Alright I'm back so let's see what I've cooked up. Also I may take longer because I plan to try and make chapters longer. Also just saw 'a single pale rose' and I'm not sure how I feel yet but I don't think I'll add that cannon into this story. Also I'm gonna make this fic M rated for violence and such. But that's for later chapters.
Jasper stood thinking about what she had been told and after about 5 minutes she spoke. "So in one month The Cluster will emerge and it's gonna take the planet and us with it?" She asked getting a nod from Lava. "Then why not just get off planet."
"We aren't leaving our home." Prism said speaking for the room.
"How do you know you have a month?" Jasper asked.
Before anyone could answer a flush sound was heard as Peridot came out of the bathroom holding a role of toilet paper inspecting it. "Steven what is this for? I understand the large cloths, the bottled disinfectant, but this role of small sheets baffle me." Peridot said before bumping into Jasper's leg making her look up before yelling in terror and running back into the bathroom slamming the door.
"SHE'S HERE?!" Jasper yelled almost drowning out Peridot who also yelled.
"Yes now quiet we got another one out cold right now." Lava said gesturing to Lapis who was still on the couch.
Jasper looked at the passed out gem and had a look that was antasy and a little to happy for how Lapis looked right now. She was pulled away from her thoughts when she felt a tug at her leg and looked down to see Steven. "What do you want Rose?"
"No I'm Steven." He answered before speaking again. "I just want to say I like your cape."
Jasper just looked confused at him and was about to give a rude comment but was stopped by the sound of the warp-pad activating and a tall skinny gem with short wild green hair and skin dressed in what looked like a wife beater shirt and sweatpants wearing some teinnis shoes stepped out looking at the group before turning to Prism and folding his arms over his chest. "You guys are on set up duty and I'm not covering for you again."
"Are you serious?" Litch asked. "This could not be any worse of a time Stoney."
"Yeah you act like I care now come and do your jobs or I'm telling everyone you're the reason we don't have a setup this year." The gem known as Stoney replied before walking back to the warp-pad and warping away.
"What was he talking about?" Amethyst asked.
"Oh la celebración." Tiger said pulling out two maracas giving them a quick shake.
"A party?" Connie asked which was answered by a maraca shake.
"Yeah." Prism said walking to the warp-pad. "Come with us and we can show you." He gestured for the group to follow.
"What about the cluster?" Jasper asked heading to the warp-pad.
"We got a month." Lava said getting on the pad. "We'll get this done in a few days a week tops."
"Hey Peri wanna come with?" Amethyst called.
"Is Jasper going to hurt me?" She replied peeking out of the bathroom.
Everyone looked at Jasper who just shrugged looking off to the side. "I wouldn't push it." Litch answered taking his place on the warp-pad. Peridot slowly stepped out and walked to as far as she could from Jasper but staying on the pad.
"Wait what about Lapis?" Steven asked.
"I'll-" Jasper started but was cut off by Prism.
"She's holding down the fort." Prism said as everyone got on the pad and warped them.
--Hidden City--
When the group arrived at the city they noticed that it was in a huge hustle and bustle. Gems of all kinds were moving things, setting up decorations, and just in general running around. The group save for Prism, Lava, Litch, and Tiger looked around amazed at the work they were doing.
"Wow must be some party." Amythest said watching a few quartz gems set up huge poles with banners on them.
"Not just a party, The Choosing." A voice said behind them making them turn to see a purple male quartz gem that was almost twice the size of Jasper carrying two large barrels under his arms and another gem, a pearl, that looked like a foot taller Pearl but a light green color carrying a box filled with various flowers.
"The Choosing?" Steven asked.
"Why yes." The Pearl answered. "A time every few years when we choose another or more than one to spend our existence with." She continued by putting the box down and pulling out a white orchid inspecting it. "Warriors exchange weapons or armor, tech gems personal info and tech, but most common if the gems aren't in the same class is to exchange a flower." She then knelt by Connie putting it behind the young girl's ear.
"Yeah and then comes the fun parts." The quartz said putting the barrels down and grabbing the pearl by the waist pulling her close and nuzzling and nibbling on her neck making her have a fit of giggling. "But that's for the older crowd." He said easing up on his grip.
"Hmm... The Choosing I've heard it was a small custom for some Diamond Courts." Peridot chimed scratching her chin thinking. "But it's said that even The Diamonds smiled and even laughed at these events."
"Sometimes." Jasper said in a low slightly sad voice but was pulled out of her slump by a tugging on her hair but when she turned around she didn't see anyone but still felt the tugs she started to spin trying to find the culprit but couldn't.
"Hehe...here." Lava said reaching into her hair and pulling out a small green gemling that looked like a small quartz.
"What is that a defective gem?" Peridot asked trying to get a good look.
"Of course not." Lava said a little peeved a the question. "This is one of the greatest things a gem can create, a gemling." He said tickling the little creature's stomach making it giggle and grab his finger. The little gemling was snatched from him by Jasper who now held the small creature in her cupped hands looking at it like it was the most amazing thing ever.
"But they're a myth." Jasper said as the gemling grabbed a strand of hair that had fallen close to him.
"Well around here they're more like an infestation." Said a large blue round female gem with a flat top walked up holding three gemlings the size of 6 month old babies and a small horde of all sort of gemlings following her. "And that little one is an adventurer." She said pointing to the one now trying to climb up a strand of Jasper's hair.
Jasper looked at the gemlings with a small since of wonder. She grabbed the gemling in her hair and walked to the large blue gem. Jasper looked at the gemling in her hands then the blue gem. "Do...do you need some help?" Jasper asked.
"Well the older ones are getting rowdy." She said handing one of the gemlings to her which Jasper was a little awkward with at first but quickly became acclimated to it. "Come on now. Oh and call me Umi." She said leading her group and Jasper away.
"Welp now that she's busy let's get busy." Litch said walking over to a group of gems who were making what looked like decorations such as lamps, banners and more. "Come Pearl you'll enjoy this." He said and Pearl followed.
"Come on Steven, Connie we'll show you a little of our city." Lava said as he lifted them on his shoulders as he, Amethyst, and Tiger walked toward the center of the city.
Garnet began to follow but was stopped when Prism grabbed her hand. "Stay or you'll miss something beautiful." Prism said turning to the open area where a about 20 gems had gathered. "Lady, Kane you two want to start us?" Prism asked looking at the tall amethyst and pearl.
"Of course." The amethyst known as Kane answered turning to curtsy towards the pearl called Lady who returned the gesture and was offered Kane's hand who pulled her into a sort of dip and looked in her eyes. "So can I get a little taste?"
Lady gave him a hard slap to the face but was obviously playful. "Not in public you brute." She said as the two became a glow of light and quickly became a light green male version of Opal.
The fusion groaned stretching and cracking his knuckles speaking in a rather coarse voice. "Ahh feels good to stretch."
Garnet looked at the fusion with a huge smile but then heard loud footsteps and turned around seeing a Sugilite, a Sardonyx and a few she couldn't place which made her almost jump up and down with excitement. "You all fuse outside of combat?" She asked.
"Yes Black almost demanded it." Prism said watching fusion ethier set up decorations, move rocks, pillars, and statues, or set up what looked like speakers and other stage equipment.
"He's okay with it?" Garnet asked suprised.
"Yeah he just came back from a meeting with another diamond and he wanted us all to try it and most all enjoy it." Prism answered walking over to a group of fused gem with Garnet following. "This is a Topaz and a Crazy horse stone we call her Unakite." Prism pointed out a pink looking gem that stood as tall as Sardonyx. She was a heavy set gem with four arms, short legs, and her head was wrapped bandanna in a skull-cap style she was currently pushing a stone block twice her size out of the area.
"But I thought the diamonds looked down on it." Garnet said having a quick flashback to when Ruby and Sapphire had fused for the first time.
"They do but they also see it as a huge advantage in fights and some gems trained with it for just incase scenarios." Prism said walking over to a pile of boxes and picked a few up on his shoulders. "Come on and help and I'll tell you about it." Garnet grabbed a few boxes herself and followed him.
--Meanwhile with Peridot--
Peridot had wandered off and now was in what looked like a more technology based part of the city and around her she saw dozens of Citrines, Ambers, and other Peridots working hard on various projects. Peridot then came across a group arguing and she decided to see what they were arguing about.
"No you idiot if we do that we'll burn out the cpu before we even run a system check." A female Citrine yelled at a male Amber and a male Peridot.
"Well if we do it your way then the whole thing will blow up in our face." The Amber yelled back.
"Both of you shut up we need to run it through the main system and have it take the load." The Peridot yelled.
"Oh yeah and then deal with rolling power outages? Great idea." The Citrine yelled.
"Why are you all yelling." Peridot asked.
"We need to figure out a way to get this ion molecule capacitor to power up and operate without causing to much backlash on other systems and we can't agree on how to do it." The Peridot answered.
"Pfft please." Peridot said sounding high and mighty. "What are your names or cuts or whatever I call you?"
"I'm Flux." The Amber answered.
"Call me C." The Citrine said.
"Mal." The Peridot said.
"Well let me show you what to do." Peridot said walking over to the machine's console and opening up the base and crawled under it. "Screwdriver." Peridot said holding out her hand which C obliged. She worked for a few minutes before holding her hand out again. "Cutters." Which were handed to her as she continued to work. This continued for about half an hour till she crawled out. "There now it will power on with minimal to no backlash on any device."
"What'd you do?" Flux asked.
"I created a power-waste loop. Basically it will run off its own feedback and need almost no repairs or maintenance ever." She answered with proud smile.
"That's incredible why didn't I think of that?" C asked a little amazed.
"Because you're not a Peridot." Peridot and Mal said at the same time with smug grins.
"Hey wanna help with some other issues we've been having." Flux asked.
"Well you all might have trouble without me so I'll help out." Peridot asked following them to their first of a few problems.
--with Litch and Pearl--
Litch were helping a few gems make decorations, cleaning small areas, and now carrying boxes of flowers to be made into crowns, necklaces, and other things. For the most part the two were silent for almost all the time they were around each other until Litch spoke up.
"You still don't like us."
Pearl looked at him with some shock. "What? No. I mean..." She babbled.
"It's okay I understand." Litch stopped her. "The Black Diamond court probably shattered more than half of the rebels. But we've tried our best to change ourselves you should know as well as I do change is hard but possible." He said looking at her reaction.
Pearl looked at the ground continuing to walk before speaking. "I know but you understand why I'm still sceptical?" She asked walking faster getting ahead of him. "I mean with what happened and every-OOF." Pearl said running into something and started falling but was quickly grabbed by a big, strong, somewhat familiar hand. Looking up she saw a face she never thought she'd see again but in hologram and on a painting. "Rose?" Pearl asked the gem.
"Not exactly." The gem spoke in a deep masculine voice helping Pearl get her balance and letting go of her hand. The gem that stood before her looked like Rose but his curls were black and ended between his shoulder blades he also had what looked like stubble on his chin. He wore a suit minus a shirt, tie, and shoes the jacket was open showing a black rose quartz gemstone on his chest. "Hey Litch who's the new Pearl?" The gem asked.
"This is Pearl." Litch answered. "Pearl this Seal"
"Seal?" Pearl asked confused.
"Yeah like the singer." Seal answered. "Well I gotta help in the garden." He then ran off away from the two pearls.
"You have rose quatz gems here?" Pearl asked.
"Yes about eight only three are on planet right now." Litch answered seeing Pearl now having a thousand yard stare in her eyes towards where Seal had run off to. "You can look to the past but you can't stay anchored to it or you miss life."
"What?" She asked.
"Rember what happened but learn to move on." Litch said. "Just trust me if you don't let the past go you'll never be happy. Yes you loved Rose but move on at least try and meet someone. Even if it's just coffee or tea." He told her starting to walk.
Pearl looked at him as he walked then a thought came to her and she thought to another person with pink hair she knew. Pearl ran up to Litch and tapped him on the shoulder. "Do you have a phone I could use?" Litch nodded and reach in his gem pulling out a phone for her to use. Pearl went somewhere private and pulled a piece of paper with number on it starting to dial the number.
--with Steven and co.--
Steven and Connie got a grand tour of The Hidden City from Lava while Tiger wanted said he wanted to show Amethyst something. They eventually came across what looked like a practice area for combat but right now it was filled with gems that appeared to be dancing, stretching, or doing some vocal exercise.
"Are they practicing for the choosing?" Connie asked as Lava brought them closer.
"Yup each year any gem that wants to can get up on stage and do what they want." Lava explained. "They can dance, sing, or whatever they want. I might even sing this year."
"You can sing?" Steven asked as Lava put them down.
"I know doesn't seem likely right?" Lava chuckled but instead of a light protest he just got nods from the two children. "Well don't argue or anything."
"No it's just you seem like a more smash alot say a little." Connie admitted. Lava shrugged understanding what she ment.
"I could show you if you'd like?" Lava asked wanting to sing.
"Sure." Steven said taking a seat on a nearby bench with Connie joining him.
"Okay just give me a second." Lava said clearing his throat and breathed in and out a bit.
(Next bit in bold you can skip just song. Fly me to the moon, by Frank Sinatra. personal favorite of mine.)
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On a-Jupiter and Mars
In other words: hold my hand
In other words: baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words: please, be true
In other words: I love you
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words: please, be true
In other words, in other words: I love you
After Lava had stopped singing he saw he had drawn a small crowd who along with Steven and Connie applauded. Lava chuckled and took a bow. "Thank you, thank you."
"I'll be honest I didn't think you'd sing that well." Steven said walking up to Lava.
"It's fine I get that a bit." Lava replied.
"Don't be to suprised most quatz gems are great singers." A familiar looking Peridot walked up wearing a sweatband and leg-warmers.
"Dizzy!" Steven cried running up and giving her a hug which she kneeled down and returned it.
"Hi Steven." She laughed then looked up seeing Connie and asked. "Oh and who is this?"
"I'm Connie." She answered walking over and extending a hand to shake.
Dizzy grabbed her hand and looked it over before pulling out a loupe and continuing to look her hand over. "Hmm your a reader and a heavy one at that, a up and comming swordswoman, your family is Sri lankan, and from a little bit of latent chemicals on your hand I'd say she's a doctor right?"
Connie looked at her somewhat amazed. "Uh yeah how'd you know?"
"Oh I just do that when I meet knew people it's really just a parlor trick." Dizzy admitted.
"Hey Diz come on!" A gem yelled from the area where a few were stretching.
"Comming!" She yelled. "Sorry dance practice you can come watch maybe even join if ya like." Dizzy offered jogging back to the group of gems.
Steven and Connie looked at each other before running to join Dizzy laughing as they ran Lava watched them run ahead before shrugging. "Ah what the heck?" Lava said running to join them.
--Tiger and Amethyst--
Tiger had dragged Amethyst to a tall Japanese castle like building and stopped at the door. "What this place?" Amethyst asked.
Tiger turned to look at her and said. "Algo que entenderás."
"Okay seriously I'm gonna be honest I can't even understand when you speak english." Amethyst said deadpan getting a shrug from Tiger who turned to the door and with a glow of his gem the door opened to a huge room that looked like it wouldn't fit in the building. But what caught Amethyst's eye was the monstrous piles of what others would call junk but the two gems saw this junk as priceless treasure. "Heaven does exist." Was all Amethyst could utter.
Tiger pulled her in and over to a pile before diving in leaving Amethyst for a second before popping back out with a pot on his head. "Come on." He said pulling her in. The two then began to dig through the pile before both popped out at the top. "Look what I got." Tiger said holding up a jade statue of a snake.
"Ah that's nothing, check it out Cerberpuss!" Amethyst sang holding up a doll of a red three-headed cat.
"Okay..." Tiger said thinking. "Alright let see who can find the best thing."
"Okay ready? GO!" She yelled as they both dived into piles searching for who knows what.
"Found a car!" Amethyst yelled.
"I got a boat!" Tiger yelled back.
This went on for awhile until they both laid on their backs looking at the ceiling Amethyst dressed in a top hat an armor chest plate and parachute pants. Tiger had a gladiator helmet on a mesh shirt and a kilt.
"I'm bored now." Amethyst said a little exhausted.
"Me too. Wanna go start a few fires?" Tiger asked.
"Not really." She answered.
"Yeah I'm not feeling it ethier." He said starting to move his arms and legs like he was making a snowangel.
"So what's it like? The Choosing." Amethyst asked rolling onto her belly and propped up elbow leaning on it starting to play with Tiger's helmet.
"In a word...awesome." Tiger answered. "Music, food, dancing, and The Choosing itself. I've seen it about 100 times but it never gets old."
"Really why?" Amethyst asked.
Tiger shot up and turned to her. He pulled off his helmet and looked her in the eye Tiger put his hand against her cheek. "I don't know how to say this exactly but I want you to know you make me feel like I'm perfect and imperfect at the same time, I want to be close to you but I'm scared." Tiger paused for a minute. "But you make my fear go away with that smile but return when I see you hurt. I want you to be mine just so I can say I'm yours. So will you choose me because I choose you." He finished by putting his forehead against her's.
Amethyst was blushing so hard her normally purple face was now a burning shade of red brighter then a ruby's skin. "I...I...I...well...I don't..." She stammered trying to respond.
"Why are yo-OH MIS ESTRELLAS!" Tiger yelled scuttling backwards. "I'm sorry I was just trying to show what happens at the choosing I didn't mean- Well I mean I think you're pretty- No I you see- AAAARGH!" He groaned.
Amethyst put her finger on his lip silencing him. "That was sweet but next time just give me some warning." She said smiling.
Tiger smiled back. "Wanna go raid the kitchen?" He asked.
"Well duh, race ya." She answered bolting off to the door Tiger close behind.
--with Prism and Garnet--
Prism was currently hanging upside down holding Garnet by the legs who was pulling up a large looking disco ball. "How ya doing up there?" Garnet asked as she hooked the ball into place.
"Oh just hanging in there." Prism said with a snicker pulling Garnet up but his hand got a little close to her butt.
"HEY! Watch those hands." Garnet said with a serious tone but a small smirk knowing he didn't mean for it to happen.
"Sorry, it's kinda hard to resist a look...or a touch." Prism said pulling her and himself up onto the ledge he had been hanging from. They started walking to see what else they could help with.
"True." She said but briefly lowered her shades her third eye looking at his firm posterior. "But yours looks better." Prism stopped in his tracks and turned to see her third eye give him a wink before she put her shades back on and walked ahead of him.
Prism watched her walk before thinking out loud. "Mmm she's gonna be the end of me." Prism caught up with Garnet as a male sugilite popped up over the edge and put 6 bells on the ledge each the size of one of his fists.
"Ey Prism you and ja girlfriend mind setting dees up?" He said with a Brooklyn style accent.
"Yeah Slug we got ya." Prism answered walking over and squatting down and with a bit of effort picked one up. "You good Garnet?"
Prism looked over amazed seeing Garnet carrying two bells with easy. "You say something?" She asked walking towards where the bells would be hung.
"Man brawns like that a brain to match...How do you keep your hands off her?" Slug asked.
"Because unlike you I can think about more than just that." Prism said walking toward Garnet who was setting up one of the bells. "Ya got it?" He asked.
"Yup." She answered moving onto the next bell. "What are these for of you don't mind me asking?"
"They're for that." Prism said getting his bell into place and pointed to a large black stone in the ceiling with a faint red light coming from holes all around it.
"What does it do." Garnet asked.
"This." Prism answered with a kick to the bell he just set-up making it resonate a loud gong. The stone appeared to respond by making the red light shine brighter. Garnet looked at the light it gave off and felt a feeling of warmth and happiness. "We call it the heart stone." Prism said. "It's foreign to us. We found it one day and when it hears a certain sound it shine that lovely red and give off a feeling close to love. It just so happens that these bells when played in the correct order make it give off what we call the heartthrob." Prism explain.
"What does that do?" Garnet asked as they walked to get the other bells.
"That little feeling you felt from a second ago imagine that x10." Prism said picking up another bell. "And some say that's what alot of gemlings owe their creation to."
Garnet grabbed the other two bells and followed Prism to hang the last bells. When she heard yelling from behind and saw Tiger and Amethyst running away from a few other gems who were chasing them as the two short gems got close Garnet dropped one of bells catching both of them. "What's going on?" Garnet asked as a female topaz and a male lapis ran up both dress like chefs minus the hats.
"これらの小さな小石は台所の食料の半分を盗んだ。" The topaz said with Garnet obviously not understanding.
"They took our food and she wants to take it out of their hides." The lapis explained.
Garnet knocked on the bell getting a few small gongs out of it. "Amethyst is this true?" She asked.
"I will admit nothing." Amethyst yelled a bit muffled by the fact she was in a bell.
"Tiger?" Prism asked using the 'parent voice' that demanded an answer.
"Viva la revolution!" Tiger shouted.
Prism just groaned and turned to to the lapis and topaz. "Just make them scrub the big pot and call it good."
The topaz just laughed and said. "厳しいが公正。"
"Yeah let 'em out and I'll catch them." The lapis said opening a bottle on his waist water pouring and two orbs of water the size of beach balls floated behind him.
"Okay on Three Garnet." Prism said getting to one size of the bell ready to lift. Garnet and Prism nodded to each other. "Three!" Prism yelled and both of them lifted and before Amethyst and Tiger could run the lapis grabbed them both in bubbles.
"Thanks Prism." The lapis said as they started to walk off.
"Can I ask you something?" Garnet asked as they both set up the bell they were holding.
"Shoot." Prism answered walking to one of the other bells and picking it up.
"Why do some gems speak different languages?" She asked.
"Some do it for someone they met, some because it was their first language, others do it just cause." He answered hanging his bell up. "It's like you with those shades they had to have come from somewhere."
"Or your visor?" She asked which made him freeze. "Sorry I didn't mean..."
"No." Prism interrupted her. "It's fine." He said. "I wear it because I've done things...I know your war record and I think you know mine." He said sitting down removing his visor looking at the front of it then at Garnet.
"I do." She said sitting next to him removing her shades. "And we both need to find a way to make amends someday."
"Mhm." Prism said then streched his arm out wrapping it around Garnet. "So now my turn for a question. Who was that wink from Ruby or Sapphire?" He asked with a wicked smile.
"Well...You'll have to do a little something to find out." She said with an equally wicked smile. Garnet leaned in and whispered into his ear making him blush. She then stood up and put her shades back on. "Now come on we still need to set up this last bell."
"Yes ma'am." Prism replied jumping up to help.
--With Jasper--
Jasper was currently both the happiest and angriest she'd ever been. She was on her back pinned under a few gemlings the size of Amethyst sitting on her stomach and chest struggling to get up but some slightly smaller gemlings kept her arms and legs pinned. Umi had stepped away for a minute Jasper saying she could handle this. "Okay get off." She groaned trying to get up again but was forced down.
"NO!" All the gemlings on top of her yelled in almost perfect unison. "We want a story." One of the gemlings said. "Yeah a good one with fighting." Another said. "With a happy ending." A third chimed in. "And a kissy moment." A female one said getting cheers and groans from all the gemlings.
"Not on your gems ya ling cretins." Jasper barked. All the gemlings then gave each other a wicked smirk. They all unison began hopping on parts of Jasper chanting as they hopped. "STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY,STORY!"
Jasper let out groan/roar. "ALRIGHT!" She sat up took a deep breath in and then out. "How about the story of 'The quartz that could' would that be good?" She asked getting excited nods from the gemlings.
"You still telling that old one?" Jasper heard a familiar voice. She turned to see Lava, Connie and, Steven.
"You're one to talk Mr. 'Tenth moon of Zeeon 7'" Jasper said with a side of snark.
"Hey that one has it all guts, glory, and a little moment I like to remember alot." Lava said walking over and sitting next to her as about half the gemlings started to climb on him.
"What's that story?" Steven asked sitting on the other side of Lava.
Lava looked to Jasper. "Do you mind?"
Jasper shrugged letting him know he. could tell it.
"Well it was about 4,632 years ago..." Lava started.
--Near 10th moon of Zeeon 7 4,632 years ago--
On a large ship that resembled a large black diamond that reflected the stars around it moving slowly just off planet while a smaller pink ship entered a bay. Standing this bay were large groups of gems most were moving large crates, some were logging reports, and one group in particular was standing in attention waiting for orders. Walking in a hallway towards the bay was a younger Lava who didn't look much different from present day Lava save for his clothing which was a standard white with a black diamond on the chest suit but he wore a black cape that almost reached to the floor as he walked the wall brought up a image of Litch who appeared to be dressed the same but seemed to more robotic like and followed him as he walked. "You understand the mission correct?" Litch asked.
"Small resistance on the planet's moon, eradicate as quickly as possible, and do so with minimal loss to us or the moon." Lava answered.
"Correct but there has been a small change." Litch said. "A squad of gems from the Pink diamond court are comming to assist. This is more or less a test to see how well they can do.""I don't do rookies." Lava said as he reached a door that open to another section of the hall.
"To bad." Litch told him. "But you will approve of atleast one of the gems." Litch said bringing up a small video of Jasper fighting and not even breaking a sweat against almost 20 gems.
"Not bad." Lava said making it to the door to the bay. "Don't get mad at me if they shatter."
"No need to worry Homeworld can always make more." Litch said as the feed cut away and the door to the bay and every gem saluting Lava he entered and a Pink diamond ship just landing. Gems then filed out Jasper leading four other quartz soldiers and three peridots.
"Squad on me!" Lava shouted and a squad of four quartz soldiers, two critinites, and an onyx were behind him and in formation within a second. "Squad leader front and center!" Lava commanded and Jasper stepped infront of Lava in attention. Lava walked around her once before looking her in the eye. "So your her?" He asked.
"What?" Jasper asked confused.
"You know 'The Jasper', 'The Quartz That Could', the beta gem that dispatched 80 gems when she burst from her emergence hole?" Lava asked.
"Yes General." Jasper answered her face showing pride.
"Well I think we have a rare opportunity here." Lava said walking over to Jasper's squad to adress them. "Pink squad do you have faith in your leader?" He asked them.
"Yes General!" They all answered.
"They I say we go a step further in this mission. Jasper!" Lava called and Jasper turning to face him. "You're shot caller after my next order. Understood?"
"Y-yes General." Jasper said in shock and amazement.
"Good." Lava said with a smile gesturing for the squads who followed him to a large circular room with a high ceiling.
Suddenly a screen popped up with a gem on it. "Your orders General?"
"We're setting up a base before we clear out the resistance." Lava answered. "Inform Black Diamond he will have this moon by days end or he can have our gems for powder." Lava explained scaring a few in the room.
"Understood." The gem responded before the screen cut off and the room began to shake.
"Hold on." Lava said calmly as a sudden rush of force made all of the Pink squad stumble. In a few short seconds a loud crash signified one thing. "We've landed." Lava said walking to Jasper who was on one knee from the impact. "Our gems are in your hands so lead well."
Jasper nodded and turned to the other gems. "Alright set a perimeter while the techs set up! Go NOW!" She yelled all the quartz gems and onyx running outside while the techs started to set up. Outside quickly turned into a war zone in seconds with explosions and gems fighting the resistance with little effort making their way to a large fort about a mile away from the gem landing zone.
The battle lasted for hours with Jasper watching over as the quartz were about to break into the fort. "I'm impressed." Lava said joining her as they watched the soldiers. "4 hours 34 minutes in and we will have this moon."
"Thank you General." Jasper said with a pleased smile.
"I will inform our superiors and ensure that you will receive praise for this." Lava told her but before she could say anything a large explosion was heard causing the two look as a large 50ft robot rose from the fort and began to attack while making it's way to the established gem base making Lava smile. "Finally I've wanted a little action." Lava looked at Jasper. "Permission to engage?" He asked.
"Not without me." Jasper said with a smile summoning her helmet as they made their way to the battlefield.
The two were there in seconds standing side by side as the robot approached. Lava unhooked his cape letting it fall as he summoned his hammers. He looked at Jasper who returned the look and both charged forward...
--Earth 4,632 years later--
"...and we fought breaking that thing down to scrap." Lava said finishing up the story. "So how about another story?" He asked but was answered by numerous snores. looking around he saw all the gemlings sleeping along with Steven, Connie, and Jasper. Lava chuckled before seeing Jasper leaning against him he patted her head. "Sleep well everyone." He then leaned his head against Jasper's falling asleep.
--Meanwhile with Tiger and Amethyst--
The two short gems were at the bottom of a pot the size of a small football stadium with a toothbrush in each hand scrubbing griim and progress was...almost moving backwards. "I still say it was worth it." Amethyst said.
"Si, Si." Tiger agreed as they both continued to scrub.
--Hours later--
Garnet, Prism, Litch, and Pearl all waited at the warp-pad for their comrades to show up when Peridot walked up smiling. "What are you so happy about?" Pearl asked her.
"Because to these gems I am the smartest being they've met in centuries." Peridot answered looking overly pleased.
"They must not get out much." Prism said getting laughs from Pearl and Litch with a small chuckle from Garnet. Eventually Lava came walking up carring Jasper on his back with Steven and Connie on her back all asleep. "Eventful day?" Prism asked.
"Yeah I shared a war story." Lava answered.
"Careful people have been known to stay asleep from your war stories." Litch said with a laugh.
"Yeah now we just wait on the short-stacks?" Lava asked but before anyone could answer they heard a pair of groans that made them look to see Amethyst and Tiger stumbling towards them completely exhausted both not even saying 'hello' before passing out face first on the warp-pad. "Well atleast we don't have to look for them." Lava said as he stepped on the warp-pad with the others joining him as they warped away.
--Gem temple--
When they arrived it was night time and Garnet noticed immediately that Lapis was gone but decided that she was better off away from Jasper, Peridot, and the rest. She decided to put Steven and Connie to bed and tell Steven in the morning.
--Outside Earth's atmostsphere--
A large old gem ship was floating above Beach city with a dozen gems on it looking down at the temple as one spoke. "I want them taken alive." The gem turned to the rest. "And do not crack them damaged goods don't sell well."
Dun dun duuuuuuuun. Well sorry this took awhile but great news it might take longer now that my phone has trouble doing spellcheck. I will try to get another chapter out soon though. And hey almost 7,000 words so yay. So until next time see ya.