Hope arrived home in the evening carrying some groceries. Her Aunt Cassie was already standing there, wearing some jeans and a regular shirt. "Welcome back dear." Her eyes widened when she saw the grocery bags in Hope's arms. "How could you afford all this?"
Hope placed it down on the counter. "I met some people. The ones you described. They're not actually humans by the way, they're gems." Hope began to recount her time with Larimar and Volleyball. She skipped the fact that Garnet had future vision because she didn't want to frighten Aunt Cassie. She found herself laughing as she thought back to Jasper's grumpy face. "It was quite an adventure. Too bad I won't be able to go back."
Aunt Cassie frowned. "Why not?" Then, a thought occurred to her. "Oh, right. Job hunting. Well, don't be down on yourself. I'm sure you'll meet them again."
"Highly unlikely." She ruffled through the groceries and put them away. She left out a few ingredients to her favorite meal, spaghetti with meatballs.
Later that night, Hope was fast asleep. She began to dream the same place as before. A strange palace that took the shape of a white torso. She had been here a few times. It was always surrounded by those jewel-covered people. Now, she knew what name they go by now, it made her easier to understand what's going on. She walked forward when suddenly the sky went completely dark.
Red eyes were glaring above her and an ugly hand ripped open the torso and grabbed a white being from it. She was enormous and ancient, but her beauty was a sight to behold. Her face was contorted with fear. Her limbs flailing wildly. "Help!" She screamed. Black shadows encased her until there was nothing left.
Hope ran to the castle. She prayed that no one else was hurt. Her heart nearly stopped beating as she saw other gems being eaten by shadows. She screamed as she came across three other gems. Two large women. One yellow and military-like. The other blue with a beautiful dress. They both screamed in agony. The shadow consuming them, turning them into strange focused on the third gem.
The pink gem looked extremely cartoony. On the center of her chest was a heart-shaped gem that was upside-down. Tears streamed down her face over the black lines. She frantically reached out to Hope with rubber limbs. "Please…" The gem pleaded. "Don't leave me alone." Her eyes were the only thing visible. "Help...me…" She vanished. A cocoon warped and rattled. It turned into a snake-like creature that smiled sinisterly.
Three other large beasts loomed over Hope. Each one taking on a dinosaur-like appearance. Hope screamed. She bolted upright in bed. She turned her head left to right. Nothing happened. She took a deep breath and looked outside. It was dawn. The sky barely turning blue. Shakily, she got up and began to get ready for the day.
After some breakfast, Hope wrote a note to her aunt and then left the door. Dressed in a modest blouse and black skirt, she looked over some of the job positions that she had circled. The first job she interviewed for is a position as janitor at the local school. She arrived on time and had an ok time with it. When it was close to Noon, she arrived at the Big Doughnut and Spacetries to see if anyone needed an extra baker. Bill Dewy of the Big Doughnut wouldn't mind and the gem who went by the name Blue Lace will think about it. All the other jobs rejected her completely.
When it was time to home, Hope decided to have a look at the beach. She walked down only to see a man strumming his guitar with a calm expression on his face. He looked over the horizon. Then, further on the beach was Jasper. Sitting on the beach with intense concentration on her face. I wonder what she's thinking. She thought. Hope turned her gaze to the ocean. The sun was beginning to set and a pool of molten gold glazed the surface of the pure blue water. The gulls were flying freely in the sky. Hope stretched out her arms. Her desire to fly being so great, she found herself running into the waves and jumping as high as she could.
Her body felt the cold and soothing touch of the water as she plunged into it. She had completely forgotten where she was in that moment. She wanted to sprout fins and vanish into the ocean. In her mind's eye, she could imagine another dragon-like creature but it had dolphin features. Deep blue scales with white star-shaped patterns that made it look like a living night sky. Violet eyes that were always kind and gentle. Away from the people who were disgusted by her. Away from her aunt. Away from the disappointment that she would never have a place to call home. She smiled until she found herself on the shore. She looked up to the man sitting on the sand earlier staring at her with amazement. In his hand was her scarf.