Hope was in another dream again. This time in an unknown forest where a bluebird was flying over her head. She followed it believing it could locate her to something important. She ran as fast her legs could carry her until the bird stopped into a clearing. It smiled at her with gapped teeth and turned into a sinister fairy. The forest went dark. Red eyes gleaming out of the bushes. The fairy spoke in the most bone chilling voice that Hope had ever heard. "You don't belong anywhere. You'll never find happiness."

Hope sat upright. "Not again!" She gasped. Her hair was blanketed with sweat. She went to the bathroom and spent her time at the sink since the bathtub wasn't operational at the time. She dabbled herself with a towel. Her heart was slowing down from the latest nightmare. She looked at the mirror and found her gem glimmering in the light. She found herself smiling and about to cry. Finally, someone who is a little like her. She wasn't alone. Then, she heard a knock at the door. "Hope." It was Aunt Cassie. "Breakfast is ready. Come on down."

Once Hope got dressed in her usual outfit, she got down to the kitchen. She was about to sit down when she saw an unusual gem sitting across the table. She froze. The gem had two gemstones instead of one on her face. She had reddish hair and had a gap in her teeth. Two pairs of legs seem to dangle over a chair. The blue and red clashed together. It was the gem that Garnet warned her. It was Bluebird Azurite.

Oh...Hell no… Hope thought. She reached over to her Aunt who was serving up pancakes. "Um...Aunt Cassie…" Hope whispered. "Can I have a word with you in the hallway upstairs?"

"Sure." Aunt Cassie said. She followed Hope to their intended destination. "So, what seems to be the problem?"

"Um...where did you find this gem?" Hope asked.

"Oh, she came by the library today and wanted to get some books about our world. She didn't have a library card, so I thought to set her up with one."

Hope eyes went wide. She gritted her teeth. "Then why is she here!?"

Aunt Cassie frowned. "Don't be rude, Hope. You had a chance to be friends with gems so at least let me make friends."

Hope looked away. "I'm sorry. Garnet warned me about her. Bluebird Azurite tried to kill Greg and Steven. No matter how nice she is, she'll only be doing this for her own gain. I just don't want to see you hurt."

Aunt Cassie hugged her. "You have such a golden heart Hope. Don't worry about me. Getting tricked to buying this house will be the last time I'll let that happen. I'll keep an eye on her if you just be a little open about it."

Hope giggled. "You know I'm terrible with promises."

"Is everything alright?" Spoke a british voice that was tender and a little too sweet for Hope's taste. She looked behind her and saw Bluebird peeking her head out. Oh no, Hope thought. She's going to be a major buzzkill.

"Yes Bluebird," Aunt Cassie said. "We're fine. Just discussing what to do next." Hope began walking back down next to her.

Hope watched Bluebird closely. She didn't trust her, but wanted to be ok with her for her Aunt's sake. The gem simply smiled before she tried to push a glass off the table before Hope leaned over and snatched it from the air. Bluebird whistled. "Nice catch!" Bluebird said. "Hope is it? I just decided to spend some time in the library before I attend Little Homeschool." She made a hurt puppy look. "I want the gems to forgive me and make friends." She brightened as the pancakes were before her.

"Yeah…" Hope spoke. "So, what sort of work are you looking for? You struck me as someone for business." As a slime ball, Hope thought to herself.

"I guess you could say that? I hope…" Bluebird chuckled at that joke. "That Amethyst might help me with that."

"Maybe…" Don't count on it you bratty psychopath!

"What a pretty gem. I've never seen a gem shaped like that before. Well, except for a Spinel fellow I've heard about. She has a heart-shaped gem."

Hope took a bite of her pancakes. She thought back to the gem in her last dream and her conversation with the others back at the beach house. How is Spinel connected to her? She swallowed, looking unfazed. She's playing the flattery game. Hope thought. Just play along. "Why thank you. Tell me, how did you two fuse? Better question: Do you like each other?" She was suppressing a smile as Bluebird flinched. Gotcha. Hope: 1 Bluebird: 0

"H-how did you know that we are a fusion?"

"I happen to have met some fusions. I started to learn a little about that during my time here. So, you two were pretty obvious. Still, do you two get along well?"

Bluebird Azurite sat in awkward silence. "Y-y-y-y-yessss… Very much so." Bluebird took several mouthfuls of pancakes before she could talk again. "What about you? Don't you have someone special?"

"Not really." Hope said. "I want to have a stable job before I go into a relationship."

"Oh...I'm sure you could find someone. Though I could understand why you could have a hard time getting a partner."

Hope inwardly groaned. She could imagine her fury already blazing in her chest. She had to imagine a cage. This cage is what she did to help deal with her anger. Looks like it's a tie. For now…

**************************At Spacetries*********************************************

Hope immediately helped out Blue Lace with storing the inventory of flour and sugar. She could use Hope to help her during the summer rushes. Hope was okay with that. It was a job that she could start with. As she put away the remaining bags of sugar, Hope heard an all too familiar laugh. "Oh no…Please don't let it be her." She poked her head out of the storage room. "Crab cakes!" She whispered. "It is her."

Bluebird Azurite was talking with Blue Lace about the pastries. Hope walked over, bracing for a round two. "Hello Bluebird, what brings you here?"

"Hello Hope. Is this where you work now?"

"Yes. What brings you here?"

Bluebird spread out her water wings and began to fly over to the closest shelf where some cakes were on display. "Just thought to get a 'thank-you' present for your aunt. What does she like? Vanilla, Red Velvet…" As subtle as she could she pulled a loose screw out of the shelf causing the whole thing to come down.

Hope quickly grabbed one of the heavier cakes while Blue Lace made for the shelf. Before long, the room was littered with damaged cakes. Frosting covering the floor. Hope tried to move, but suddenly had the cake she was holding smashed into her face. She wiped it away to see that Bluebird was already at the door, carrying a small chocolate cake. "I'll pay you full advance for this lovely cake, ta-ta."

Blue Lace started to cry, but Hope reassured her it'll be ok before getting a mop.

************************************On the way home*******************************************

After a long day of cleaning up and helping Blue Lace bake some new cakes for tomorrow, Hope tiredly dragged her body back home. She got most of the frosting off her, but she looked like a mess. Hope then noticed little Larimar looking perplexed at a sketchbook that was in her hands. She smiled when Larimar waved at her. "Hi, Larimar. What are you doing?"

"I was going over a sketch I did for scouts." Larimar held out a picture of a turtle before Hope. The turtle was pure green and seemed to have poked its head when it was by the harbor. "I know it's a deer, but Pearl said to try identifying it. I was going into the library, but most of the books are checked out." Larimar frowned. She started scratching her head. "Animals look similar to me. Especially turtles."

Hope looked closer. "Actually, not quite. That is a Green Sea Turtle. Sea Turtles have flippers all the time and they can only be seen in the early hours of the morning." She chuckled. "It would be no problem for you since you guys don't need sleep."

Larimar looked at it confused. "Is it called a Green Sea Turtle because of the green color?"

Hope nodded. Before long, she started going into the details of the sea turtle. What they eat. How they navigate. What kind of species are known and the dangers that come with it. She even kept talking with Larimar about other sea animals as the two walked back to Hope's house. She had never recalled when she had a great time. Even when she went to some parties with Aunt Cassie, she always found herself as a boring bump on a log and would just sit and talk every once in a while with the other guests.

Suddenly, she saw her aunt at the front door. Aunt Cassie had a deep frown on her face with swollen red eyes, holding Hope's diary. Hope's heart sank. "Aunt Cassie...What happened? Are you ok?"

"I had been fired from my job at the library. It seems that all the books from the reference section and science section had gone missing. Due to that negligence, I was let go. Plus," Aunt Cassie held up the diary. "Bluebird found this and was reading. I just happened to read a few entries where you described me as a dolt who can't make proper decisions."

Hope looked on helplessly. Larimar stared at both of them in shock. The blue gem held Hope's hand, trying to give comfort to the poor girl. Hope swallowed hard. "I was just angry. I just want to-"

"What? Help yourself and get away from me! Well I have had it with you! You never cared about anyone and if you want to be alone then fine!" She pulled out Hope's things which were placed in a box. "From now on, you're on your own! Don't ever come back here!" The woman marched back into the house and slammed the door.

Hope eyes stung with tears. She looked down on the ground. It was happening again. It was like this when she was at the orphanage. People would pass her by because she was different. Then, at the age of 4, Aunt Cassie came. Gave her a few toys and clothes. Hope went to public school a few times, but had to move away to a new town due to bullying. Aunt Cassie tried to encourage her to do new things, but it only brought Hope sadness because no matter what new thing she did, she still wouldn't have friends or a real family aside from her aunt. No, she thought. I'm...ugly… I'm absolutely ugly. Her mind was snapped back into reality when she heard Bluebird's voice.

"Well...That was heavy." Bluebird was perched on a nearby porch railing. "I guess you aren't the perfect niece she thought you were huh? To have you kicked out like that, it would be easy to say that she didn't love you at all. But I guess you were unlovable at the beginning."

"Now that's mean!" Larmar yelled. She glared hard at fusion. Her friendly demeanor nearly turned terrifying as her mouth formed a fierce snarl. Before she could take a step, Hope stopped her. "Hope?"

"Larimar…" Hope said, with a simmering anger in her voice. "I want you to go home. This is between me and her. I don't want you to get hurt." She felt a strange sensation throughout her body. It was wild, feral. Something that told her that she needed to teach that brat a lesson she'll never forget. Even her own scarf was coming loose.

"Awww...That's adorable. You want to fight me, but don't want anyone in the way." Bluebird made a gagging gesture. "You're becoming more like Steven everytime I look at you."

"Go." Hope commanded. Larimar looked at Hope one more time, then left. She looked hard at Bluebird. "You know. Despite everything, you're the most pathetic gem inexistence." She ignore her laughter. "You know what I say is true. You get chummy with gems and then stab them in the back because you just don't know how to deal with your anger. You just feel better when everyone around you is miserable so you won't feel , guess what? You're still helpless even now. Yes, I suffered but I try to keep my feelings in check with that diary. I may not be able to have a home or belong but the least I can do is teach others when they have crossed the line." She had to dodge an icy cutlass, but her scarf was unlucky. It got trapped onto the street.

Bluebird flew over to it. She picked up the scarf inspecting the material. "Well, what an interesting fabric. It doesn't look like it belongs to any country on earth." She tugged it hard, giving it a major rip. "Oops! Guess it's worthless now. Just like you."

Hope found her heart shatter in a million pieces. That scarf not only hid her gem, but it was the only connection to her parents. She began breathing hard, her eyes began to change into diamond-shaped eyes. A lone star starting to appear in the night sky. Her gem began to glow. "You'll...PAY FOR THAT!" She charged headlong only to have Bluebird dodge. She saw the ice beginning to form. She dodged cutlass after cutlass. Instinct driving her mind. Just as Bluebird made two more swords, Hope leaped and caught them. They glowed and turned into the broad swords medieval used in battle. The hilts carved into rabbits holding a small orb on their heads.

Bluebird stood there shocked for a moment then shook her head. "Is that all you got?"

Hope growled. It was low and more animalistic with each passing minute. She once again deflecting blow upon blow as Bluebird returned the advance. Her body takes on the force. Then, she saw Bluebird backing away a few feet before she began to fly toward her at alarming speed. Hope hurled one of the swords right at the fusion. It sliced through followed by an audible poof. In front of Hope, was a ruby with a gem where the eye is supposed to be and an aquamarine with a teardrop gem below her left eye. She approached the aquamarine and snatched her off the ground with blue eyes glowing brighter as she pinned the little fairy against a telephone pole.

"You really shouldn't have done that." Hope growled. "This is what I mean. You only feel strong when threats are in your favor and I know that you only cared about Eyeball because she's nothing but a ruby to you. You don't care about anyone. What happens when you're by yourself and no one helps you, what will you do then?!"

A ferocious roar sounded behind her. She turned around to find Eyeball leaping up and trying to stab her with a chisel when a large, orange hand grabbed her. It was Jasper. "What is the meaning of this?" She growled. "I just came back to return these and I find you attacking someone behind their back?!" She gestured to a large pile of books that was sitting on the curb.

Eyeball went star-struck. "Jasper! It was such an honor to see you and see you again. We were going to return these books, honest! She just insulted us and-"

"I saw everything! You did all of this just to hurt Hope didn't you. She didn't do anything to you and you took everything away! I only stepped in to stop you! You're no warrior. Just a weakling trying to make a point." She threw Eyeball toward the street. The little ruby looked on, a look of despair on her face. She looked at Aquamarine and ran.

Hope looked at Aquamarine. The little fairy stared back at her with fear in her eyes. Hope knew she was about to say something, but the voice failed in Aquamarine. Part of her screamed to shatter Aquamarine. But she knows nothing good would come out of it. Steven shattered Jasper. The diamonds had shattered gems. Will anyone learn from their mistakes and move on? Steven did. It wasn't easy, but he had others to pull through. Even though it had been only a few days, she already made friends with the Crystal Gems, Larimar, Volleyball and Jasper (sort of). Hope inched her face closer to Aquamarine. "GET OUT and never come back." She let go of Aquamarine.

Aquamarine sprouted her butterfly wings and hovered for a while. She was about to punch Hope when she saw the Crystal Gems joined by Larimar. She growled. "This isn't over." She flew away into the forest.

Hope felt the wild instincts fade and looked at her scarf. It was glowing and dissolving before her eyes. She reached for the remaining strands. They almost looked like hair but had the softness of fur. The invisible connection she had to her parents. Hope could no longer hold back her feelings. She screamed into the air and cried. Tears streaming down her face. Larimar walked over to Hope and hugged her. Hope hugged the little gem back. This had just been the worst day of her life.

Inside the house, Aunt Cassie went into her room and pulled out a skeletal rat out of her dresser. She plucked out a hair and whispered something to it. She placed it in the center of the skeleton. It came to life, red eyes glowing and a thick, greasy black skin draped over it. "Tell the master it's done. The little fools served their purpose. My little sacrifice will be ready when the moon is full."

Hang on to your feels, ladies and gentlemen because there will be more angst coming soon. The villains are near and it's not Bluebird.