Everyone stood there stunned. They had just been through two, maybe three, chaotic days. Now another stranger shows up at their doorstep. Scared for Hope, the Crystal Gems and Jasper got in front of her. Weapons summoned in a matter of seconds. "Who are you?!" Jasper demanded. "What do you want of us?"

"You better answer, Jerk!" Amyphest growled. "We've had a rough day and I don't want you hurting Hope!"

"She's been through enough as it is!" Pearl hissed. She aimed her spear at the creature.

The Earth Rumbler bowed. "Forgive me. I should introduce myself." He looked at them. "My name's Graun. I'm the leader of the Eternal Heart Brigade." He reached into his pouch that was hanging from his neck. He pulled out a strange looking butterfly. The wings were diamond shaped and the antennas had stars at the tips. "It would be much easier if I show you what I'm about to say next." With a puff of air, the butterfly flew off his paw and began to circle everyone.

Round and round it went. A string of rainbow light enveloping every gem like a strange rope. "Oh no!" Larimar screeched, hugging Volleyball. "Not again!"

"How many times are we going to go through this?!" Volleyball exclaimed.

"What's going on?!" Spinel shrieked. Without warning, cocoons wrapped around everyone. They vibrated. A thrum sounding over the waves of the ocean. Lights exploded and they were gone from the beach.

Hope felt much different from the last time she transported. Her body felt much lighter by the light. The air isn't thick and threatening. She found that she could move her body freely as well. Her heart matched the laughter she felt. Her body twisted and flipped. She moved as if she was swimming in the ocean. Worries melting away, completely forgetting the situation she was in. It was a feeling she hasn't felt for a while. As she rolled, she felt ground beneath her and let out a laugh. "That was fun," She said. She got up and looked around her.

There were trees leaking through stone walls. The sky opened with a clear blue. On the stone ledges were a few strange creatures. One resembled a Griffin with a face of a Peregrine Falcon with Leopard hindquarters. One looked like a small Mandrake. Finally, one that looked like an oryx with fire blazing down the spine. Eyes focused on them with curiosity and disdain. The atmosphere had a somewhat peaceful feeling compared to the frightening sensation when the shadow monsters kidnapped Hope. A loud splash resounded and rain appeared suddenly out of nowhere. Everyone looked to see White Diamond in what had originally been a lake.

The large white gem huffed. She shifted to get up. "A little warning about the water next time." She wrung out her clothes as she stepped out of the hole which had originally been a lake. Next to her was Blue and Yellow who both had their eyes closed. Yellow on top of Blue. Spinel being only a few feet away from them. Her pink eyes spinning out of dizziness. "Whee! What a ride!"

"Nice going, Gruan! You've messed up our water supply." The griffin grumbled.

"It'll rain soon," Gruan said. "Don't worry about it." He helped Aquamarine and Eyeball sit upright. Then, pulled Holly Blue and curly haired Lapis into a sitting position. The Earth Rumbler turned his direction to Hope and the Crystal Gems. "Welcome to my home. It's hidden in the largest tree that's well hidden in a forest close to your Beach City."

All the gems stared in awe. Even Aquamarine and Eyeball had forgotten their anger over their situation. They looked around. As they helped each other up, the gems gathered around Hope to make sure she wasn't hurt. What surprised them was that their gem-hybrid friend was laughing out of pure joy. Something they haven't heard in a long while since Cassie's betrayal. There was a long awkward silence between them and the creatures that made their way to "greet" them. Peridot gulped and decided to make the first move. "Uh...Hi. I'm Peridot and you are…"

No one spoke. Until the blazing Oryx spoke up. "My name is Nek. I'm a Firestrider." He pointed his horns at the little Mandrake. "This Bramblin. He's a Tree Singer." Then turned to the Griffin. "She's Galina. A Sky Weaver."

"H-hi," The little Tree Singer spoke. He looked at the green gem. "It's nice to meet you. I...like your glasses."

Peridot blushed. "Aw! Thanks!" Then, she looked at the withered spot on his right arm. "Hey...Are you sick? I'm usually good with plants, maybe I can help?"

"Well...Maybe-" Bramblin was cut off by a wing.

"Don't bother with them! She's a gem!" Galina hissed. "You know what they've done to all of us!"

"What are you talking about?" Yellow asked.

"Don't play coy, you walking Light Abomination!" Galina glared hard. "You've sucked the lives of our planet and many others! All the sake for expanding your empire and feeding the Starless Master!" A growl erupted from her throat. Wings flared as a woosh of air followed.

"Enough!" Gruan growled. His eyes are dark and intense. "I know they've done some wrong in the past, but we need them if we must survive!" The ground shook under his claws. Threatening to cave under them. He turned to the gems. He walked over to a shelf that was carved out of a tree root. Gruan picked up an aquamarine jar that had a star on it. He twisted the top and poured out a silver powder. "I best explain who we are and what is happening to you, Earth and the rest of the Galaxy." He blew hard on the dust.

It flew into the air and turned the sky above them dark. Suddenly, they were surrounded by forest. Strange creatures of varying shapes and sizes appeared and walked around them. The images began to change as the Earth Rumbler spoke. "A long time ago," Gruan spoke. "We lived on a planet named Lifon. It was a prosperous planet. All the clans lived peacefully. It was believed that this planet was the very first to exist and was created by the Star Maiden. She created planets at her will, including Earth. Then, her jealous brother, the Starless Master, attacked along with his Shadowwalkers. Fierce monsters that can manipulate shadows and darkness as you do light. They feel nothing and no regard for life. The Star Maiden gave her all and perished in the process of banishing her brother. Thousands of years passed, but we continued on. One day, the Serpentani-"

"Serpentani?" Amethyst asked. Her brow arched in question.

"The ones that humans refer to as 'Snake People'." Nek explained. "We've done some research while we're here. It was mostly explained in a blog known as 'Keep Beach City Weird'."

"Ronaldo." The Crystal Gems said in expressions written on their faces. It seemed the local human "journalist" had once again caused the gems grief.

Gruan continued. "Created a being of light from what was believed to be one of the tears from the maiden and created the first being of light." He pointed a claw at White Diamond. "That being was you."

White Diamond looked on in shock and, from what Hope noticed, shame. "Me?"

"Yeah you!" Galina yelled. She took a step forward. "It was thanks to you following those destruction orders from the Serpentani that our home is rotting away by the Starless Master and everything was being destroyed because of you!"

White Diamond looked down. "I don't remember much of my early life, but I do regret the things I've done." She looked at Blue, Yellow and Spinel. "Especially what've been done to you three."

"Well! Now we've got the Starless Master rearing his ugly head!" Galina said. Before she could continue, Nek stamped on her claws with his hoof. "OW!"

"Knock it off." Nek said sternly.

Hope had enough of her silence. "What does that have to do with me though?!" She looked up to see the dark sky vibrate and vanish. She saw Gruan approach her.

"Hope. As Lifon was dying, so were the natives. They tried to slow death down but everyone continued to die due to the life that was sucked away from the land. Rumor has it, two eggs were placed in a special cave to appease the Starless Master but a piece of the Serpentani's work crashed into the cave." He rubbed her face with his head. "That Shadowwalker, one you've called 'Aunt Cassie', took your egg after we recovered it. We've been searching for you for a long time."

"We? What do you mean by 'we' and why would they come after me? " Hope asked.

"Your Parents. A Starswimmer and Rainbowbelly." Gruan sighed. "As for the reason, there was a prophecy of a bejeweled beast with the power of light and water who could save us from destruction. Along with the help of Gem Kind, she would bring life back into the land. You Hope...are the Heavenly Beast."

Thought to leave it at that. The next chapter will focus on Aquamarine and Eyeball soon. So, that was a bit of a world building episode. More to come later.