A day after the incident, Hope was allowed to go back to the beach house. So far, none of the gems they rescued two days ago have woken up. They were pale but didn't seem to have any other issues. Hope looked sadly at Aquamarine and Eyeball. It was strange. Of all the gems in the galaxy, these two were the only ones who knew the truth about her aunt. Even though they were intended to be cruel, Hope's encounter with Cassie and those shadow monsters made her rethink how really close she was to her compared to her gem friends. Cassie would always look for new things for Hope to try and sign them up for them without considering how she would feel. She would always set up their new homes in lousy houses and apartments. How was she able to avoid child service this long? Hope thought. A soft sigh snapped her back to reality.

Aquamarine's eyelids twitched. She moaned and slowly opened her eyes. Everything was blurry at first. She moved her head, which was pounding, around to see the room. She noticed a strange creature looming over her, but it changed. As her vision became clear, she saw Hope sitting on the edge of the bed. "W-where...am I? Whhhhhaaaatt happened?" She tried to get up but a burst of pain caused her to lay back down. Her foggy brain tried to register what happened. Then, the memories flooded back to her. The laughter in the kicked and punched hard. Pain so exasperating that she thought her gem would crack. Hope standing above them with a sword. Her frantic attempts to reach for ruby in order to fuse. "Ruby!" She cried. She tried to move her limbs and back, but she was paralyzed. Relief flooded through her when she heard a sigh. She turned her head to see her one-eyed companion still asleep.

Hope was a bit reluctant to touch her, but she wanted to be sure that Aquamarine is ok. Even if she's a horrible person. "Aquamarine…" Hope spoke. She saw Aquamarine reluctantly move her head to face her. "You were out for two days. I know that you can only move your head. So, I can prop you up so you can sit properly. Just ask nicely."

Aquamarine made a soured face then sighed. "Fine. I already know that I'm in Steven's stupid house. I've been here before." She grunted slightly as Hope grabbed some extra pillows and brought her to a sitting position. "I don't know about you, but I can say I'm glad to be away from your Aunt Cassie."

Hope sighed. "I do too." She giggled at the shocked look at Aquamarine's face. "Whatever plans she originally had of me shouldn't have involved you or the other gems." As the crystal gems and Larimar walked over, Hope's face turned serious. "Do you remember anything? Anything that they might have said to you."

Aquamarine huffed and pouted. "How should I know? The majority of the time I can only remember being kicked around like a lowly pebble." She growled. "If only I had my wand, I would gladly send all of them flying!"

"Uh…." A random voice joined in on the conversation. "Please keep quiet, Aquamarine. Your whining is hurting my head."

The group turned their direction to Eyeball who was finally opening her working eye. She looked tired. Sick. If her body was aching she was trying hard not to show it. She slowly tried to get into a sitting position, but Larimar placed another pillow on the bed. "Can anyone tell me why I'm in bed and having a hard time moving?"

"We were captured by Cassie, remember?" Aquamarine said. She started to look annoyed and huffed.

Eyeball's eye sparked with recognition. She growled. "Now I do. That witch! I can't believe that human set us up like that."

"She wasn't human." Hope said. Her voice grew bitter at those words. Cassie's betrayal still leaves wounds deep in her heart. "She was actually an alien from another world. From the looks of it, I'd say that she's part of an alien race that holds a grudge against Gems." She looked at Pearl. "Does White Diamond know anything or have any records of the 'once existing colonies'?"

Pearl thought for a moment. "Well...We'd have to contact the diamonds and tell them this. Though, I don't know if they'll be near any-" She was cut short by a strange rumbling in the sky. Everyone ran to the glass door and jaws literally dropped to the floor when they saw a large ship that resembled a woman heading toward them.

"Seriously!" Bismuth said. "How in the world do they time these things?!" She groaned. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Whelp, let's get this over with."

One by one, everyone went down the stairs. Hope was the last one to leave. She grabbed both Aquamarine and Eyeball before they could register what's going on. "What are you doing?" Aquamarine asked.

"Taking you with me so I can keep an eye on you." Hope answered.

"What?!" Eyeball screamed. "Put me down! No way the diamonds are going to see me like this!"

"Do we look like we'll be planning something while you're gone?" Aquamarine sneered.

Hope frowned. "Not taking ANY chances with you two. Neither of you get a choice in this matter." She shifted them, ignored their complaints then marched down the stairs. She was out the door just as the Diamonds came out of their ship. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she saw them. They were just as she had seen them in her nightmare. Large and regal looking. Perched on Yellow's shoulder was no doubt Spinel. Hope walked up awkwardly.

"What are you guys doing here?" Amethyst asked. "And before you ask: No Steven is not here. He left to find himself, remember?"

White Diamond looked annoyed. "Yes, we know. You've told us months ago." She took a deep breath. "No. Actually there was an incident on Homeworld."

"Incident?" Lapis said.

"Yes." Blue answered. "We heard a strange roar and the planet shook. Plants started to grow quickly and windows cracked."

"I then had a vision of a strange beast." White said. "It was scaly with stars on its body and what seemed to be a rainbow underneath. Long ears and fins." Her silver eyes narrowed. She knelt down to have a better look. The eldest gem nearly gasped when she saw a gem settled on Hope's neck. She could almost sense the aura that was coming off the gem. Raw. Strange, but familiar. "It...can't be. I thought Pink was the last one to exist."

Yellow cocked a brow. "White what are you talking about?"

"None of you may sense the aura, but I do." White answered. "What is your name, young one?"

Hope gulped. Her heart hammered in her chest. "I-I'm Hope. Hope Variconstelli. It's a pleasure to meet you, White Diamond. I heard a lot about you and the other diamonds." She sighed. "I'm sorry about what happened between you and Pink." She nearly blushed when White Diamond stroked her hair with her finger.

"I know. I may not be able to give the closure to her, but maybe I might help you." The ancient gem gave a bitter smile. "I never thought to see the day where I get to see another diamond. And a hybrid at that."

Hope's jaw dropped. Before long she dropped Eyeball and Aquamarine in pure shock as everyone yelled, "WHHHHHHHHAAAAATTTTTT?!"

"Another diamond?!" Eyeball said.

"Oh that's just great!" Aquamarine huffed. "First, we get poisoned. Then, nearly shattered.I'm in pain! I can't move my arms and legs! And now Hope is a diamond?! Can this morning get any weirder?!"

"Indeed you are correct, White Diamond." Said a random voice. "Hope is indeed a hybrid. Now that her power is unleashed, you're going to help her. Not just for your survival, but for all life in the galaxies."

Everyone turned to see a strange creature that resembled a bear mixed with a monitor lizard. It held a scar that dragged from the ear to the snout. He had a few charms dangling from the necklace. He smiled. His dark eyes filled with humor. "What's a matter? Have you not seen an Earth Rumbler before?"

Peridot sighed. "To answer your question, Aquamarine….Yes. This morning indeed just got weirder.

That's the end of this chapter. The next one will have some world building and I'll come up with the number of clans that live on this planet soon. Enjoy!