Hello everyone! Welcome back! Some of you might have some questions about where I'm going with this story, but spoilers shall not be tolerated! There should be one really big revelation coming up in this or the next chapter. You're just going to have to be patient though.

Enjoy!

I do not own 'Steven Universe'.

Chapter 9

Getting to Know Each Other

"It's not that I don't like Sphenes." Fire Agate was saying. "I just don't think we ever really needed them. We already had Peridots and Rutiles. We're even giving the Peridots limb enhancements when they don't come out proper. Back in my day, we never gave any Gem 'limb enhancements'. We shattered them on the spot, every one of them. Never needed no Sphene back then neither. But those were simpler times. Oh, how I miss shattering Gems fresh from the Kindergartens. I got to kill them after they've been alive for only about a couple of minutes. So poetic."

The two Topazes said nothing, walking behind the Agate in silence.

Fire Agate sighed. "Greg always had something to say," she muttered.

The three Gems approached a fork in the Underground road. One path just led down another trench, while the other path led into a dark and cold cavern.

"That must lead to the old Ice Quarry." Fire Agate said as she examined the cavern entrance. "I doubt the human went in there. He can't be that stupid. Come on, you two. Let's keep going."

Fire Agate led the Topazes away from the cavern.

She stopped though, right before they could continue down the Underground trench.

"On the other hand," Fire Agate drawled. "He might be purposefully trying to avoid confrontation with me." Fire Agate looked back at the cavern. "...But he wouldn't go in there, would he? The cold would kill him…But I wanted to kill him."

Fire Agate looked back and forth between the cavern that led to the Ice Quarry and the trench that led further into the Underground. She did this several times before she made her decision.

"...Oh, the heck with it, I'm going in there." Fire Agate spun around with a swish of her cape and marched to the cavern. "You two keep going and see if the human actually did go down that way. I'll meet up with you further down the path."

The two Topazes held hands and fused into one Topaz, then continued down the trench and deeper into the Underground.

Fire Agate entered the cavern and made her way to the Ice Quarry. "I better be right about this. Imagine how stupid I'll look if he's not in there. If he is in there, then I wonder how he's handling the cold?"

There's a monkey in the jungle, watching a vapor trail.

Caught up in the conflict, between his brain and his tail.

And if time's elimination, then we got nothing to lose.

Please repeat the message, it's the music that we choose.

Keeping my groove on,

Day doo de bop.

Day doo de bop.

"Alright, break it down, Larimar! Show us whatcha got!" Greg cheered.

"Here you go!" Larimar sang.

Get the cool, get the cool shoeshine.

Get the cool, get the cool shoeshine.

Get the cool, get the cool shoeshine.

Get the cool, get the cool shoeshine.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Peridot cried as she hung from Greg's chest. "The both of you, shut up! I can't take it anymore!"

"Not a Gorillaz fan, huh?" Greg asked. "I'll admit, it's not for everyone."

"Singing is fun!" said Larimar. "I cannot believe I have never done this before! Am I good at singing, Greg?"

"You are great at singing, Larimar." Greg raised his hand for a high-five and Larimar jumped into the air to engage.

"Hey, hey, my hand's not bleeding this time!" Greg pointed out. "You're finally getting the hang of it!"

Peridot groaned and rolled her eyes. After Greg had recovered in the fire salt mine and introduced himself to Larimar, the two of them had become friends almost immediately, due to their outgoing and friendly demeanors. After Greg took a little more time to rest, the three of them took off into the Ice Quarry. This time, Greg took a load of fire salt with him, stuffing a bunch of the salt into the pockets of his jacket. Whenever Greg felt a chill coming on, he just took a pinch of fire salt out of his pockets and gulped it down.

Greg and Larimar walked side by side through the snow, only leaving one trail of footprints since Larimar's feet never sank into the snow. The two of them had been singing songs together ever since they had left the fire salt mine, much to Peridot's annoyance.

"I gotta say, Larimar, you are a way better traveling companion than Peridot," said Greg. "No offense, P-dot."

"Why couldn't you have just frozen to death?" Peridot asked.

"And after being alone for thousands of years in this Quarry, your companionship has been incredibly refreshing," replied Larimar. "And the best part is that I can understand you when you talk. I could never understand a word spoken by every other human I have met prior to you."

"Why I am still trapped in this polythene cocoon?" Peridot demanded. "My destination is the Off-color Factory, same as the two of you!"

"No offense, but I'm still not sure that I can trust you," Greg said as he took out a pinch of fire salt out of his pocket. "You did try to kill me, after all." Greg dropped the fire salt into his mouth and his face immediately reddened. "Wowza! Thai food ain't got nothing on this stuff!"

"You humans have really changed after all this time," Larimar commented. "And I say this after only meeting you, Greg. How is the rest of Earth doing?"

"We're not doing too bad," Greg said. "We have air travel now. The internet has been a big hit for a while. Music has gone through numerous forms and phases. We figured out that the Earth isn't flat and that it goes around the Sun instead of vice versa."

"I was wondering if you humans would ever figure that out," said Larimar. "Uh, you said Yellow Diamond tried to kill you and make it look like an accident?"

"Oh, yeah. I guess she really hates that Pink Diamond has me hanging out with her." Greg replied.

"Ah. So Pink Diamond is still arguing with the other Diamonds." Larimar confirmed. "After all these years, Pink Diamond is still the…weird Diamond."

"Hey, come on," said Greg. "She's the best Diamond if you ask me. She saves the off-colors instead of having them immediately shattered. Not to mention the fact that she's just incredibly warm and friendly. I love spending time with her. All her Gems love her, and for good reason."

"You have grown close to Pink Diamond, haven't you?" Larimar asked.

Greg blushed, but you couldn't really tell because of the cold and the fire salt he was eating. "I mean…yeah. She's my friend."

"Ha!" said Peridot. "You can't be a Diamond's friend! You can only be her subject."

"Well, you're wrong." Greg swallowed another pinch of fire salt he pulled out of his pocket. "Pink is my friend. Furthermore, she has the right to have friends. I don't care about her rank, she's an amazing individual."

"She's still a Diamond, Greg." Larimar cautioned. "I think you are great. And I believe what you tell me about Pink Diamond. But keep in mind, a Diamond is made to rule over all others. Pink Diamond has always been known for being the most passive and kind of the four Diamonds, but her role in this life is to rule and conquer."

"She doesn't want to rule and conquer," said Greg. "She just wants to be herself. You know how hard that can be as a Gem. Imagine how hard that must be for Diamond."

"Larimar is correct, human." said Peridot. "You can't befriend a being as powerful and important as a Diamond."

"Well, I did," Greg said stubbornly.

"And look what happened." Peridot countered.

"Greg, you are very kind, and I like you." Larimar gave him a supportive smile. "But trying to befriend a Diamond, even Pink Diamond, is going to get you killed. And I would hate to see that happen."

Greg sighed. "You don't understand. I…I think I might be…well…I'm in…" Greg rubbed the back of his head. "You know what? Forget it. Are we almost out of the Quarry?"

"Yeah, the exit should be coming up pretty soon," said Larimar. "You still have enough fire salt with you?"

"Yeah, I'm good on salt." To prove his point, Greg took out another pinch of fire salt and gulped it down. His eyes watered from the spiciness of a single pinch of salt. "Man, the chefs back on Earth would kill to have this stuff."

The three traveling companions eventually made it to the end of the Ice Quarry, where a large, bus-sized tunnel had been dug into the wall, leading out of the Quarry.

"Man, I'm going to enjoy leaving this place." said Greg. "leaving a place where you almost died is such a satisfying experience."

"I can only imagine how you'll feel if you ever leave Homeworld," said Peridot.

"And I can imagine the disappointment you must feel, knowing you're going to die in this place after all."

Greg and Larimar spun around and froze in fear. Peridot let out a frightened 'eep'.

Fire Agate grinned. "Hey there, Greg." she drew her sword from her gem. "How ya been?"

The warp pad lit up with a column of light and Pink Diamond appeared in the Garden with Pearl by her side. The Pink Topaz guards bowed before their Diamond as she and her Pearl stepped off the warp pad.

Amethyst, Spinel, and Padparadscha ran up to meet Pink and Pearl. "Well?" Amethyst demanded.

Pink Diamond shrunk down to Quartz size and shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid there's no sign of him."

Spinel hung her head and began to whimper. Padparadscha placed a comforting hand on the cute Gem's shoulder.

"Jasper and Amber are still down there searching, but there has been no trace of him." Pink closed her eyes and hung her head. "...I wish I had better news."

Amethyst gritted her teeth and crossed her arms, glaring off to the side. "I could have helped find him."

"Jasper and Amber will find him, I'm sure of it," Padparadscha said optimistically.

Pink tried for a smile and nodded, but her mood did not seem to change. "If you all don't mind, I'm going to go up to Greg's private area for a moment. Let me know if something comes up."

Without waiting for anyone to reply, Pink Diamond made her way to the top of the tall dais.

"Greg going missing has really made her sad." Padparadscha pointed out.

"It's worse than that," said Pearl. "We have reason to believe that someone made an attempt to kill Greg, and the fall of the polonium processor was intended to look like an accident. We believe Yellow Diamond to be the culprit."

"What?!" Amethyst cried. "You've gotta be kidding me!"

"That's what has Pink Diamond so downcast?" Padparadscha asked.

Pearl nodded. "She hates the fact that one of her fellow Diamonds would do something like this. She also partially blames herself for what happened to Greg. She…" Pearl closed her eyes. "...She's really fond of that human."

Pearl then clasped her hands together and put on a big smile. "But, hey! It's like Pink Diamond said; Jasper and Amber are still down there searching! I'm sure they'll find him! They are both very professional about their duties."

'Someone, kill me now. The heck with the mission.' Jasper thought to herself as she did her best to tune out Amber's rambling. Her back remained straight as an iron rod as she marched through the Underground, but the Quartz soldier's eyes had become bloodshot.

"And don't get me started on those giant, carnivorous plants we found on Dega 12." Amber was saying. "When I first saw one of those things, I just walked right up to it, thinking it was harmless." With bright, excited eyes, Amber talked with her hands as she described the event. "I walked right up to it, and the darn thing spat out the skeleton of one of the planet natives. It had to have been the size of a Topaz, and the plant ate the whole thing! Can you believe it!"

"Uh-huh," said Jasper, a common response from her.

"And then, and then, and then…the thing ate me!" Amber let out a laugh. "The Rubies who were with me had to slice me out. I got so sticky!"

"Uh-huh."

Amber quickened her pace so she walked side-by-side with Jasper. "So, hey." Amber ran a hand across her orange-brown hair. "I've always wondered something, but if you don't wanna talk it, then that's fine."

"Whatever it is, I don't wanna talk about it."

"I've always wondered if you're…you know…content with what it is you do," said Amber.

Jasper gave Amber a sideways glance. "Excuse me?"

"You're one of the most powerful, perfectly-made Gems the Empire has ever seen." Amber pointed out. "I heard you burst out of your hole with your helmet on, immediately ready to fight."

"Your point?"

"A Quartz soldier as impressive as you? With your reputation? You could've been on the front lines of Yellow Diamond's elite force." Amber continued. "But instead…you really don't see a lot of action, do you? Most of your time is dedicated to training Quartzes and protecting Factory workers. How do you…feel about that?"

Jasper pretended to not have heard her.

"I'll stay quiet if you tell me."

"I was made to be a soldier." Jasper began immediately. "An unstoppable warrior, who would do battle without hesitation at the command of her Diamond. I was made to destroy."

Jasper paused for a minute or two. "Instead…I became a protector. A defender. Whenever I walk down the halls of Pink Diamond's Palace, or whenever I save Factory workers from Yellow Diamond's forces, all the Gems turn their heads and look at me the same way they look at Pink Diamond; like I'm their savior."

"Is…that bad?" Amber asked. "You're respected."

"Among Pink Diamond's Court, yes," replied Jasper. "But every other Gem would agree that my talents are put to waste by Pink Diamond."

"How do you feel about it?" Amber asked.

Jasper closed her eyes. "When I was first made, I never thought that I would end up doing the things Pink Diamond has me do. Being a warrior proved useful during the Rose Quartz's Rebellion, but after that was over with, our Diamond put me to work doing what I now do."

"Being the defender instead of the offender," Amber said. "Being the protector."

Jasper nodded. "At first, I felt insulted. I won't lie. But after a while, I…" she shrugged. "I eventually took a certain amount of gratification from being praised as the sword and shield of Pink Diamond's Court. And the way Pink Diamond is always telling me how much she appreciates me, and all those times she refused to give me to Yellow Diamond. Well…" Jasper tried to fight back the faint blush on her face. "...It's nice. Being appreciated…is nice."

Amber smiled and nodded. "It is, isn't it?"

"No offense, but how many Gems actually appreciate the work you do?" Jasper asked.

"Well, there's Pink Diamond, of course. And…no one else." Amber kept the smile on her face, but depression shone in her eyes. "At least everyone in Pink Diamond's Court respects and/or fears you. Me, though? My work has never been appreciated. I'm just some experimental, organically-made Gem, who gets laughed at by everyone who isn't Pink Diamond or one of my friends."

"No one takes you seriously." Jasper summed up.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my work. I just…which everyone would stop looking at me like I'm a joke." Amber looked away and slowed her pace so she trailed behind Jasper. "...I imagine that's how you see me; as some useless Gem who doesn't do a lick of good for the Empire, existing only because Pink Diamond got bored when she was making her Kindergarten."

Jasper tried at first to keep silent and just continue marching along, but instead, she let out a sigh and halted her progress. Jasper turned around to face the surprised Amber.

"Listen. I'm a Quartz soldier. I was made to obey my orders and fight whatever my superiors pointed at. I don't have any reason to appreciate what it is you do."

Amber shrunk a little from Jasper's words.

"That being said…I'm just a soldier. All I can do is fight. So, what do I know?" Jasper shifted her weight awkwardly. "If you're happy doing the work you do, then why should you care what everyone else thinks about you? You're more perky and upbeat than any Gem I've ever met. Take pride in that, if nothing else. Be happy that you're happy with your work. Forget what everyone else thinks. You have friends and a Diamond who appreciates you. What else do you need?"

Amber stared at Jasper in shock for a while. Then the golden-brown Gem's eyes sparkled as a crazy grin grew on her face.

"I knew it!" she cried. "I knew you liked me!"

Jasper was taken back by Amber's outburst. The big Gem raised her hands in a calming gesture. "Alright, take it down a notch. I don't not like you, but-"

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" Amber speed-walked past Jasper and took the lead. "Come on, ya big softy! We've got a human to find!"

Jasper raised an eyebrow, then shook her head as she followed after Amber.

"It makes sense you care about the human so much," Jasper said as she walked after Amber. "Having it around must really put your abilities to good use."

"Yeah," said Amber. "That and…he's my friend. And I care about my friends."

"Hmm," said Jasper. "Rumor has it that the human has some kind of mind control ability, and that's how he was able to win over both Pink Diamond, as well as many of the other Gems it comes into contact with. That true?"

Amber let out a laugh. "Of course not! That's just how Greg is! He's really kind and really caring. Just about everybody who meets him ends up liking him. You can't help it."

Jasper took a moment, then chuckled. "That sounds like Pink Diamond."

Amber smiled. "It does, doesn't it?" she bit her bottom lip nervously. "I really hope Greg is okay."

"Greg, as you call it, survived an encounter with Yellow Diamond's Fire Agate, right?" Jasper asked. "I wouldn't doubt the human's ability to survive."

"I hope you're right," said Amber. "But, what if he runs into Fire Agate again?"

"Oh, Greg will die. No question," said Jasper.

(Meanwhile)

"I have to say, Greg, I wasn't entirely sure you'd come here." Fire Agate said. "You risked your own life in an attempt to avoid me?" she brought a hand up to her chest. "Imagine how that must make me feel."

Greg and Larimar backed up slowly and carefully as Fire Agate took patient, predatory steps towards them, leaving steaming footprints in the snow. They were so close to the exit out of the Ice Quarry but knew that they had no hope of outrunning the mad Agate.

Peridot, eyes willed with terror, shook in her harness. "Oh Diamonds, this is it," she whispered.

Fire Agate laughed. "I take it you're the Peridot that Yellow Diamond told me about?"

"Uh…no?" said Peridot.

"Fire Agate, this is between you and me." Greg took Peridot off of him and handed her over to Larimar. "Let these two go, you have no reason to hurt them."

"I don't care about the Larimar, no," said Fire Agate. "But I'm afraid the Peridot must die as well. Nothing personal, but orders are orders."

Peridot let out a frightened squeak as she huddled closer to Larimar.

Fire Agate chuckled as she brought her sword up and began casually examining its tip. "Oh, I've been looking forward to this," she said. "Your death will not be quick, dear human. Oh, no. I will take a great amount of pleasure in seeing the life fade from your eyes as the pain and the torment finally subside from your being, giving way to the sweet embrace of death."

"Out of all the Gems in the universe you could have upset, why did you have to upset this one?" Larimar asked. "Was it a competition or something? Because I believe you won by a long shot."

"It's not just about me." Fire Agate argued. "Yellow Diamond was the one who ordered me to kill him."

"Yeah, about that." Greg threw his hands out in exasperation. "What the hell is your Diamond's problem with me?! What did I ever do that merited a staged assassination and you being sent to hunt me down?! Does she hate me hanging out with Pink Diamond that much?!"

"...You really have no idea, do you?" Fire Agate titled her head. The light in her fiery eyes glimmered. "You honestly don't know anything."

Greg blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"It's a shame, really. I was actually hoping you would at least have some idea." Fire Agate took a step forward. "But as I feared, you're utterly clueless."

"Get her to take a few more steps towards us," Larimar whispered as softly and quietly as she could.

"Are you crazy?" Peridot whispered back. "Get her to go away, not come closer!"

"Just do it, Greg!" Larimar whispered. "Keep talking to her."

Greg gulped. "C-clueless about w-what?" he wasn't sure if it was the fear or the cold that was making him stutter.

"Come now, Greg. You really haven't even tried to piece it all together?" Greg thought he heard a touch of irritation in the Agate's voice.

"Piece what together?" Greg took a step back and so did Larimar. "I'm pretty sure I got the gist of it. The Diamonds hate humans. Rebellion. The end."

"Really?" Fire Agate to a step forward. "You really think it's that simple? You think the Diamonds loath your kind just because they got blamed for the Rebellion?"

Greg furrowed his brow at the Agate. "...What are the Diamonds trying to hide?"

"There you go." Fire Agate laughed. "Shame, my dear human. They are trying to hide their shame."

Confused, Greg took another step back. Larimar, holding onto Peridot, did the same. "Shame?"

"But of course," said Fire Agate. "Lies were told and Gems were shattered in order to bury the truth. Only reason I'm still around is because they didn't want to get rid of a Gem like me. I'm all that's left of what we were all cheated out of. They keep me around in a vain hope that we all might get it back."

"Get what back?" Greg asked, taking another step back.

That actually seemed to set Fire Agate off a little. She took two angry steps towards the trio, eyes blazing, heat radiating off her body enough to make steam rise all around her. Greg, Peridot, and Larimar all froze in terror.

But Fire Agate managed to calm herself down, closing her eyes and recomposing herself.

"...Did you ever have someone incredibly important to you be taken away?" Fire Agate asked quietly. "A loss that changed the very outcome of your life?"

Greg stared at Fire Agate. "...Yeah…Yeah, I did. It was the most painful day of my life. I'll never forget that pain."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm," Fire Agate laughed. She reopened her eyes, which blazed like miniature suns. "Pain, human. With all that it's capable of, it's basically love without the joy."

"I know you want to kill me," said Greg. "But for what it's worth…I'm sorry. Sorry for whatever pain you had to endure."

"...I believe you." Fire Agate readied her blade and took one more step forward. "So as a sign of respect, Gregory Universe, I'll make you and the Peridot's death quick and painless. How's that sound?"

Larimar threw the chunk of ice she carved out of the ground straight into Fire Agate's eye.

"Oh my goodness." the horrified Peridot breathed.

Fire Agate reeled her head back and shouted out in pain, but didn't move from where she was. She brought her hand to her face and hung her head down low.

Greg suddenly felt a sudden and intense heat emit from Fire Agate. The snow around her melted and steam rose so thick, it might've been mistaken for smoke. Fire Agate slowly rose her head and, with her hand over one eye, glared bloody murder at Larimar with her uninjured, flaming eye.

"You…little…"

The ground between Fire Agate's feet gave way and she fell down through the floor. By the sound of her startled cry, she continued to fall through a shaft she made with her own heat.

"Woah!" Greg cried. "What the-"

"Soft spot in the ice," said Larimar. "Gave way easily to an intense heat."

"Let's go, you clods!" Peridot screamed.

Greg grabbed Peridot's harness and darted into the exit with Larimar at his heels. Greg felt the temperature rise as they left the cold of the Ice Quarry behind.

"Alright, Peridot. What's the fastest way to the Factory?" Greg asked as he slipped Peridot's harness on, running as fast as he could.

"Speed is no longer the primary concern of our travel!" said Peridot. "We need to take a randomly chosen course that still gets us to the Factory in an adequate amount of time! We need to make sure that the Fire Agate can't follow our trail!"

"Does she know we're trying to reach the Factory?" Greg asked.

"If she hasn't already come to that conclusion, it stands to reason that she eventually will," said Peridot. "Stop arguing and do as I say, you clod!"

"She likes the word 'clod', doesn't she?" Larimar asked.

"She really does," said Greg.

Greg and Larimar did as Peridot instructed, winding through the Underground paths randomly chosen by the green Gem. The fear of Fire Agate's fury quicked Greg and Larimar's pace. Peridot ordered them to take so many turns, Greg began to worry whether or not she knew where she was going.

Fire Agate, after several failed attempts, managed to crawl out of the hole she made. Keeping her temperature down proved to be quite the trick, but the Devil-Gem managed to keep her cool as she carefully climbed back up to the surface of the Ice Quarry. Once she got back on her feet, Fire Agate stared into the exit that Greg had escaped into.

Fire Agate let out a rich, jovial laugh. "Good," she said in between laughs. "Very good, Greg."

Greg ran until his legs and lungs burned, and then he kept running. He took every twist and turn as Peridot instructed without question or complaint.

"Left!" Peridot would shout. "Right…! Left…! Straight ahead…! Second path from the right…!"

Eventually though, Greg couldn't take it any more. Exhausted, he slowed to a stop and took long, deep breaths.

"Oh my God." Greg gasped. "I'm gonna fucking die."

"Yes, yes you will die," said Peridot. "Unless you keep going! Now move!"

"He can't keep this up, Peridot," said Larimar. "His dethaw already took a lot out of him. The sudden sprint has drained him of what little he had left."

"Just give me a minute," Greg said between heavy pants. "Jesus goddamn Christ, maybe I should've joined the army after all. It couldn't have been worse than this."

"If we must let the Greg rest, than we should at least find a place to hide while he does." Peridot reasoned. "The Fire Agate is probably already after us!"

Larimar nodded in agreement. "How much farther can you go, Greg?"

"I'll go 'till I drop," said Greg. "I'm just worried that it might not take long before that happens."

Larimar took a look around the trench they were currently in. Her face lit up with delight as her gaze landed on a small, narrow tunnel dug into the trench wall, barely noticeable in the rock formation of the grey trench. "There!"

Before Greg or Peridot could question her, Larimar dashed to the tunnel. With Peridot hanging from his chest, Greg followed after Larimar. He had to duck his head an inch or two in order to fit into the tunnel, but it wasn't a terribly tight squeeze. The tunnel eventually lead to a moderately sized cavern about the size of a elementary school gym. Greg looked around and saw a number of child-sized holes in the cavern walls, shaped as if something had popped out of the dirt.

"What is this place?" Greg asked.

"A Kindergarten," Peridot answered. "A considerably small one at that. I estimate this Kindergarten was designed to create a quick batch of Rubies." she narrowed her eyes at the holes lining the walls. "...No, not Rubies. The texture of the inside of the emergence holes is all wrong for them to be Rubies."

"This is where I was made," said Larimar. "Me and the other Larimars were incubated into this sector."

"You were born here?" Greg asked.

"Oh yeah. Now I see it," said Peridot. "Wow, so these are Larimar emergence holes. You don't see these anymore."

"Hey, look! My hole!" Larimar ran up to one of the many holes lining the walls. "Still just as I remember it."

Greg looked around at the small, abandoned Kindegarten. "So this is where Gems come from, huh?"

"Kindergartens are usually much bigger than this puny example, but yes," said Peridot. "This Kindergarten was probably made for the Ice Quarry, likely in an attempt to quickly introduce more workers into the Quarry, given its size."

"Correct," Larimar said as she crawled into the hole she had emerged from. "Me and the others were only made because the Manager of the Quarry thought the more workers were needed for production. In truth, the decision did little for the Quarry's productivity."

Greg gave the whole Kindergarten a weird look. "...What's it like?" he asked. "You know, being…made?"

"You don't exit," said Peridot.

"and then you do." Larimar finished. The ice Gem stuck her head out of her hole. "You pop out of the ground knowing everything you need to know about how to be the Gem you are."

"You don't say?" Greg walked up and slid Peridot and his backpack off of him, setting both down by Larimar's hole. "Humans don't remember being born. Hell, life before we turn five or six years old gets a little hard to recollect. We're pretty much helpless until we get older."

"How are humans made?" Peridot asked.

"I…highly doubt you would forgive me if I told you," Greg said as he sat down next to Peridot. "It is a very…physical procedure."

Larimar rested her head on her hand. "If humans are so mindless and helpless when they're made, then how did you become what you are now?"

"Didn't the village that took you in have baby humans?" Greg asked. "Small? Normally being held by someone? Cries a lot? No, not Peridot?"

"I hate you," said Peridot.

"Is that what those things were?" Larimar asked. "I always thought that they were pets or something."

"We learn as we grow and develop," Greg explained. "As babies, we depend on our parents and learn through experience and teaching."

"That sounds like a lot of extra work," said Peridot.

Greg shrugged. "I won't pretend to know what parenthood is like." He looked away. "Wish I could've had more time with my parents, though."

Larimar gave Greg an odd look. She slipped out of her hole and sat down next to Greg, opposite of Peridot. "What you told Fire Agate back there…you weren't just trying to stall her, were you?"

Greg silently shook her head.

Larimar titled her head. "Who did you lose?"

Greg sighed. "Humans are…two halves, each half comes from one of our parents. Half of our being comes from our dad, and the other half comes from our mom. My dad was a soldier, who came from a long line of military men."

"That explains your surprising endurance and tolerance to pain," said Peridot.

"Yeah, no kidding," said Greg. "I almost bled to death, I almost froze to death, I survived a fall into chasm inside a big metal bridge, I've been on my feet constantly, I'm beggining to question my own mortality."

Greg shook his head. "Uh, as I was saying. My dad was a soldier. He died when I was about two, I don't remember him very well. My mom, though." Greg took a breath. "I remember her all too well. I loved her more than anything else in the world. She was a musician, and the reason I became one…She died when I was six."

Peridot blinked. "Someone you…loved…was terminated?"

Greg nodded. "Killed by a sickness we call cancer. The healers of my world couldn't save her in the end." he closed his eyes. "I remember when the doctor came up to me while I sat in the waiting room and…"

Greg swallowed. "I know exactly what it's like to lose someone important to you."

Larimar tenderly placed her hand on Greg's arm. Peridot looked down at the ground thoughtfully.

"...I don't…love anyone," Peridot said. "And...no one loves me. I don't think I know what love is like."

"You've never been part of a family before," Greg told her. "That's not your fault. Family seems to be something that few Gem partake in."

Greg decided to change the subject. "What do you think Fire Agate was talking about back there? The Diamonds trying to hide their shame? Being cheated out of something? Someone important to Fire Agate who she lost?"

"That Fire Agate is a lunatic, Greg." Larimar pointed out. "You should not concern yourself with her mad ravings."

"Agreed," said Peridot. "That Agate is unstable and homicidal. There is no need to worry ourselves with anything she has to say."

"Well…maybe you're right." Greg took off his jacket and laid it down as a makeshift pillow. He laid his head and and closed his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. I'm gonna get some sleep and forget about that maniac."

Greg fell asleep almost immediately.

Larimar looked over at Peridot, who was staring at Greg's sleeping from. If you looked closely, you could see concern brimming in the green Gem's eyes.

Larimar smirked. "You like him."

Peridot shook her head and looked up at Larimar. "What? No!"

"Then you're finally starting to," said Larimar.

"I do not like this creature!" Peridot cried. Greg didn't even stir from her loud voice. "Perhaps I pity him a great deal, but I do not possess any fondness nor affection towards this human!"

Larimar lied down on her back and and folded her hands on her chest. "I am going to attempt sleep, something I have not done since the village of humans I was welcomed into was destroyed. I would recommend that you attempt it as well, as it is quite nice. I would also recommend that you come to terms with the fact that you need friends, as having friends is also quite nice."

Peridot watched as Larimar fell asleep next to Greg. The former Kindergartener narrowed her eyes as she laid her head down on the ground.

"Stupid human," she muttered.

Taking Larimar's first bit of advice, Peridot mimicked Greg and eventually fell asleep, another new experience for her. The small, green, child of a Gem, squirming in her sleep, ended up scooting closer to Greg, eventually lying still as she snoozed comfortably against Greg's side.

Pink Diamond ran a hand gently across the neck of Greg's guitar. Seated on the futon up on the Garden dais, the Diamond sat the guitar on her lap the way Greg had showed her and tried to strum a tune. She let out a sigh, as it sounded awful.

Pearl made her way up to the dais. She folded her hands in front of her and approached her Diamond, who looked a little deflated. "My Diamond?"

"Oh. Hello, Pearl." Pink responded sadly. She set the guitar against the nightstand and tried for a smile. "Any word from the Jasper and Amber?"

"No, my Diamond," Pearl replied. "They haven't reported back with any leads onto Greg's whereabouts."

"Oh." The smile faded from Pink's face and she looked down at the floor.

Pearl walked over and sat down next to her Diamond on the futon. "...You're really worried him."

Pink nodded.

Pearl bit her lip and looked away. "My Diamond-"

"Pearl, please. Just call me Pink."

Pearl smiled a little. "I understand Greg means a lot to you, Pink. There's a lot about him that you find…enjoyable. Perhaps I could simply do all the things you find enjoyable that Greg does. After all, I am your Pearl and personal confidant." Pearl picked the guitar up and studied the instrument curiously. "This shouldn't be too difficult. If the human can do it, then I certainly can."

"You don't understand, Pearl." Pink looked at her Pearl with sad eyes. "I hate being a Diamond. Greg is one of the best friends I've ever had. I love you and the others, Pearl, you're all my family. But once the other Diamonds figured out I had a human with me, that was it. That was when I crossed the line. They already hate the fact that I treat my Gems like friends, and when I started treating a human like a friend, that human was made a target almost immediately."

Pearl put the guitar down and desperately tried to think of a response. "This life of ours isn't always easy or fair. We don't always get what we want. I know you care about Greg. But, Pink…he was never meant to last. You know that, right?"

Pink closed her eyes. "Yeah, I know. I'm not allowed to have the things I want, only the things I'm given." she smiled at Pearl. "I was given you, and I couldn't have been happier with that. I was given the Kindergartens that brought Amethyst and the others into my life, and that made me happy."

"But you weren't given Greg," said Pearl. "He just sort of…dropped into your life."

Pink Diamond's smile got bigger. "Yeah," her smile vanished. "And then he dropped out of it…literally."

"Ha. Yes. He dropped down inside of that bridge." Pearl said.

Pink gave Pearl a flat look.

Pearl blushed. "Sorry." she cleared her throat and and recomposed herself. "Listen, Pink. I know you miss Greg. But…you still have me." Pearl smiled awkwardly. "The other Diamonds made me for you so that I would make you happy. So, please,"

Pearl placed a hand on Pink's shoulder. "Just tell me how to make you happy, and I'll do it. I'll do anything for you, Pink, you know that."

Pink smiled back and rested her hand on Pearl's. "I know you will. And I love you for it."

Pearl's face lit up with a blush.

"But…" Pink looked away and her smile became a straight line. "Greg made me happy by…by not reminding me that I'm a Diamond. Being with him made me forget about everything that I hate about my life. I'm sorry, Pearl. I know you mean well, but…that's not something you can do."

Pearl's face fell as she looked away. She took a moment before she said anything. "Well then…I suppose if I'm to make you happy…then I'm just going to have to bring you Greg back."

Pink tilted her head at Pearl. "You don't like Greg very much. I never understood why."

Pearl sighed as she stood up and walked away. She went down the dias without saying a word.

Pink just blinked in confusion.

No one sang, or even spoke. Once Greg had gotten a adequate amount of sleep in the Kindergarten, the three of them had agreed to continue the rest of the journey as silently as possible. Greg and Larimar walked through the Underground in silence, jerking their heads towards anything that made a sound, fearing Fire Agate would show up at a moment's notice to finish them off.

Peridot was the only one who would speak. She hung from Greg's harness and told him and Larimar which way to go whenever a choice of paths was given.

No one would say it, it didn't really need to be said, but ever since they left Larimar's old Kindergarten, there was a sort of bond between the three of them. Even Peridot could feel it, as much as she hated to even acknowledge it. Maybe they bonded over surviving an encounter with Fire Agate. Maybe they bonded over Greg sharing his pain and taking a nap all together. Whatever it was, the bond was there. And they all felt much better and safer sticking together. Even though they were all too scared to say anything, nothing needed to be said.

After a while, Peridot finally said something other than directions. "...I mean…why couldn't it have been a Ruby?" she asked. "You could have made an enemy out of a Ruby, or an Amethyst, or maybe just a regular Agate. Oh, but, no. It had to be Fire Agate. It had to be one of the scariest Gems on Homeworld."

"How do the two of you even know each other?" Larimar asked.

"Ah, we met in one of the abandoned Kindergartens," said Greg. "I was helping a friend out with something, we ran into Fire Agate who was about to kill an off-color Gem. One thing led to another, and I ran my destabilizer through her throat."

"What?!" Larimar and Peridot said at the exact same time.

"Yeah, she's wanted to get even ever since." Greg rubbed his arm anxiously. "I don't know why she's so obsessed with me, though. So I saved myself from dying, get over it."

"Could be she's just bored," Peridot suggested. "I imagine an Agate of her caliber doesn't see a lot of action anymore. She might just be using you to let off steam and satisfy her kill-lust."

"So, what? I'm her stress toy or something?" Greg asked. "Or her ball of yarn or whatever?"

"I don't know what either of those things are," said Peridot.

"Honesty, I can't help but feel bad for the psychopath," Greg admitted. "Maybe she isn't evil after all. Maybe she's just damaged."

"No, she's evil," said Peridot.

"Yes, definitely evil." Larimar agreed.

Greg rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I still can't help but wonder what the heck she was talking about back there. She wasn't just babbling nonsense, she was being serious. Remember when Yellow Diamond said something about what the humans did to Pink Diamond, Peridot? It's gotta be connected with what Fire Agate was talking about."

"Why should you care?" Peridot asked.

"Because if the Diamonds want me dead so badly, then I want to know why," Greg argued. "The Diamonds are hiding something, and Fire Agate knows what."

"You plan to ask her yourself?" Larimar asked. "Seriously, Greg, let it go. For your own safety if nothing else."

Greg sighed. "Yeah, maybe. Still though-"

"Quiet!" Peridot suddenly hissed.

Greg stopped in his tracks. "What, why-"

"Shhhhh!" Peridot said. "Listen!"

Greg and Larimar looked around and listened. They soon heard what Peridot had heard. Voices up ahead.

Greg gasped. "What do we do?!" Greg whispered fearfully.

"Quick! Let's hide behind those rocks!" Larimar suggested, pointing to some large rocks sitting over by the trench wall.

Greg and Larimar ran over to the rocks and hopped behind them. Greg pulled Peridot off of him and set her beside him as he sat down next to Larimar, back pressed against the stone.

"Man, good thing these rocks were here," said Greg. "Kind of a perfect coincidence, right?"

"SHHHH!" Larimar and Peridot both hissed.

"Sorry. Sorry."

A few seconds later, the sound of footsteps and, for some reason, the sound of wet flapping, could be heard from the other side of the rocks.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" a voice demanded.

'Ruby?' Greg thought.

"Yes, I know where I'm going." An irritated, high-pitched, British voice replied. "The human is somewhere in this vicinity."

Greg and Larimar glanced at each other. Peridot began to tremble nervously.

"Look. We've been following you around this entire time, and we haven't even seen another Gem, let only a human, in the Undeground." the first voice complained. By the sound of it, they all had stopped walking to have their argument. "Me and my Rubies are getting fed up with you!"

"Fed up with me?" the young, British girl's voice asked. "You think it's easy working with you blockheads?" Greg heard the British voice sigh. "Listen. I've done the maths, and the calculations tell me that the human is somewhere 'round 'ere. In fact, it's a wonder we 'aven't ran into the bugga yet."

Greg found the British one's accent and high-pitched voice to be adorable and hilarious. He bit his lip and he repressed his giggles.

"Well, where the stardust is it, then?" the one that sounded like Ruby demanded. "Our mission is to find that human, dead or alive."

Greg gulped, killing his giggles.

"I am well aware of the mission." the British voice said. "Stick to catching fire and belching smoke. Leave the tracking and the locating to me, why don't ya?"

"Fine." said the Ruby. "But you'd better find something. Otherwise, it's Blue Diamond you'll have to answer to. After all, you're our superior, right?"

Greg heard some snickering, suggesting that the Ruby's crew found their leader's comment funny.

The British one growled. "Dimwitted rocks. You'd all be lost in the Underground already if it weren't for me." Greg heard the sound of wet flapping again. "Come along, now! We've got no time to lose!"

"I'm gonna murder that smug, funny-talking, Lazuli knock-off.," the Ruby said. The sound of numerous marching feet sounded off. It wasn't until a few seconds after the sound had faded away that Greg and Larimar peaked out from behind the rock.

"Who the hell were they?" Greg asked. "The one leading them sounded really English."

"That was an Aquamarine," Peridot said. "Blue Diamond must have sent her down here with a squadron of Rubies to look for you."

"They don't seem to be working very well together," Larimar commented.

"Oh, great. Now Blue Daimond's looking for me too?" Greg whined. "Just my luck."

"Didn't you say that Blue Diamond actually likes you?" Larimar asked.

"Well, 'like' sounds like too strong of a word," Greg said. "But still, I didn't think she would send her goons after me."

"We should get going," said Peridot. "There are obviously numerous parties after you, Greg. We need to hurry to the Factory."

"Right." Greg picked Peridot up and started to put the harness on. He stopped though, instead he just hung Peridot in the air and stared at her in thought.

"...Larimar." Greg put Peridot down. "Cut her free, would ya?"

Peridot blinked in surprise. Larimar came up and used her claws to cut the green Gem free from the duct tape. Now free, Peridot stood up on her own two feet and rubbed her arms, enjoying the loss of her restraints.

Peridot looked up at Greg in confusion. "You're…setting me free?" she asked.

Greg nodded.

"But…why?" she asked. "It was the stupidest miscalculation you could have made, given the current situation."

"I won't hold you captive anymore, Peridot," Greg said. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want to."

Peridot continued to stare at Greg, still looking confused. "Well, what if I choose to abandon you and Larimar and set off on my own?"

"Then that will be your choice to make," said Greg. "All I will do is ask you, beg you even, to guide me and Larimar safely to the Factory."

Peridot looked at Larimar, who simply titled her head. She looked back at Greg, who stared at her calmly and expectantly.

"...I…" Peridot shook her head and straightened her posture. She closed her eyes and cleared her throat. "I have made my decision."

"Yeah?" Greg asked.

"I will continue to escort the two of you to the Factory," said Peridot. "But only because there is strength in numbers. Also, your return to Pink Diamond ensures my safety from the wrath of Yellow Diamond and a place at the Factory."

Greg and Larimar both smiled at Peridot.

"What are you two smiling at?" she asked.

"I knew it," said Larimar. "I knew you liked us."

"No I do not!" Peridot replied almost immediately. Her green cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"If you say so." Greg crossed him arms and beamed at Peridot. "So, which way, navigator?"

Peridot rolled her eyes as she took the lead. She began down the path once more with Greg and Larimar following behind her.

From her hiding spot behind another rock, a Ruby with her gem in her leg watched as the trio took off into the Underground. She had fallen behind, forgetting for a moment what she was doing in the Underground. When the Ruby had heard voices, she went to investigate, only to find a Quartz-looking thing and two Gems.

"I should probably tell the captain." The Ruby said to herself. She then hurried away to catch up to her group.

Jasper marched through the trenches and caves of the Underground with Amber right beside her. Amber practically skipped with each step as she kept pace with the big soldier. The giddy nerd-Gem couldn't stop smiling.

"You know…we should do this more often," Amber suggested.

"Look for humans in the underbelly of Homeworld?" Jasper asked.

"We should hang out more." Amber grinned and titled her head playfully. "Wherever and whenever, I'd love to spend more time with you."

Amber took Jasper's hand, stopping the big Gem in her tracks.

Jasper looked down at the small hand that had grabbed a hold of her own. Then she looked into the golden-bronze eyes that stared desirably into her own.

For a minute, Jasper just stood there and stared. But then she pulled her hand away from Amber's.

"Amber, look. You seem nice, but," Jasper shook her head. "I'm not looking for a relationship."

Amber's face immediately fell from being shot down. "Oh…okay." she hugged her arms and looked on the the verge of tears.

Jasper sighed. "Come on, don't do that. It's not you, it's me. I'm just not a 'relationship' kind of Gem, that's all."

"Couldn't we try, at least?" Amber asked. "I mean, come on. You're so attractive, and really awesome."

"Amber, I'm-"

"The most perfect Quartz ever made, I know." Amber crossed her arms and turned her back to Jasper. "And perish the thought of a Gem like you even associating with an Amber like me."

"That's not why-"

"That's exactly why."

Jasper groaned and pinched her brow. "Amber, I-"

Jasper suddenly tensed up when she felt the ground tremor. It was the sound and feel of heavy foot steps approaching them.

"Get behind me!" Jasper ordered, pushing Amber behind her.

Jasper summoned her helmet and got into a fighting stance as the tremors began greater. Amber's eyes widened and Jasper's eyes narrowed as a Topaz fusion rounded the corner in front of them. The double Topaz had her yellow gems on either side of her head and weilded a large pugil stick. When the Topaz spotted Jasper and Amber, she froze and stared at the two of them in surprise.

"Did you find him?" a voice called out. "If anyone asks, though, tell them I found him."

Fire Agate excitedly rounded the corner after Topaz. When she saw who Topaz had run into, a Fire Agate's eyes lit up with surprise.

"Jasper?" Fire Agate smiled. "Well, how about that? Running into you in these parts." Fire Agate met Amber's frightened gaze. "And you have Pink Diamond's weird, organically-made Gem with you. Grand."

"What are you doing here?" Jasper demanded.

Fire Agate shrugged. "Same as you, I suppose. Looking for a human. I imagine, however, that we have different plans for when we find said human."

"Yellow Diamond sent you to kill him, didn't he?!" Amber shouted. "She's the one who sent Greg tumbling down into the Underground in the first place, wasn't she?!"

"Maybe, maybe not," replied Fire Agate. "Regardless, we can all agree that the human is more difficult to kill than anyone would think." Fire Agate sighed longingly and placed a hand on her cheek. "His refusal to die is just so…alluring. I want to kill him so badly, but everytime I try, he slips away. I mean, sure, both times I tried, it was mostly my fault for talking so much, I'll admit. You can hardly blame me for that, though. Greg is just so easy to talk too."

"He is, isn't he?" Amber agreed. "Also, stay away from Greg, you crazy psycho!"

"Amber," Jasper said in a warning tone.

"Spunky, aren't you?" Fire Agate grinned wickedly. "I love shattering spunky Gems. The extra fight and the struggle they give always makes it more entertaining."

"Back off, Agate," Jasper growled. "Go back to your Diamond and stay out of my way."

"Oh, come now, Jasper." Fire Agate stepped closer and smiled pleasantly. "Why must you always be so mean? We were meant to be partners. We were made for the same purpose."

"We were made for different Diamonds," said Jasper. "Too very different Diamonds."

"...You have no idea how right you are." Fire Agate said mysteriously.

"Stay out of my way." the dangerous edge and menace in Jasper's voice made Amber shiver. And no, not with fear. "You only get the one warning."

"Heh, heh, heh." A fire burned playfully in the Agate's eyes. "Did I tell you that I saw the human down here?"

"You did?!" Amber asked. "Where?! Tell us where?!"

Fire Agate grinned. "The human was last seen at the old Ice Quarry, by me, when I tried to kill him, unsuccessfully. Like I said, he's hard to kill. I lost him after that, but I ran into the Peridot who may or may not have been assigned by Yellow Diamond to kill Greg not long after. She was looking for the human as well. Who knows? She might've already found him."

"Why are you telling us this?" Jasper asked suspiciously.

Fire Agate smiled, showing teeth. "I love to play games, Jasper, you know that. The Peridot that may or may have tried to kill Greg in the Polonium Mine is still down here. She's still conspiring to kill Greg. My guess is that she'll make an attempt to befriend Greg. And then," Fire Agate blew a raspberry. "Goodbye, Greg."

Jasper narrowed her eyes.

"Well, I guess I'll get going." Fire Agate made her way around Jasper and Amber, with Topaz following behind. "Let's see who can find the human first. Oh, how exciting."

As Fire Agate and Topaz strode away, the Agate looked back and grinned. "You two are adorable together, by the way. I didn't realize you had a type, Jasper dear. Makes sense now why you never enjoyed my company."

Jasper replied with a deep growl.

Fire Agate laughed as she turned her head back to the path ahead. "See you later. And may the best hunter find her human."

"You think Yellow had something to do with Greg's accident?" Blue Diamond asked.

"Of course she did." Pink Diamond replied. "This is exactly something she would do."

Blue Diamond, seated on her throne, hummed thoughtfully and narrowed her eyes. "If Yellow Diamond was the cause of the damage done to my Mine, then she has much to answer for."

"I have reason to believe that an Era Two Peridot destroyed the polonium processor, at the command of Yellow Diamond." Pink took a step towards Blue. "Greg is alive, Blue, I know he is. But I think the Peridot is too. I think she's down in the Homeworld Underground hunting Greg as we speak."

"And I imagine Yellow has already sent some Gems to go and ensure the human's death." Blue Diamond pinched her brow and groaned in frustration. "Curse it, Yellow, have you no self-restraint?"

"You have to help me find him!" Pink begged. "Please, Blue! I know you don't like that I brought a human into my care, but I just want him back! You gotta send some Gems to find him, I'm begging you!"

"Way ahead of you, Pink."

Pink Diamond blinked. "What…What do you mean?"

Blue smiled and stood from her throne. "I sent an Aquamarine and a squadron of five Rubies to find him. The Aquamarine is one of my more capable Gems and three of the five Rubies are well-experienced in search missions. One of them is even a veteran of the Rebellion, giving her a little bit of experience with humans."

Pink stared at Blue in disbelief, then rushed up and crushed her fellow Diamond in a big hug. "Thank you, Blue! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Blue chuckled and returned the hug that threatened to poof her. "Well, seeing as how Greg is the only organic creature you've taken in that I actually like, I couldn't just let him be killed in the Underground after surviving everything else."

"Ah-ha!" Pink ended the hug and smiled up at Blue. "So you do like Greg!"

Blue rolled her eyes and smiled. "Compared to all your other organic creatures that have attempted to either eat or mate with our Gems, I'd say Greg is quite the improvement. And yes, conversing with him is quite enjoyable. Even my Pearl seems to enjoy his company."

Standing silently by Blue Diamond's throne, Blue Pearl blushed and bowed her head.

Pink Diamond chewed on her lip for a second before recomposing herself. "Yes, I know she does. My Pearl doesn't, for some reason."

Blue Diamond tilted her head curiously. "...This human really means a lot to you. That much is quite apparent. What I do not understand is why. What is it about this human that makes him so important to you? Sure, he's kind, he's intelligent–enough, he can sing and play music, and he has a bizarre talent for making friends. But even with all of that, it doesn't explain why you've become so attached to a human, of all things. You're not even this attached to your Pearl, and you love that Pearl."

Pink refused to look Blue in the eyes as she fought to keep her blush at bay. "He's just…I just…you just…we just…just."

Blue stared at Pink in confusion. "I've come to expect odd behavior from you, Pink, so I will simply leave it at that, despite the abnormally notable peculiarity of your conduct."

"Oh my goodness, thank you." Pink blushed a little more. "I mean…okay."

"My Diamond?" Pink Diamond's Pearl approached and bowed before the two Diamonds. "I apologize for the interruption, but Jasper and Amber have just sent me an update on their search."

"Yeah?" Pink asked. "What of it?"

"They have reported troubling news."

Pink eye's widened with panic. "Is he…?"

"Dead? No." Pearl replied. "Not yet, anyway, by the sound of it."

Pink spun towards Blue. "I have to go!"

"What-"

"No time! Gotta go!" Pearl let out a yelp as Pink picked her up and hurried out of the throne room.

Blue Diamond just stood there in surprise and confusion as Pink left.

"...I'm starting to wonder if that human has mind control powers after all." Blue Diamond said.

Honestly, I debated heavily on whether or not to set Peridot free from the duct tape so soon. I kinda liked having her be carried around by Greg like a big, green baby.

Anyway, more of Fire Agate being a mental case, I'm wondering what your guesses on the big reveal are. It's coming next chapter…sort of.

Thank you for reading my story, remember to follow and favorite, and reviews are, as always, deeply appreciated.

"19-2000", by Gorillaz.