A/N: Welp, you're getting another chapter right now. This is to make up for the missed update. So yeah. And since it's short, I'll upload another Sunday. Or Monday. But that's when I go back to school/college from my self-imposed readjustment break. And I have little to no idea what or how much I missed... so yeah. I'll find time, though. Also, I want to thank all those who favorited and followed. Those are appreciated, but reviews so much more. Anyway, onwards with the show! so, enjoy Chapter Twenty, everyone~

A Triangle in the Stars
Chapter Twenty: The Power of Steven

Gabriel sat in a room of the Zodiac Temple, admiring the gem that his demons had brought him. The gem.. it was rose quartz, a beautiful pink color. But there was so much more to it than that...

He chuckled, thinking about what he could do with it. He tapped it, just a little. A crack began to form within it. What had been a structurally flawless gem was now breaking apart. But just as easily, Gabe put it back together. He was just waiting for the kid to reform, so he could do some real damage. But Bill's forces were soon to be closing in, he knew, as well as, perhaps, some... other entities. It wouldn't be long now.

Several Cluster Demons stood and several eyebats floated around the shoddy, ancient room, which had a just as ancient language written upon its walls, eroded though it was. True to what Pearl had said, the Temple was falling apart, year by year, bit by bit. It was a small wonder it had been holding up for so long.

Pacifier stood among them, frowning softly as she stared at the gem Gabriel was holding, almost glaring at Gabriel himself. It was not too long ago that the star came to all of Bill's friends with an offer to join him. More like a demand, considering what happened to the ones who didn't. Obviously, she had accepted. But it was tearing her up inside just as well.

He stared at it. "Huh... what a strange thing it is, isn't it?" he held it up to what little light there was, and spun it, slowly, looking at the way it caught the light.

"It is... it's pretty..." she quietly remarked.

Meanwhile, the mixed demons simply nodded, droning a loud, unified "yes". The Cluster Demons had nearly no mind or will of their own. They lived to agree, never to disagree. Though they often took things too far, they still followed orders. Pacifier shuddered. She was glad she wasn't one of them, though that could easily change.

"Hmm. This kid has power. We know that much. I wonder..." Gabriel made a little hole, beneath his eye, in his form. He stuck the gem there, and gasped as he pulled out a mirror from nowhere and looked at himself," I'm so... so... beautiful!"

Pacifier deadpanned. The rest of the Cluster Demons nodded once more, droning a, "Yes, you are beautiful, our Lordship. That gem looks nice on you."

The sole pure demon looked around at them, frowning. But she soon covered it all up with a smile and nodded, repeating what they had said with more fervor than she liked.

Gabriel sighed, putting the mirror away. "My Henchmaniacs... surround this place. Report to me immediately if you see anything coming. I don't care if it's a bird or a human or whatever. If something is heading for this Temple, and you see it, I want to know," he ordered, without removing the gem. "Except Pacifier. You stay here. I want to talk to you."

The messed-up demons and pure eyebats nodded and they did as told, exiting the room and surrounding the crumbling perimeter. Pacifier feared the worst, but didn't cower. She looked at Gabriel after they were all gone, but said nothing. She wanted to hear what he wanted to say first.

"It's sad, the way they had to be destroyed. Don't you think so? all they had to do was join me. Pathetic whelps. They deserve it," he shook himself, breaking out of his monologue. "Pacifier, you have a very important job and cannot mess it up. You know the consequences if you do."

She ignored the monologue other than a shiver and nodded, putting up an air of servility. She frowned softly, "Yes, my Lordship... I know... what do I have to do?"

"Did I not tell you? or were you not paying attention?" he narrowed his eye at her. "It seems that perhaps my memory is faltering..." he sighed and turned away, arms crossed behind his back. "William and the traitors, along with my mole, will be here soon..."

"And you want me to destroy them...?" she bowed her head.

"NO!" he suddenly shrieked, turning back around, which slightly scared the black monster, before he calmed down again. "No. I want to fight Bill. The others, however, you can dispose of. There may also be some... others coming. They, too, must be crushed. And you'll see, if they do come, that I mean that literally."

"...understood," she nodded. She hated this, but she'd never show it. Not in front of him at least. She directed her stare to the gem, wondering what was so special about it.

He frowned a little. "You can go join the other... parasites. Same orders to you as to them," he waved her off.

Pacifier frowned as well, and then saluted. She then stalked off, out of the Temple.

Gabriel hummed. Strange... it's as if I can feel the gem's consciousness within it, as well as the power... he thought, touching the gem still connected to him.

The large monster looked at the exterior. Crumbling pillars holding up the entrance still stood strong. They had strange markings on them, dimly glowing just like the runes in that room. She became intrigued and walked towards one of them, and reached out to touch it.

Gabriel began to absorb the power, grinning, laughing. He created a bubble around himself, and used his power against it. It didn't pop. Oh, how useful this would be against William, considering they had the same magic.

Pacifier, just as she was about to touch the pillar, suddenly stopped. It was crumbling as is, and a mere finger could send it toppling down. Especially her finger. She frowned, pulling back and staring at her hands now. Why she was suddenly wishing she had smaller, daintier hands, well, she had no clue...

Gabriel stepped out, looking for Pacifier, hoping she hadn't gotten too far. He grinned when he saw her and shouted, "Hey, Pacifier, try hitting me with your best shot!" he also put up a shield. "I mean, I know you're enamored with me and all, but I'd like to test this out."

Pacifier looked over at him, getting over her "hand situation". She immediately rolled her eyes, and then rushed at him, fist raised to hit the shield.

"No, no," he said, and she stopped inches before the fist connected. "Magic attacks, please," he then smiled. It was unsettling.

She saw that smile. It sent chills down her spine. Pacifier stepped back a few feet, which was rather far considering her size, and her fists starting glowing, until the glows then concentrated into a dark red ball of light in front of them.

"I'll show you magic..." she mumbled, before she shot it off at him. He waited for the impact, shutting his eye. One bubble, one shield... and both him and the gem powering them. Hopefully that'd count for something...

The ball of light traveled at a rather rapid pace, and it soon crashed against the shield and the bubble. Pacifier stared seemingly emotionlessly at the smoke that somehow kicked up at the impact. Gabriel still held his eye shut, a little afraid of what was about to happen. Maybe this wasn't a good idea...

He didn't seem to register that the attack had already hit. The large black monster frowned at this as soon as she could see through the debris. She read his thoughts, and deadpanned further.

"It already hit you..." she stated dully.

"Oh," he jerked a little bit, "of course. I knew that," and then he opened his eye. To Gabriel's amazement, neither the bubble nor the shield had a crack. This would be perfect for fighting against Bill... a little too perfect... "Pacifier, you may now go do as I said before. Go join the... agglomerations outside." He went back into the room, and waited in silence, removing the gem and inspecting it, before replacing it seconds later.

Pacifier nodded, and then lumbered off towards where the Cluster Demons and eyebats were stationed. Oh, how she hated this. But she couldn't change her situation. And, even if she could, Bill and the others would see her as a traitor... an eternal stain on her grade-book...

A/N: So, as you can see, the story takes on yet another perspective! Ace had Gabriel! and I had Pacifier and the Cluster Demons. This one was pretty dark, I think. Not dark as in gory, of course. Just... dark. I hope you enjoyed! if you don't have reviews, or are one of those anonymous reviewers, - though I encourage you, if you have lots more to say, to make an account here; it's free and easy - then I'll see you either Sunday or Monday with the next one! ta ta for now!

P.S: Also, before anyone says anything again about this, we know Steven can't be poofed and would actually die instead. We just decided to roll with this idea since it, of course, would create more drama and shtuffs, as well as more of a shock factor. And, of course, if Steven died, this story would have ended with Chapter Eighteen or continued a bit differently. ...hm, AU time, I suppose? ...but I digressed. XD Ta ta!

((P.P.S: If I fail to update at the times I say I would, since my older sister's baby shower is Sunday, and college starts again Monday, then I wish you all an early Happy Halloween! and will update Tuesday. Okay, ta ta, for realsies!))