive, aren't you?"

I manage to eat the final scalding piece of my golden triangle, "I wouldn't be me if I wasn't, now would I?"

"I think you used the word I too much," Pearl said with a sneer.

I feigned a pout in return, "Killjoy."

She put a hand to her chest and began a rather well executed imitation of my voice, "I wouldn't be me if I wasn't, now would I?"

I hold my hands up in surrender, "Alright, alright you win." Laughter flitted about my surrender, which I guess was fine. "Alright Steven, what's next on the agenda?"

He pulled out a small satchel and when he opened it I could see many pieces of human currency, "We're going to an arcade, obviously."

Funland Arcade:

As I sheathed the plastic projectile weapon I felt the rush of little paper stubs flit about my feet, apparently I had gotten something Steven called a high-score. But when I asked him why I would need them he told me they were to get prizes. When I inquired about those he listed a bunch of items that seemed like needless nick-knacks, "Those seem quite pointless."

He shrugged, "It is just for fun," he looked around and leaned in closer, "And sometimes bragging rights."

Oh, that made sense, "So if I get the most expensive toy then I'm the best here?"

"I don't know if th-" I didn't stay in the conversation too long to hear the end of it, but I'm sure Steven was just confirming my belief. I gripped the plastic projectile weapon and inserted another, 'quarter.' The electronic screen soon blasted with the usual fanfare it had and I found myself at the input screen for multiple compatriots or go the projectile based adventure solo. I had nobody else to play the simulation with so I naturally chose the single-adventurer option.

I blasted my way through legions of rugged looking humans, undead nightmares, and even a few rounds of extraterrestrials, all the while only requiring three of the circular currency that this place used. I had around two thousand paper stubs lining the floor around me, Pearl had tried to organize them but soon found that endeavor fruitless and so stopped.

I allowed myself a tiny smile when the door to the boss opened, I had finally made it and was about to beat this simulation. Many of the overlord's minions tried to stop me upon entering the arena but they soon found my preprogrammed bullets liked the living spaces in their heads. After I had shot the final enemy down I got to see the head honcho himself, Zurg. As an extraterrestrial myself, who has been to many other planets, I have never once come across a civilization with the unfortunate names that had appeared up in this section of the simulation, though to each their own… I guess?

So, I stand there listening to Zurg's predictable speech about what he's going to do to me. I've personally heard enough death threats by now that nothing short of threatening my loved ones would even mildly upset me. Soon I began nodding off, I didn't realize I was until the screen blared in bright colors with the one unimaginable word, "What? That's so unfair!" The piece of kark had taken me out as I was falling asleep… now that I think about it that is actually a pretty good strategy. Bore them 'till they are about to fall asleep, that's when you strike.

From behind me I heard multiple exclamations of disappointment.

"Aww."

"He almost beat it!"

"Well that's an hour of my life I'll never get back."

I ultimately ignored them and grabbed my paper stubs and began walking towards the glass counter where the non-essential prizes were and waited behind a small, yellow-haired child. Steven came to me with stars in his eyes, "Wow, how did you get so many tickets?"

I shrug my shoulders like a fool and struggle to get my paper stubs back in line, "I played the simulation?"

"Simulation? Oh the Projectileman Senior game!"

"Yes, I believe that is the one."

"Hey pal, you gonna sit there all day or do you wanna turn in those tickets for one of these fabulous prizes?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." I shuffle up to the counter and place my mountain on the glass and begin looking for the right item to give me the ultimate respect. Finally after minutes of searching I find it, "That one."

"I still cannot believe you bought that Emerald."

I attach the mobile string cannon to my wrist and begin spraying anything I can, "Pearl, my Ocean Treasure, this is a very important weapon."

I hide a smile when she groans, "It would help you case if you weren't currently giving that fire hydrant a foam sweater."

"Oh, should I give you one?" I flick my wrist to send a small spurt of foam her way.

"Emerald Quartz Sageson, I swear to Moonstone if-" I stop her speech by leveling my string cannon at her and flicking my wrist up. Her face flushes with anger, "Emerald!"

I take that as my time to leave, I pick up Steven as I whip around, "C'mon boyo, you've never seen her furious!."

"Don't think you can outrun me Emerald!" I know I can't, but hey, might as well tire her out before she catches me.

My vision dots with stars, a voice keeps me from going under, "Now what did we learn?"

I rub the lump growing on my head, "That it isn't nice to spray you with foam."

"Good enough I guess," she says with a sigh. She tenses and glances at various places around the area, "Wait, where is Steven."

"I dropped him off no too far from here, he is with some of his friends. I anticipated you wouldn't restrict your blows in your anger and thusly left him with good company," the pain dulls enough for me to scratch my head, "I believe it was that girl who worked at the triangle food shop and her two friends."

She looked as if I had sent Steven to Pink Diamond's Human Zoo, "You did what? It is almost midnight and you allowed Steven to run off with others?"

I shrugged, Pearl never really had much liking for humans, "They seemed like nice people, and didn't you say you had that run-in with them in that cornfield? Didn't they try to stop you from killing Steven?"

She started to say something but stopped, favoring a sigh instead, "Come on, we are going get Steven."

As we neared the triangle food shop, of which Pearl informed me is actually called a pizza parlor, I began to hear something I had not in quite a long time: music, and boy it was good. Every step closer brought another wave of sound that made my heart thump in anticipation. We turned a corner and found the three adolescents and Steven, the tall male was busy making the heart thumping sound waves go and the other two were dancing, as was my nephew.

Pearl cleared her throat, and when they didn't hear her, she yelled, "Ahem." All eyes were now on her, the music's volume was slightly lowered, "Thank you. Steven, it is almost your bedtime. Time to head home."

He gave a look of disappointment, "Aww, c'mon Pearl. Please just another hour?"

The female one, Jenny I think was her name, implored Pearl as well, "Yeah, c'mon Miss, let Steven hang for a bit longer."

The male with the red jacket stood rather stoically, "He was getting into a groove zone."

"I do not care what zone he-" I put a hand on Pearl's shoulder, "What is it Emerald?"

"C'mon sweetheart, let Steven play with his friends a bit longer. Besides, that music was pretty good." I toss a glance towards the tall individual, he understands the hint and immediately begins playing his music again. I turn back towards Pearl, "Care to dance?"

She looks furious with me for the total of five seconds, but even she can't stay mad at me for long, "You are quite arguably the most annoying Gem in existence Emerald Sageson."

I take her hand and we begin to dance, "Then why are you still accepting the offer?" She doesn't reply, she takes all of her tasks seriously and dancing was no exception. I look around the both of us and see that the others are once again getting into the partying mood. After that everything fizzles out of vision until it's only me and my betrothed, her Gem shining perfectly in the unnatural light of the void.

With her right by me I can feel the universe centered around us, the past and future mean nothing more than pretty ideas. From each step we take in our dance I can feel as if my past is nonexistent, my future is never happening, I'm forever stuck in a beautiful present. I close my eyes, hoping that if I do so it would mean I never have to leave Pearl again.

Through my eyelids shines three bright lights, two green and one powder blue, and I kind of get giddy. It has been a long time since I had fused with Pearl. However, the light soon turns a very bright white and when I open my eyes I feel a deep pain in my gut and feel my vision fade once again as a searing pain rips throughout my left shoulder.

Pearl falls to her knees after impacting on the nearby wall, after taking a few breaths to steady herself she found that Emerald's Gem was in one of Steven's hands. However, something else was too, it was square like Emerald's left shoulder Gem, but this was colored a dark yellow. Steven looked at Pearl with worry in his eyes, the three teens looked at the two Gems and wondered what in the world had just happened.

Pearl stood up and walked to Rose's child, taking both her Husband's Gem and this other Gem, "Steven, it is time to go home."

He looked at her with the utmost of alarm, "Pearl-"

"Steven, we are going home right now. Say goodbye to your friends and thank them for keeping you company." Pearl began walking back towards the temple, her eyes focused on the square, yellow Gem, 'This is impossible… a Yellow Topaz…'