Ocasio

"So, to begin, let us talk about the red league."

I tuned Mom out in favor of remembering her previous Gem History lesson. She taught me about the Crystal Rebellion and many of the prominent people in it, but one particular Gem had taken home in my thoughts: Black Diamond. He, according to Mom, was the youngest of the Diamonds, of which the order of creation was apparently White, then Blue and Yellow, then Pink, and finally came Black. He also was the shortest, even compared to Pink, he would've only rose about eight or nine feet above Jasper.

Black Diamond was kinda the runt of the litter, though it was apparent that he had a good relationship with his older sister, Pink Diamond. But, the reason he was the runt was mainly due to his height and because of his choice of actions, his personality kinda played a lesser role, but instead of conquering their solar system like his elder sisters, Black preferred to seclude himself and conduct scientific experiments and research.

For this he was considered all but an outcast to all, except for Pink once again and the common folk of Homeworld, and for that reason he harbored a bit of resentment for White, Blue, and Yellow Diamond. Yellow was also rumored to dislike him in particular, this was mainly due to the widely accepted fact that Black Diamond was the smartest of the Diamonds.

Eventually, there came an event during the Clan Wars that caused a gap to grow between Black and his siblings which continued to grow until the Crystal Rebellion. Even though the Crystal Gems had shattered his favored sister, Pink Diamond, he blamed White, Blue, and Yellow for it and decided that he would personally help the Crystal Gems. He brought with him as many of his soldiers as he could without risking being caught, and joined the cause for Earth.

There were many fights he was documented to be in, and each one was an extreme victory. The very fact that a Diamond, even one as "weak" as Black, would fight against Homeworld even after the loss of one of his sisters because of the Crystal Gems, inspired them. But, that wasn't the only reason there were vast victories; Black Diamond did not only have the advantage of superior intellect and morale boosting, he was among the lucky few who had the ability to manipulate the shadows, umbrakinesis. For an ally to the shadow wielder, he was the tallest Titan, for any enemy to him, he was messenger of the Reaper. For, those who can use umbrakinesis are considered to have been blessed by the Reaper, a religious icon for many of Gemkind. There was much debate over whether or not the Reaper had been a fallen Gem from the first-born gem era or just a spirit made by Mother Moonstone, a matriarch of sorts and one half of the origin of all Gems. I thought the latter seemed a bit less re-

"Ocasio!" I snap back to attention.

"Yes ma'am?" I say, slowly raising my pen so it doesn't seem as if it was never up in the first place.

"You were not day dreaming again, were you?" she asks, I do what any child would do, I shook my head. Mom, like most parents and/or teachers, didn't buy the bluff, "Oh really? Then tell me, without looking at your notes, what the Red League was."

Ugh, I was busted, I didn't even retain a bit of what that was other than it's name, guess I might as well try winging it, "Right, uhh, the Red League was…" c'mon, something red, something red, what on Earth was red! Wait, that's it! I slouch back on the couch, "The Red League was when a bunch of Salmon gathered in a river to make it appear red in color."

She pinches the bridge of her nose, "Ocasio, that is called Salmon run. To say nothing of how hasn't a thing to do with Gem History."

I shrug, "Same difference?"

"That doesn't even ap-" she pauses for a moment and turns towards the door, "One moment Ocasio, I will be right back. Your reckless father is in trouble right now." She opens the door right when Obsidian tries to do the same, "Oh, apologies Obsidian, I did not see you there."

Obsidian stepped back and raised an arm, "Oh it is fine Mrs. Pearl, you were there first, Go right ahead."

Mom takes the gesture and begins heading out, but not before informing me about manners, "You'd do well to learn from her Ocasio."

"Whatever," I reply after I'm certain she's far enough not to hear me. I tense up just in case she did hear me, but I luckily do not hear the sounds of war. I glance at the door and remember Obsidian. I pat the seat next to me, "Hey Obsidian, why don't you take a seat? The one right here is mighty comfy."

Her face flushed lavender, causing my heart to skip a beat… well it would have if I had one, but it was still odd. She nervously took the seat next to me, "S-So, what h-have you been doing Yellow Topaz?"

I tilted my head back and close my eyes, blowing out a burst of air, "Not anything fun, and pretty sure I'm about to get yelled at."

"Why?" she asks.

Should I honestly tell her my not-so-serious problems, well I guess I might as well. It would help to talk about them, "Well, I was day dreaming during today's lesson. But it isn't like it's my fault, I mean, I was thinking about an amazing hero during the Crystal Rebellion!"

Obsidian surprised me by swiftly turning and shoving her face a few inches from mine, "Who was it?"

Why was she so interested? "Black Diamond."

After I answered she suddenly realized where she was positioned and she quickly threw herself in the opposite direction; once again her face flushed that cute shade of lavender, "Uhm… s-sorry, it's just… it's just I'm happy it was him."

"Why?" I ask

Her face turned to normal and revealed a nostalgic smile, "Well, he was my father."

I inhale a little too sharply and end up causing a pain in my chest and begin coughing. After I regain control and wipe the moisture from my eyes I turn to Obsidian, "Sorry, just a bit shocking. Who was your mother, if you don't mind me asking."

"Nobody." she said with an innocent smile.

"What? Then how were you formed?"

"In a Kindergarten on Homeworld," she gave me a curious look, "Why, how were you formed?"

I clear my throat, "Dad said it was a stork."

I resisted the urge to break into laughter when Obsidian looked at me seriously, "Really?"

"Pfft, no!"

Obsidian slugged me in the shoulder, it actually stung a bit, "Quit tricking me like that."

I held up a hand in surrender, "It was just a joke, sorry, sorry." when she lowered her fist I continued, "Weren't you there when Mom and Dad explained it?"

She thought about it and then nodded, "Well that day was a bit of a blur, what I do remember is you. You've grown taller since then but you are just as cute as you were then..." Obsidian, for what feels like the seventh time today, flushed lavender as she thought about what she said.

"What?" I ask, but before Obsidian can answer me, the screen door bursts open and Mom walks in, dragging Dad by his ear.

After they were safely inside Mom lets go of Dad's ear, "How many times do I have to tell you that fighting twelve of your shades is not good for you? I mean honestly, this is the seventh time this month you've called me for help because of your training."

Dad cupped his ear, "Ouch, I think you did more damage than they did." Mom glares at Dad, eliciting a yelp from him, "I mean, I'm sorry."

Even as I laugh I can't help but wonder something, I wait until I can catch a breath to ask it, "So, Mom and Dad." both turn to me, "How did you contact each other? Is there some sort of technique only y'all two know?"

Apparently Obsidian was curious as well, "Yeah, is it a type of Sage technique?"

Mom started stammering, "W-Well, that's… that is not… hmm."

While Mom was, for once, at a loss for words, Dad had the opposite problem. "Pearl," she turns to him, thinking he is about to support her on the subject, but his devious smile made her know otherwise, "Did you perhaps drop the ball?"

"Well it wouldn't have-"

"Oh my Meteor this is amazing! For once you done goofed, looks like I'm affecting you more than you thought!" He gloated. So absorbed was he in his joy that he failed to notice the angry shadow behind him, her fist raised.

"Now then," Mom said after clobbering Dad, "I do believe that I'm not quite the guilty party here."

"Actually," Dad bravely said as he raised a finger from his new floorboard bed, "I acknowledge I had a hand in our secret getting out, however, you were the one who said I contacted you. And, unlike Garnet with her future vision, you would have no way other than a hunch that I needed you."

I stared at my mom, "Yeah, you said that he contacted you! A hunch or 'wifely intuition' would mean you thought that he needed you, not that he had personally spoken to you."

She groaned, "Fine, fine, I'm guilty as well."

Dad peeled his face off of the wooden floor, "So, my precious sea treasure, answer her question."

Mom looked like she was about to explode, not a very enchanting last scene for me. However, she surprised me by sighing softly and grabbing two chairs, picking Dad up off the floor and placing him in one and seating herself in the other, "Get comfortable, this might take a bit."

'Yes! I get out of a lesson and a scolding!'

"And Ocasio, this does not excuse you from your lessons nor will I not scold you for daydreaming." Shoot, so close.

Pearl

"Emerald, I swear if you do not stop dumping your supplies in favor for those leaves, I will bury you in the ground and make sure you stay there!" I don't have to look at him to know he's doing it, he's been at this since we made it to this jungle.

"But Phearl," I turned around to see his mouth full of the leaves, "They tathe veally good!"

Honestly, how did he ever become a Sage? With his lineage he should have been way less childish than this, his mother was the High Priestess of Moonstone, Oceanus, but the only way you'd know that is by just having someone who knows tell you and through his strategic ability. Anything else he did made it very obvious he was an Emerald: no form in fighting and devil-may-care attitude, both in normal times and during battles, were dead giveaways. Why Rose insisted on constantly pairing me up with him I will never know.

I resisted the urge to strike him and gritted my teeth, "Emerald, please spit out the leaves." He does, "Good, now if you do not mind, can we please continue with our mission?"

He nodded his head and began to say something; but before he could, a massive net was thrown over him and, seconds after, me. I tried with all my might, as did Emerald, but neither of us could cut the ropes. They also seemed to sap my energy; as I closed my eyes I could just barely make out four humanoid figures.

I wake up with a start, startling the female human in the process. She stared at me, not with fear, but with curiosity. Hopefully that meant she was intelligent enough to converse with me, we had humans fighting in the rebellion but they were both far and few in between and also had a very rudimentary language, those in the army had begun to adapt our language and created their own language, which we called "common," but these humans certainly could not have known how to speak ours.

Well that makes no difference now, I cleared my throat and proceeded to ask a question, "Where am I?" the poor primate looks at me blankly, but I try again anyway, "Do you know where my friend is?"

"Stone creature," from behind the woman appeared a very ancient looking human, from the very modest clothing I could tell the human was female, "My husband has forbidden those in my village to speak to any person that is not able to speak the way we do." The way they do? What was that supposed to mean? Wait, now that I think about it, the ancient human hadn't moved her mouth while speaking, yet I've still been able to hear her. "Yes stone creature, we speak with our heads, something that not even your race can boast."

Telepathic humans, now I've experienced everything! "Well, Ms… Ms… uhm, I'm sorry, I don't believe you've told me your name."

"My name is of no importance, just refer to me as Hekate."

I manage not to stare blankly, sometimes humans acted with a bit too much flair,"Ok, Hekate, two questions."

She nodded slowly and spoke without the motion of lips, "I will try to answer them to the best of my ability."

"One, where are we?" I began

"That is a heavily guarded secret."

"What?" I exclaimed, "You said you'd answer my questions!"

She nodded as if I had said she was human, "Yes, to the best of my ability. My list of abilities does not include endangering my people."

Well, at least it made some sense, "Well, ok… second question, where are you keeping my friend?"

"Oh, are you referring to the meteor child?" she asked.

I nodded my head just to humor the geezer, "Yes, the meteor child."

"Hey Pearl!" Emerald waved at me, he was seated with many other humans, "Long time no see! These guys are great!"

I situated myself behind Emerald and, with such grace that even I'm sure even the Diamonds would envy, picked my teammate up by his ear, "And where have you been?"

He holds up the cooked leg of some earth creature. The charred skin assailing my nose, causing me to drop him back to the ground. "I've been enjoying the company of our hosts." he said seriously.

After I stopped gagging at the scent I turned towards him angrily, "Emerald, we have a mission to fulfill, you remember that right?"

He waved his free hand at me, "Yeah, yeah, we've gotta find the tribe of telepaths. Well," he made a grand sweeping motion around his newly made friends, "We've found them. Now let's go back."

"Absolutely not!" I yelled, "That wasn't our mission alone, we have to find those medicinal plants that were rumored to be here." silence erupted throughout the group, Emerald stared at me with the same look they did: irritation, "What did I say?"

"This," an ancient voice spoke without the motion of lips, "Is why we do not involve ourselves with anyone but our kind."

Emerald stood up and, for the second time since the rebellion started, I saw fear flicker across his face, "Tartarus sir, please, she didn't know what she was-"

"Silence meteor child," Emerald actually plopped back on the ground as if he were a child, "You are an exalted guest, do not muddy that with associating with such rabble." Tartarus turned to me, "Now you, stone creature, we do not know you and you most certainly do not have the heart of a meteor nor the mind of a moon. You will leave and you will not return."

I looked towards Emerald and saw that he was making tiny dolls out of stone and making them fight, a sign he was nervous. I turned back to Tartarus and steeled my gaze, "Now you listen here, I will not be called rabble and I will not be leaving here without what I came for."

"And you listen here, stone creature, you will not order us to do anything! If you wish to fight, then let us go." he surprised me momentarily by producing a rather wicked looking great sword and taking his cloak off, revealing a rather muscular figure which was kind of funny when compared to his height (he was shorter than I).

I raised both of my hands and unsheath but of my swords, "Gladly." He took off first, I followed his action soon after. Our weapons were just about to reach the other, I smiled, he didn't know I was tricking him.

"STOP IT!" I'm sent flying backwards into a stone wall and when I look I notice Tartarus had the same done to him. But, what was more surprising was who had done it; Emerald, cloaked in the energy unique to Sages, looked to me with a very, very angry expression and then turned to Tartarus, almost certainly with the same gaze, "I did not want this to happen, but it seems neither of you can act like the adults you are."

Tartarus stood up rather quickly, it seems humans are hardier than I thought, "Meteor child, why?"

"Why?" Emerald stared down Tartarus, "Because I will not have you fight my friend and," he turned back to me, "I will not have any innocents harmed either." He helped me to my feet and then helped Tartarus to his, then, after his cloak his dissipated, he glared at the human, "Is there really no way that we can gain those medicinal herbs? We Gems have no need of them, but we have humans who are in desperate need of medical assistance."

Tartarus put a finger to his chin, "Hmm, there is one way. We have a test that every child, when they come of age, must undergo."

"Whatever it is," Emerald wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me closer, "I'm certain that Pearl will take it."

I unhooked his arm and put on my most polite smile, "Yes, I'm sure if human children can do it, then I have a chance at success."

Emerald placed his face in his palm, "Pearl, why?"

Tartarus looked at me, clearly irritated, "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Why do you have to always aggravate the people we are trying to help?" Emerald said from below me. The test apparently took place on the highest peak where something the humans called the "Moon Mother" had came down and blessed the first of their race with the seeds for the plants we were currently trying to obtain.

I plugged my foot into another outcropping, "Well how was I supposed to know that many of their children had died because of it? Honestly, humans and their foolhardy ways of testing themselves." Emerald remained silent for the rest of the climb.

We made it to the peak by the time the moon had made it to the center of the sky. The top was flat, which I was thankful for, it would do not a bit of good if I had to sit atop a spike. "Ok, so what was the objective again, Emerald?

He closed his eyes, "Well you'll have to meditate and figure out how to read the thoughts of others."

I crossed my arms, "So why are you here?"

He mimicked my action, "To make sure you don't try to fake it, that and this test requires the aid of two." He sighed, "How else would the testee be able to tell if they could read thoughts?" Fair point. I sat myself down and went into the same position I've seen Emerald go into when he meditates. It takes a few moments, but I start to feel something. But before anything else happens, "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

I open my eyes to see a very panicked Emerald, "I'm just doing it how I saw you do it. Isn't this how you look when doing it?"

He shook his head and for a second I could see moisture filling his eyes, "No, it isn't how… that hasn't ever been how I do it."

"Well," I started gently, "How should I do it?"

He rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat, "It's fine the way you were doing it." he sat down and began meditating as well. "I was just being stupid, like usual…" he finished with a half-hearted laugh.

I decided not to press him on it until after we got back to the Temple and concentrated on the task at hand.

It's been what feels like hours, but thanks to experience I know it's only been one. At first nothing happened, but as time continued I soon found that I was unable to open my eyes, nor was I able to speak or hear anything. So, when I began to hear an alarm, I jumped out of surprise. But, everything was still dark and I still had no ability to speak.

Thankfully I had no need to speak and light soon flooded me, but when my eyes adjusted all I could see was a room that was in horrible disarray. It took every urge not to yell, not that I could, but that wasn't the point. I found that I couldn't move either, but my body, on the other hand, moved rather freely. I rolled off my bed onto the hard floor below, after that I heard a voice that was somewhat familiar speak, "Ugh, why do mornings have to be so terrible."

I pushed myself off the floor with green arms, wait… green arms? "I should probably wake her up, we'll be late." who would be late? I watched helplessly as I opened the door of my room and began walking down the halls of a building I have no recollection of ever being in, finally I stopped by another door. An e-board was fixed on the cal-steel door, something was inscribed on it, "Heh, Ocean Demon Residence, Stay Out. She is really somethin else, eh Dad?" I lean on one side of the door and use the hand of the same arm to knock on the door, "Hey, c'mon sis. It's time to wake up, don't make me late for my class again." no answer, "Sis? Hey, you heard?"

What was I doing, I felt like an intruder, was this someone else's memory? I didn't have time to figure it out before I back up and align myself with the door, lifting my leg in a kick. The door explodes open to reveal a room that was slightly better than the disarray of the one I awoke in; though, there were signs all across the room that a scuffle had broken out. I entered it and my vision turned everywhere, I picked up the blanket and spoke with a trembling voice as the bed was revealed to be empty, "Hey, if this is one of your practical jokes, it isn't funny."

I picked the bed up, nothing, I opened a nearby closet, nothing, I opened a rather large chest, once more there was nothing. Just as I was about to leave the room, I felt a breeze against my neck. I turned around and stared at the open window, the dark blue curtains billowing softly. I sped towards the window and picked up something soft, a tiny blue doll. My vision blurred as moisture overtook them, I could feel my body tense, a roar of anger and wounding soon sounded. "LAPIS!"

Then… darkness.

The next thing my vision turned to was something that I had never visited but knew plenty about, the bartender was wiping clean a glass. I slammed a fist down on the bar, "Another one."

The bartender shook their head, their soft brown hair shaking gently as they did, "You've already had the bottle."

"Another one." I heard me say in a raspy voice. "Maybe if I drink enough I can die." I whispered.

The bartender looked pitifully at me, "You know that isn't possible." they sighed, "Look, you can't be doing this everyday. Why don't I help you back to your home, Emerald." Emerald? It couldn't be…

I felt a soft hand touch my shoulder, "It is ok Beryl, I will handle him."

The bartender nodded and began ushering people out. I turned my gaze gently and saw the pale, pink hand resting on my shoulder, she was just as dazzling as the first night I had seen her, "If you're here to kill me, make it quick."

"Now how would I do that with just a shield?" I turned around fully and stared into the face of Rose Quartz, General of the Crystal Gem Rebellion.

"What're you here for then?"

Rose chuckled, "I've heard that you take contracts from certain people, and I think I have one that is… suited for you."

The memory flickered out, my vision returned to me, but I couldn't speak nor could I hear anything. Well, considering if what I just went through wasn't just a bout of insanity, there was something I could try, 'Emerald?'

'Pearl?' oh thank Moonstone. 'Where are you?'

Could he not see? 'I'm literally two feet away from you.'

'Oh… well I'm blind. Like, no joke, I thought someone shut off the moon.' Great, even when he's blind he still cannot stop joking around... how would we be able to get down from here?

I sighed, the only noise I was able to make, 'Well, we're stuck up here until all our senses return. Unless you've a plan.'

'Can you see?' I replied affirmative, 'Hearing?' negatory. 'Well then, seems like we've swapped senses. Well, I have an idea, but it's not gonna be a very intelligent one.'

'I'm open to anything… but Emerald.'

I watch as he nods hesitantly, 'Yes?'

I try to think about what to say to him, he told me the story about how he had came to Earth after that battle, but it was different when seeing it for myself, even if it was just those two scenes. Now that I think about how harsh I've been to him, it kind of makes me feel like, excuse my language, a piece of kark, 'I'm… I'm sorry.'

'For what?' he asked.

'For being a horrid person to you'

He surprised me by turning to face me directly and flashing that huge, idiot smile of his, 'Stop worrying about it, my past isn't yours, my failures are not your burdens. Yes, I have my pathetic moments, but I still live. And it's because of you, of the Crystal Gems.'

I resist the urge to continue the subject, despite how much it pains me, 'Well… if you insist.'

'I do.' he replies coolly.

'Well, there isn't any time to waste then.'

Emerald

I listened intently as Pearl recounted that day, it was just as odd now as it was that day. "After we made it back and we proved we had passed the test, we were given the plants and were sent on our way."

I raised a finger, "You forgot to mention that we were blindfolded and had our senses dulled again after that just so we wouldn't be able to find the village again."

Pearl nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, I thought that since it was an unimportant detail I should leave it out."

"Oh Pearl," I say as I shake my head, "I'm sure we will need them one day. After all, it would be interesting to see how they've developed as well." Pearl nods in acknowledgement.

"Wow," I hear the small voice of Obsidian say, "So there are humans who are able to possess powers like Gems?" I nod my head but take the time to remind her there has been no telepathic Gems other than Pearl and I.

Ocasio looks between Pearl and I, her mind focused on what to say. "So, you both have telepathy." She says, though it was more of a statement than a question.

I crack a smile, "No, that story wasn't about us getting telepathy. It was about some other Pearl and Emerald in a different Crystal Rebellion getting the ability known as telepathy."

"Emerald." Pearl said

"Right, sorry dear." I say weakly.

Ocasio doesn't seem to mind my joke though, and continues, "Do you think I'd be able to use telepathy?"

"No," I answer bluntly.

The back of my skull erupts into pain, "Emerald!"

As I try to soothe my wound I glare at Pearl, "Would ya let me finish! Jeez, that really hurt!"

She frowns, "Oh, sorry Emerald."

"It's fine, I do commit rather idiotic acts in the name of comedy." I turn to Ocasio, "I personally do not think you'll be able to use telepathy, but that is only because I cannot teach you nor can your mother; and seeing how neither of us remember where their village was located or if that tribe is still alive to this day, I cannot say with certainty that you'll be able to learn the ability."

"Oh," she said sadly, making me feel as if I crushed her dreams.

I rested a hand on her shoulder, "But, telepathy isn't the only way you can read someone's mind."

Her face lit up again, "Really?"

"Yeah," I say with a nod, "Do you honestly think that I would've made it through the Rebellion if I didn't have some way of being able to read my opponents' minds?" she shook her head, "That's right, I couldn't have. I also would not have been able to lead my soldiers with the efficiency I had if I wouldn't have been able to read their minds."

Obsidian put a finger to her cheek, a sign that had recently come to show she was deep in thought, "So, you had a different type of telepathy before then?" I nodded, "What was it Emerald sir?"

"Well, I mean it wasn't technically telepathy," I admit, "You have to know the person you're fighting or fighting with, you have to understand them, you have to be able to read them in a moment's notice for the technique to take effect." I say matter-of-factly. "Now when I say you have to know them, I don't mean you have to take the enemy on a family picnic or anything, you just have to be able to read their personality. The same goes for your allies, though that process differs a bit because it doesn't just rely on reading a person."

"It doesn't?" Ocasio asked.

I shook my head, "Nope, it also relies on trust. You have to be able to trust your ally-"

"And your ally has to be able to trust you." Pearl finished.

"Woah," Ocasio said.

Pearl nodded, "Yes, woah indeed. Now, Emerald, Obsidian, if you do not mind, Ocasio has both lessons to attend to and a lecturing to survive."

I don't know about Obsidian, but I made my exit swift and effortlessly, I did not want to be there when Pearl started lecturing; and, from the sound of the screen door banging open a second time, neither did Obsidian.