Chapter 5: Unmasked
The next morning, Revenger was found and was taken back to Steven's house as he was being fixed by Pearl and Peridot.
Pearl: What were you thinking going after that mysterious warrior? Had you provoked him further he would have killed you.
Revenger: But he didn't. I saw how much he was holding back and I loved the way he fought. That fighting style looked familiar to me. Almost like mine.
Garnet: How is that?
Revenger: I don't know.
Peridot: Well you should be all fixed now. Don't pull anything reckless again.
Revenger: Yeah whatever.
Steven: Okay, I think we got everyone here.
Amethyst: What about Connie?
Steven: I just texted her. She's in the middle of her studies. She offered to skip it to come, but I don't want her to get in trouble with her parents. I think we can handle this on our own.
Pearl: Okay then and...oh Steven I almost forgot. You might have to pack some water with you.
Steven: Uh why?
Pearl: Because to get to Pink's ship the warp can only take us to the estimated area. The rest we have to walk through the desert.
Steven: You mean where we found Lion?
Pearl: Yes but further away.
Amethyst: Further?
Bismuth: But I don't like sand. It's rough on the skin.
Garnet: So there's no warp to the ship itself.
Pearl: Unfortunatly no.
Lapis: What if we get attacked? I may not be much help with the lack of water there.
Steven: Hmm, good point.
Revenger: Just stay behind. No offense but you might get in the way.
Steven: Or maybe Spinel and Skekung might attack the town again. You and Peridot should stay here.
Lapis: Alright.
Peridot: You can count on us.
Steven: Lion, stay here with them.
Lion nodded as he went over to the two gems.
Garnet: Alright team, lets get going.
They got onto the warp pad and warped to their estimate destination. But little did they know they were being spied on. Gray was outside of the house on the roof and heard everything.
Gray: If that's where this ship is, than Spinel and Skekung are definitly gonna be there. Where's there another warp I can use?
Gray flies off to look for another warp. But as he flew he was spotted from below ground. Spinel saw it all while Skekung was too busy eating, sucking the meat off the bones off an animal he ate.
Spinel: Well, if it isn't Wittle Gway. Judging by his speed he's in a hurry.
Skekung wasn't listening to her as just finished eating and throwing the last bone in the pile with the others.
Skekung: Hmmm, next time I'm cooking the meat.
Spinel: Skekung! Get up we need to know where he's going.
Skekung: Yeah, yeah.
Skekung spread out his wings as Spinel jumped onto his back.
Spinel: Onward!
Skekung flew up as they followed Gray.
Skekung: For the glory of the Demon King!
Meanwhile.
Steven and the gems made it the desert. The moment they got their Steven felt how hot it was.
Steven: Aw, forgot how hot it was. Why did I bring a jacket?
Steven took off his jacket and tied it around his waist.
Pearl: Alright then just follow me everyone.
Garnet: How far did you say this was again?
Pearl: Well, it's going to be a long walk.
Amethyst: Whoa hold up. Knew there was a catch. How long are we talking P.
Pearl: Well, let's just say it's a three hour walk.
Amethyst: Three hours! Aw P why do you and Pink have to keep everything important so frickin far.
Pearl: I don't know Amethyst. I mean the armory was one thing, but we never bothered to check with the ship again.
Steven: Hope I brought enough water for this.
Amethyst: Not to worry dudes. We'll get there in 2, maybe less.
Amethyst shape shifts into a jeep.
Amethyst: Get in.
Steven, Garnet, Pearl and Bismuth got in.
Revenger: I'll just fly.
Pearl: Alright Amethyst, just follow to where I lead.
Amethyst drove off as Revenger followed them.
A little while later
The warp activated again and this time Gray entered.
Gray: This has to be it. But where did they go?
Gray looked around until he noticed on the sand tire tracks.
Gray: That way.
Gray flew up and followed the path.
One hour later.
Amethyst kept on driving to where Pearl was pointing too. Soon they saw what appeared to be two large pink like pyramids.
Pearl: Stop here.
Amethsyt stops.
Steven: Is this is?
Pearl: It's where it's supposed to be.
They got out of Amethyst as she shape shifts back to her normal self.
Steven: So where is it?
Pearl: You're looking at it.
Bismuth: You mean those pyramids?
Pearl: Those aren't pyramids, that's part of ship.
Revenger: Why is it buried deep down?
Pearl: What do you expect of it sitting here for over 6,000 years.
Bismuth: It's okay, I can dig it out.
Bismuth shape shifts her hands into shovels and started digging at a fast pace.
Pearl: Um Bismuth that's not...
Steven watched Bismuth dig and placed his hand onto part of the ship. But once he did, it began to glow as the ship itself was emerging from the sand. Everyone looked up as the ship looked like a pair of legs.
Steven: Whoa...
Amethyst: Yeah whoa...
Bismuth: Uh... I helped you know.
Meanwhile
Gray kept was still flying until he stopped. He saw in the disance Pink's ship.
Gray: What is that?
Gray stared at the ship rising up.
Gray: That must be the ship they're were talking about. At least I think it's a ship.
Suddenly he sensed something from behind, but before he could react a long arm wrapped around him. It was Spinel flying on top of Skekung. She pulled him towards her.
Spinel: Why hello Wittle Gway.
Gray: Spinel...
Spinel: So where do you think your going huh?
Gray: Just searching to find and kill you for good.
Spinel: In the middle of a desert?
Skekung: We got you this time. Just look at what you did to my beautiful face!
Skekung: You call that beatiful? Even before I scarred your face it wasn't even something your mother would have loved.
Skekung: AH! How dare you...hey what's that?
Spinel looked where Skekung was looking at and saw Pink's ship.
Spinel: Hold the phone, is that Pink Diamond's ship?
Gray: ( in his mind) Oh no.
Spinel: I get it now. You trying to make sure they find their ship and get to Homeworld aren't you?
Gray: Yeah and I'm not letting you interfere with that.
Spinel: Oh really.
Spinel stretched her neck towards his face.
Spinel: How are ya gonna stop me with you tied up. Huh, huh? What you gonna do? Huh, huh, huh, huh...
Suddenly Gray got his arm free and punched her across the face. Spinel retracted her head and rubbed her punched cheek.
Spinel: So you wanna play it that way huh? Fine, let's play another game, but spoilers you lose!
Spinel threw Gray to the ground.
Spinel: Crush him Skekung! Crush him like the bug he is.
Skekung: Skek-u-u-u-u-ung smash!
Skekung was flying down with his feet down about to crush Gray. Gray got out of the way just before he landed. Spinel jumped off of him and formed her scythe. Gray formed his nagitana sword.
Gray: Let's dance.
Spinel lunged at him and the two clashed their weapons. As he fought Spinel, Skekung joined in as well trying to punch him. Gray blocked Spinel's attacks as he tried dodging Skekung's punches. It wasn't easy and soon got punched. Gray formed his arms into a plus and fired his laser at him. Skekung blocked the attack with his wrist guards but was pushed back a bit and Spinel attacked Gray again as the two continued fighting, their weapons clashed and struggled. As they did, Skekung's horns began to glow green.
Skekung: Don't you ignore me. Skeku-u-u-u-ung blaster!
The laser beams from his horns shot at both Gray and Spinel. The two saw this as they let go and jumped away. The blast was so powerful it caused an explosion of sand flying up. Steven and the others heard it and turned seeing the sand fly up.
Pearl: What's happening over there?
Amethyst: Giant sand worms?
Garnet: No, it's fight. He's there.
Steven: Gray? He's in trouble, we gotta help.
Revenger: He's miles away from here, we wouldn't make it in time.
Steven: But I can.
Steven transforms into his pink form and runs at high speed to help Gray.
Meanwhile.
The dust and sand was clearing up as Spinel turned to Skekung looking mad.
Spinel: Hey pea brain! How about a little warning next time you attack?
Skekung: Eh! Sorry, I kinda got anxious.
Skekung heard a yell coming from above. Gray was coming down at him with his nagitana. Skekung grinned and flew up. He uppercutted him, making Gray lose his weapon.
Skekung: Skeku-u-u-u-ung tail!
Skekung knocked Gray down with his tail, making him fall to the ground. Skekung dropped down kneeing his stomach. Gray yelled out in pain as Skekung dug deeper into him.
Skekung: That's it, just stay where you are. The bottom of the food chain like all the human scum back home.
Skekung punched him across the face. He punched him again and again, denting the top right of his helmet. Spinel soon came holding her scythe.
Spinel: Alright that's enough Skekung, let's just get this over with now. King Salamandas is still waiting for our report.
Skekung: We should bring him with us yes? Wait how do we get back?
As they were talking, Gray took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. It looked like he was charging up for an attack.
Spinel: Relax, we'll just torture his friends and make them make a new portal.
Spinel turns to Gray.
Spinel: I'd kill you and put your head on spear, but under King Salamandas's orders, he wants you alive to have for his Tournament of Death. Just knock him out already Skekung.
Gray glared at her, he was ready to burst out his energy. But before anything could happen the two are hit and pushed away. by two hexagonal shields. Gray got onto his knees holding his stomach until he looked up and saw Steven in front of him.
Steven: Hey you okay?
Gray: What are you doing here?
Steven: Saving you. What does it look like?
Gray: I had it under control. Get out of here now!
Spinel: Oh if it isn't Stevie. Did you come to play too?
Steven: You two better stop.
Skekung: Yeah, who's gonna stop us you? Hahahaha!
Skekung laughed as Steven ran up at him at high speed about to punch him. Both his hands were covered in a hard bubble. He was about to punch him but Skekung saw it coming and caught his fist.
Steven: What?
Skekung punched him to the ground.
Skekung: HA! Your pink powers hardly make any difference with level you're at. I am going to enjoy this.
Spinel: Skekung remember
Skekung: I know, I know... I'm not stupid.
Spinel: ( mumbles) You wish.
Skekung: ( cracks his knuckles) This is going to be one hell of a party. Skeku-u-u-u-ung charge!
Skekung charged at Steven, Steven threw five hexagonal shields at Skekung, but he broke through them. Steven doged his attack and tried to punch him in the face again. Skekung kept blocking his punches.
Skekung: Skeku-u-u-u-ung knee!
Skekung knee kicks Steven in the stomach pushing him away.
Skekung: Ha, your weak as always. You're all weak. Skeku-u-u-u-ung tail!
Skekung was about to hit him with his tail, but Steven caught it.
Skekung: Huh?
Steven: You really shouldn't yell out your attacks before you attack. Allow me to demonstrate.
Steven began to spin Skekung around. He spun him faster and faster.
Steven: Steven...throw!
Steven lets go of Skekung, sending him flying far, far away into the distance till he was gone.
Steven: Okay that...just sounded stupid yelling it outloud.
Steven turned to Gray, who was still hurt and approached him.
Steven: Here let me help you up.
But suddenly Spinel appeared behind him.
Gray: Behind you!
Steven looked behind him and saw Spinel about to slash him with her scythe. But he had no time to react. Gray jumped up and ran to him, pushed Steven aside and he got slashed across his back instead. Gray grunted as he fell face to the ground with a huge bloody cut on his back.
Steven: Gray!
Spinel: Well, that wasn't supposed to happen, but hey it's his own fault right?
Steven looked at Gray, but he didn't look good. He was bleeding all over his back. Before he could heal him, Spinel cut off his path, almost getting his arm cut off.
Spinel: Na ah ah. Games not over yet.
Steven: This isn't a game what's the matter with you?
Spinel: The two of you were born.
Spinel jumped up about to slash him. Steven dodged and grabbed the shaft of the scythe as the two struggled.
Spinel: You don't really think you can win do you?
Steven: Things change. I won't let this dark future come.
Spinel: Oh ho ho, but it will. You may have found your ship, but it's not enough. Face it, you're only delaying the inevitable. The end will come.
Spinel let out a maniacal laugh as Steven managed to push her off her scythe and uses it to cut her in half as she still laughs. Spinel poofs as her gem falls to the ground. Steven kneeled down and bubbled her away.
Gems: Steven!
Steven turned and saw the gems and Revenger meeting up with him.
Pearl: What just happened here?
Steven: It was Spinel and Skekung. Skekung gone, but I don't know where he is, but Spinel I just bubbled her away.
Amethyst: Well glad Ms Looney is gone.
Garnet: Are you alright though.
Steven: I'm fine just a little beat up but...oh no Gray!
Steven ran over to Gray as the others went with him. Revenger looked down at Gray with widened eyes and a silent gasp.
Revenger: ( in his mind) The kid...no.
Bismuth: Whoa, what happened to him.
Steven: He got hit trying to save me? Hold on.
Steven licked his hand and placed it on Gray's back. His healing spit managed to heal his wound and fix the armor cut, though the blood was still on it.
Steven: There, you're okay now right?
But Gray wasn't moving.
Steven: Um Gray I healed you. You can get up now.
Gray still wasn't moving.
Steven: Gray?
Amethyst: Hey, are you dead?
Pearl: Amethyst this is serious.
Amethyst: I know P. Why do you think I'm asking?
Steven: Oh no, no, no! You can't die! How do you check his pulse?
Pearl: I-I don't know. I don't know the human anatomy.
Revenger: You're part human how do you not know?
Steven: I never went to school.
Garnet: Let's take him back.
Steven: Right, hold on.
Steven got out his phone to make a facetime call.
Peridot: This is Peridot...
Lapis: And Lapis reporting.
Steven: Guys, have Lion go get Connie, we need medical help!
Later.
The warp activated and Steven and the others made back to the house, carrying Gray. Connie was there with a first aid kit.
Connie: Peridot told me you needed me. What's wrong?
But once Connie saw them carrying Gray, that answered her question.
Connie: Quick get lay him down.
Steven: Let's go to my room.
They went up carrying him to Steven's room.
Pearl: Wait, we need to take the armor off, there's still blood on it.
Steven: How? I don't see an opening...wait what the?
Steven found the end of the upper torso armor part and realized it was stretchy. He stretched it wider and was able to slip off the armor like a shirt. It was a strange material the armor was durable, but still elastic. It didn't make much sense to him but went with it. They placed the armor on the ground leaving Gray in a black tank top and gently placed him on his bed. Connie went up to feel a pulse on both his neck and wrist.
Connie: It's okay, he's still alive, but uncounsouss.
Steven: ( sighs) That's good.
Connie: Still we need to get him comfortable and check to see if he's hurt anywhere else. First off, his helmet needs to come off.
Steven: We have to take it off?
Connie: He needs fresh air and judging on how dent it is, his head might be injured.
Steven: Okay, lets take off the mask.
Connie: Somebody bring me a bowl of water and a cloth.
Pearl: I'll go get it.
Pearl went downstairs to get it as Connie tried take off his helmet.
Amethyst: Hey Bismuth I bet you 20 dollars that underneath the mask he's ugly. So ugly that you want to throw up.
Bismuth: I'll take that bet, but do you even have 20 dollars?
Amethyst: No but I will eventually.
Connie lifted off the helmet as they all got a look at Gray's face. He was a young man with tan skin, quite handsome. He had black hair that was a little long and once the helmet was taken off, his hair hanged loosley across his face and over his eyes. He had a scar on his left cheek There was a small cut on his forhead caused by his dented helmet.
Pearl: I'm back with the...oh.
Peridot: Wow...he's so handsome.
Lapis: Very.
Bismuth: And you owe 20.
Amethyst: Do'h.
Connie soaked the cloth and placed it on his forhead. Once it was cleaned she bandaged up his head. But then he started to groan. His eyes were slowly opening up, revealing his violet eyes.
Gray: Ugh...where am I...
As he was regaining vision, the first thing he saw was Connie right next to him.
Gray: M-Mom?
Connie had a confused look on her face as did Steven. Did he just call her mom.
Gray: How did I get back?
But then he gasped as he saw everyone in the room. He turned and saw his helmet on the side and felt his face realizing it was off.
Connie: Hey you okay?
Gray grabbed the covers and pulled them to cover his face.
Gray: What are you doing?! Why did you take off my helmet?!
Steven: Hey, hey easy relax. You were hurt, we got worried so I took you back to my place.
Connie: I'm sorry, but I had to.
Gray: I appreciate it, but I must go.
Gray tried to get up, but Garnet placed a hand on his shoulder and had him stay down.
Garnet: Not so fast. You need to rest, you're safe with us.
Revenger: Now that you are here, I think you owe us an explanation.
Gray: ( sighs) You're right, sorry I just didn't want you to see me.
Connie: You don't have to hide your face, you look fine. But um...you probably weren't thinking straight, but why did you call me mom?
Gray: Ugh, God I am such an idiot. I was so careful until I just blurt it out!
Steven: Blurt what out?
Gray: ( sighs) Well, there's no point keeping this secret anymore but...this gonna sound insane.
Steven: Oh don't worry I've learned and experienced a lot of crazy and deadly things, I'm sure...
Gray: You two are my parents.
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. Sorry it's been a while, but I just wanted to take my time on this story. Well, there's your reveal with Gray, how will everyone take this? We'll get to know more about him and meeting everyone soon. I don't remember if I said this before, but in case your wondering, no Spinel's weapon is not the gem rejuvinator but is based off it. Special thanks to Lady Shadow92 for help on this one. If you liked this chapter, be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.