Beach City, The Barn, Emerald's P.O.V.:

I shielded my eyes from the vicious winds as the helicopter made its landing. The new recruits had finally made it here, each human awaiting their sage training that they were chosen for. Three of them were already beside me, one Sadie Miller, one Connie Maheswaran, and one Steven Quartz Universe. These three I knew, but the three on the helicopter I had no knowledge other than their names and specialty. Steven looked dead ahead, "Wow, this must be a new model."

He was referring the helicopter, thanks to the many new Gems who were very knowledgeable on our technology, both old and new, the people of Earth had been able to make many advancements in all areas of everyday life. This transport helicopter was only one of many of the crucial advancements in the past few years.

"It is Steven, it is a stealth transport. My legion is decorated with many soldiers in specialized roles, some of them recon and sabotage. With these choppers we can manage many squads into hot zones as I'm sure Homeworld will manage to make it to ground somehow, some of these hot zones you will be deployed in as a Sage yourself." Better to break the news to him early.

Steven looked a little shaken up, but he relaxed when Connie put her hand on his shoulder. She really meant a lot to him if she could do that with just a hand, "Hey it's ok Steven, we got this."

Sadie clapped Steven on the back, "Yeah Steven, everything's gonna be alright. I mean I don't want to fight, but there's someone I have to protect."

"Oh yeah, how is Lars?" Steven asked with genuine wonder. I still wasn't okay with Lars as it didn't take a supercomputer mind to see how Lars treated Steven meanly, though he had improved his behavior.

A hissing of metal doors opening cut the subject off, I took the moment to reluctantly sigh, 'Here we go.'

Three humans stepped off the helicopter and gave a quick, crisp salute. I could see why these three were chosen; it wasn't anything for leanness that's for sure, they weren't muscularly built to say the least. Putting that aside I knew they were chosen for other reasons, I pointed to the female, "Soldier!"

She saluted, "Sir!"

I walked closer, "What is the reason you decided to accept the Sage training?"

She faltered for a moment, almost as if she couldn't figure out why she was here, ooh bad sign. Finally a smile became chiseled upon her face, "Because sir, the Earth is my planet and I feel a deep sense to protect everyone as if they were of my own blood, sir!"

I patted her on the shoulder and smiled, "Good answer kid, is that a Russian accent I detect?"

"Yessir, Samantha Smirnov, but my friends that I do have call me Sammy."

I nod and move on to the next soldier, "Name soldier?"

This kid drew a cocky smile, his blond hair taped back into a pony tale, "Name's Jacob, Jacob Greene sir. If ya' want a mushy smushy reason 'fer me becomin' one of them Sages, well all I can say is ya gonna be real disappointed, sir."

I look stare at him coldly, how on earth could this kid be a kid was too arrogant to even attempt Sagehood; laughter filled my head, 'You know kiddo, he kind of reminds me of you when you were training.'

'Dad not now… this kid needs a lesson.'

Condescension rang clear in my mind, he wasn't happy with my process, 'Why that's what your teacher said during your training. But he still kept at it with you, no matter how much trouble you kept bringing.'

I cut off the link between us and looked at the child, "Well come back to me when you can think of a good reason for you to become a sage."

He started throwing a fit, "HEY! That's not fair! If I got the genes as ya crazy space rocks say then I sho-"

"Shut your freakin' trap kid! Being a sage has much more to do than just power, get the hell out of my sight until you can think of a good and proper reason." I fussed, cutting Jacob off. If he wanted to become a Sage he was going to have to clean up his freaking act, how can someone be so damn ignorant? I looked back at all of them and waved a hand dismissively, "All soldiers dismissed, report to the Sector SF and wait for my return."

As they left my mind wandered back to the days of my training.

The Great Sage Repository:

"Master, you can't be so cruel to him. He is Oceanus's so-"

"Silence young one," the crusty old Tanzanite cut off the younger monk, not that I cared much, " I care not who he is the son of. All he cares for are childish things, hardly befitting of a Sage and especially not befitting of a child begotten of two of the greatest sages in history!"

I clenched my fists, 'Who the heck cares if I'm their son, why should I?'

The old Gem tenses and I quickly try to disguise the fact I'm here, I can't get caught a third time. But in my haste, I accidentally hit the door and it bangs open, next thing I know there's an arrow lodged into the wall next to me, then I see the Teacher walk out. Though he wasn't as scary as my mom when she was angry, I still couldn't help but shake a little, "Emerald…"

"Y-yes s-sir?" Why the heck was I so afraid? This man couldn't do anything to me even if he wanted to.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, "I'm not angry, only disappointed. You have so much potential yet you let it go to waste. What is your reason for even becoming a Sage?"

His disappointed card was really shallow to me, so I just shrugged my shoulders, "Because my Mom wants me to come here."

"That's not a reason… better yet it's not a very good reason for a Sage to have." He said and for some reason, it really annoyed me; what gave him the reason to question my reason, granted it wasn't earnestly a good one but it was still true.

After that he sent me back to my room, I hated the fact that he even thought that he could control me like that, 'That's not how it is, and you know that!'

The more I thought about it I found myself agreeing with myself, as odd as that sounds. What was the reason I was here? What incentive was there for me to even be a Sage? Sure it would make my Mom happy, it would make my Father proud, wherever he was inside of me.

But… how did all of that affect me, I mean I could really care less about being a Sage. Look all the sadness it brought my mother, that wasn't a thing I would like to have to me. As I pondered why I was here all I could think about was my mother, her clan, my father, his clan. I thought about how both sides treated me as their own as if there was no difference in any sort of sense. I thought about how each day I would see different Gems take off into space on the grand crusade that the Diamond Authority was dead set on. Each Gem looked sad to leave the ones they loved, but they knew they couldn't let down their clan, their families.

I thought about both of my clans, about my family, about if I were called to war. Surely I would want to make them proud, to keep them safe. Then it hit me, I quickly rushed out of my room and back to Teacher's room, banging on his door with such intensity that he ripped the hinges off to see the perpetrator, "WHAT IS IT?! Oh it you Emerald, have you finally an answer?"

I thought about it a bit more, wondering if this was to be my conclusive answer, wondering if he would accept or would I be sent home. I shook my head clear of such ill thoughts and smiled, "Yeah, the reason I'm…"

Emerald's Tent, Strawberry Fields, Emerald's P.O.V.:

"Emerald s-sir?" A voice ripped me from my thoughts.

I stood up and moved the curtain door open, coming face to face with Jacob Greene, "Oh it's you, have you finally an answer?"

He looked at me, confusion masking his face, "Uh, why you talkin' so funny sir?"

I cleared my throat, only momentarily by my slip up, "Never mind that, do you have an answer or not?"

He gave a look that was one of thought, he looked as if he was wondering if I would accept this answer or would he be shipped back home. Finally he shook his head clear of any thoughts against the one he would now say, "Yea, I mean Yes Sir, the reason why I wanna become a Sage is, and don't tell the others about this."

I nod my head, "Crystal clear son."

With a sigh of relief he continued, 'Alright, this whole Sage deal is because I have a little sister at home, and every time I think 'bout this Homeworld comin' here and hurting her all I can feel is nuthin. I really don't want to let her down, she's my only family and if she died I'd never forgive myself."

I smiled, this was the answer I was expecting. A warm smile floated in my head, 'That was your response, remember? Though it happened to be worded differently; but still, in the end, you wanted to protect all of your family, the only difference is that he has only one member."

'I know dad, no need for the rerun of recent events.' I sigh, garnering a look from the kid. I quickly waved it away and cleared my throat, "Is this your final answer, Greene?"

"Yes Sir." He said, unwavering determination flitting in his tone.

I gripped his shoulder, remembering my teacher's reply, "Now that is an answer befitting of a Sage."

The kid looked like he was about to faint, "Wait does that mean?"

"Yes soldier, it does. Grab your bags because by sunrise you're going to be shipped to the Sea Spire." As he ran out I heard chuckling in my head, "What's so funny old man?"

A green light danced out of my palm, Dad stood before me with pride twinkling in his glazed eyes, "You've matured more than you think."

"Kind of had to, can't stay a gemilng forever now can I?" I say with a chuckle.

Dad gave a sad smile, "No, no you can't, but I fear that I caused you to grow up too fast."

I tried to clasp him in a hug but phased through him, after I picked myself off the ground he chuckled and hugged me instead. I laughed, it was one of the few times I fully realized that my Dad was still alive, "No Dad, it happened out of necessity from whatever entity said it would."

He crossed his arms, "You were never very religious were you?"

I rubbed the back of my head nervously, though I studied Moonstone I still couldn't find reason to believe in her, sure Star Quartz was real. The evidence was clearly within the shade Ocasio could summon, "Not really, I believe we originated somewhere but not from some old spirit that had a spat with her husband. But anyway I'd rather not have this talk with you Dad."

"Because you know you'd lose." He said, a smirk appearing on his face.

I laughed, "Sure, sure it would. It's definitely not because I believe in logic and facts more."

"You're really more like your mother than me, you know that don't you?" Dad said, mock irritation dripping from his tone.

"Why thank you father." I say with a jeering laugh.