Sorry that it has been such a horrendous length of time since I have updated, and I'm afraid I will not be able to update regularly still. But thank you all for being so patient with me, I really don't deserve it. Anyways here are the fruits of my labor, with more coming, I really hope you enjoy my loyal readers.

Sea Spire Inner Sanctum, Emerald's P.O.V.:

By the time the meeting is done my back feels stiffer than a sun-dried piece of leather, it's worth it though because the meeting with the Human Leaders was actually a great success. Even with my Daughter's outburst it still went swimmingly, which could possibly guarantee more success with the humans in the future.

As everyone filters out of the inner sanctum I make sure to send a quick transmission to Quartz; with the push of a button my communicator flashes on and a little three dimensional image of Quartz rises off the screen. "Hello sir, how'd the meeting go?" he asks with a quick, crisp salute.

I give a tired sigh, "It went well, but you know how I am with these things. They always bore me beyond belief; though if it could've gone better, I'm sure it would have been harder to pull off."

The image laughed, "You really should let Steven do these things, he is the Leader of the army now."

I waved my hand with the communicator by accident, which had the byproduct of making me temporarily lose connection; after a couple minutes of tinkering with it, the Quartz image reappeared, "Sorry, force of habit."

"Maybe you should put it on your non-dominant hand sir."

"Yeah I probably should, anyway back to Steven. The reason I don't let him do these things is because he is more needed for keeping morale up, for both Humans and Gems." I say earnestly.

Quartz nodded, "Fair enough I suppose; by the way sir, I know it's a bit early but I looked over the medical records and I can only see four humans who would actually make the Sage training."

"Well make the request for them to switch to the legion."

Quartz nodded and said, "Yes sir, Quartz out."

"Emerald, could you come see dear?" Pearl shouts towards me, urgency dancing on her words.

"Coming!"

Top of Sea Spire, Ocasio's P.O.V:

Steven and the others had left to go back to where they were needed, leaving Obsidian and I to stare out into the waterfall, and I can't help but be amazed by it. It looks like it's falling infinitely even though that would be impossible. 'It could be the possibility of some type of Ancient Gem Technology.'

Before I could ask I hear a whistle, "Wow, this is a scene I haven't seen in a few minutes."

We both turn around to see some guy decked out in blue. "Who are you? You don't seem like a soldier." I ask, curiosity and suspicion fighting for dominance of my tone.

He dodges the question, "Ah, there's the Star Quartz host herself; how are you Ocasio?"

Now it's Obsidian's turn to ask a question, "How do you know of her being Star Quartz's host?"

He turns towards Obsidian and glares, a glare so terrifying it could rival my Mom's. I could feel the coldness radiating off of him, 'Ocasio… be careful. This Gem seems to consider Obsidian a threat, for what reason I do not know.'

"So this is where've you been Testa… well I guess this can happen now before any damage is done."

Como launched himself at Obsidian with full speed, the only reason Obsidian wasn't destroyed right then and there was because Ocasio had managed to act fast enough by using her shield as a buffer between the two. 'Star Quartz who is this guy?' Ocasio asked after managing to stop him at the floors edge.

Confusion seeped into Ocasio's head, 'I do not know little one, he evades all of my memories.'

'Well I guess I'll have to subdue him myself and learn later.' With a shove of her shield, Como went flying.

Obsidian grabbed Ocasio's hand, "Come on, let's fuse."

With a flash of light and a thousand little, dark sparkles, Snowflake Obsidian appeared, "This feels great, but where did he go?"

Como reappeared behind Snowflake Obsidian and spun around, his foot connecting with the nape of her neck, sending her a couple of feet forward, "Is this the power you spoke of Testa?! You could've done this with anyone, without shattering our siblings!

"I don't know who you are talking about!" Snow said, lifting her her tower shield to deflect Como's curved sword. After multiple thrusts of her pilum she jumped back, 'How is this going to work…'

She didn't get much breathing time when Como disappeared into thin air. Looking around she saw nothing, but when she sent her thoughts down into the stone she felt him moving through the stone, not like terrakinesis, but breaking it. Snow decided to be the first to strike and sent a curled fist into the stone, causing immense tremors that cracked stone and caused the infinite waterfall to spray mist everywhere. However, when she looked into the hole there was no Como, at least not until a something extremely hard hit her cranium with so much force she actually became very dizzy.

As Snow lay there, dust caking her clothes, Como slowly floated down, "You know Testa, I had actually messed with time so much, yet I hadn't found a single one where you were still around. It's almost like you had my powers but also invisibility, so never in my wildest dreams did I dare to think that I would find you in the original timeline. So couple that with the fact you killed everyone but me I find it a little bit funny that I can defeat you here, right now in the originating timeline."

Como raised his sword, the wickedly curved sword shone in the moonlight, it's pale glimmer shining brightly and fiercely in the eyes of Snow. Instead of slow motion time seemed to speed up until...

Emerald's P.O.V.:

As I watched Como's sword slowly sink down towards Snowflake Obsidian I had to muster all the strength I had, and with an internal yell I watched the sword stop fully. Water and stone rose around Como and formed chains around his wrists and ankles. The scene around us is illuminated and both Mom and Dad are holding his shoulders.

"Como calm down, it's not Testa. She is just an Obsidian, she's innocent; don't do something you'll regret." Mom warns.

"Shut it Oceanus, I know Testa when I see him! To think the power was-"

"Fusion? You really think that's what your cynical brother killed your siblings for?" Dad asked

Como didn't speak but I could feel the tension in the earthen chains lax, and I saw Lapis release some focus in her expression. Finally he spoke, "Sorry…"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ocasio and Obsidian crawl out of the hole, "All you have to say is sorry."

She began walking towards him with the same angered look Pearl gets and I knew then and there I should restrain her too, but luckily Obsidian was there, "Ocie, come on he just made a mistake."

Ocasio shook off Obsidian's hand and continued, "Yeah, a mistake I'm going to rectify."

I raised another hand to constrain Ocasio but Como spoke up before I could, "You know, I wish you could kill me Ocasio… it would make this vengeance path so much easier."

"What?" Ocasio stops in her tracks, her face a mask of stone.

"Yeah, I've been on a path that is hard and cold… it's vengeance that haunts me, keeping me alive despite many efforts I've tried. So go ahead and try to kill me, it won't make a difference.'

Ocasio's stone broke and her mouth curves into a questioning frown, "Dude, I'm not going to kill you. Rough you up? Maybe, but that's an entirely different story."

Como looked up and I could see him blink twice, "Oh… in that case, disregard that little monologue. Well, it's less of a monologue I guess and more of a Cynical Comedy speech."

What happened next frightened me. Mom grabbed Como, wrenching him free from his constraints as if it were child's play, and throwing him in the stone beneath her, "Ugh! Can you not joke around like that"

Como sat up immediately, "Sorry Big Lake, but comedy is an integral part of my personality. You can take it or leave it."

"I'd rather leave it."

"Ocea calm down, you know you don't mean it."

Como's next smile is a strange mix between nostalgia and sadness, "It's alright Amoura, I know she didn't…"

Getting up, a single task in my mind, I say, "You know Como, I think that Comedy Shtick is just you trying to cope, but you're doing it improperly."

Mom put a cautioning hand on my shoulder, "Son what are you doing?"

I continue anyways, her strength still on my mind but not anything I couldn't handle after centuries living with her, *Yeah, Como, I've got you figured out. You feel like you couldn't help your siblings in any way possible so now you have to take it out on the person who struck the marks in you being, knowing that any day that person can come and kill you so you just distance yourself with comedy."

"I know that feeling, it's the reason I'm here today; Homeworld is my path of vengeance, and I'll die before I let them take anything else from me. Just like this Testa is causing you such problems in your being, his poisonous marks are still deep in your veins. The pain is more than bone deep and deeper than that as well," I pause and kneel beside him, putting my hand on his shoulder and making a sweeping gesture with the other, "But you don't have to grieve alone, everyone here is your friend and surely they will understand your pain. If they don't then I can guarantee you they will at least console you."

I look at Ocasio who is tearing up; she notices me looking, frowns, and looks away, "What are you looking at Dad, there's something in my eye."

"You don't have to act tough Topy, it's perfectly fine. In fact, I'm sure you'd like to hear his story."

Como perked up, "Story Time?! Oh boy!"

The comment brought on the much-needed laughter from everyone. Como tapped my shoulder, "Thanks Emerald… I needed that…"

"No problem Como, have you never talked to me before?"

He frowned, "Let's just say most of the other you's weren't very conversational, what with their Gems being Shattered and such."

My skin turns cold and I get tunnel vision, "WHAT? How?"

Como stood straight up, "Hey who's up for some late lunch early supper?"

As everyone began walking back down the spire I just stood there, my legs growing into jelly, "At least tell me if that was from other timelines!"

Como raised a hand, "Does anyone know a place where a watery tummy can get a chrynol?"

Obsidian continued like I hadn't said anything, "I don't think Earth keeps such, unsavory drinks on hand."

I started after them, "Come on! Please? Just a little hint? A riddle? I'm even up for a poem!"