So back again and we're off to the story. Also please comment let me know what you think.
--Gem temple--
The group were now sitting in the house licking their wounds. Lava and Jasper were not present at the time as they were off looking for Tiger. Litch was resting on the couch snoring softly while Steven, Connie, and Amethyst were watching their friend's gems they had set on a large pillow. The feel of the room was a little sad but there was tension thicker than a brick wall due to Lapis giving Peridot the evil eye from Steven's bed while Peridot stole glances at her from the counter wondering how to handle the situation.
Suddenly Ruby's gemstone glowed and her familiar form appeared as she drooped to the floor and yelled. "Sapphire!" Looking around she took note that everything was fine but she was quickly pulled into a hug by Steven.
"It's okay she's right here." Steven said handing Ruby her gem.
Letting out a sigh Ruby smiled looking at the gem in her hand. "Thanks Steven...huh little weird talking to you without Sapphire here." She said chuckling as Steven did the same before a rather loud and painful sound came from Prism's gem. Looking over at it they saw his gem float up but instead of of his form try to materialize it constantly changed from having multiple limbs to multiple head or even just a huge blob but the form finally settled into the form they knew as Prism who now stood looking around before Steven latched on to his leg hugging it.
"So I guess we're all in the clear for now?" Prism asked patting Steven's head and forming a new visor over his face.
"Seems so but without any prisoners we don't know why they were here." Litch answered.
"Wait." Steven said letting go of Prism. "They really only wanted Sapphire, Lapis, and Tiger and they kept talking about price and stuff. Does that help?"
"Maybe but..." Prism said but stopped when he saw Ruby. "Well hello Ruby long time no see." He said with a smile.
"Same to you Prism." Ruby said with a smile. "Were those Homeworld gems that attacked us?" She asked.
"Not by a long shot." Prism answered. "At one point yes, but they went rogue. We call them traders. Basically they capture rare flora, fauna, and items to sell to the highest bidder or keep them for their own personal gain which explains why they went after Sapphire, Tiger, Lapis, and Steven." He explained sitting down in a lotus position on the floor.
"Why would they want me?" Lapis asked.
"Terraformer gems are rare maybe 1 in every 30,000 if you're lucky." Prism answered.
"And having a Sapphire would indeed be most beneficial to whomever controls the gem herself would have endless probabilities to work with and work to avoid the undesirable one." Peridot said rubbing her chin thinking.
"Then why did they want Tiger?" Amethyst asked.
Prism sighed and looked to Litch who nodded. "He's not a normal Tiger-eye." Prism said taking off his visor, his gem creating a image of the Tiger they knew. "He is a rarity among rarities..." He explained as the image split Tiger into three copies. "First is Tiger as himself that you know..." Prism continued as the left Tiger hologram did a backflip and smiled giving the group a toothy smile and thumbs up. "Next is one he keeps suppressed, the blood gem side a type of gem that is just...in a word...savage...and with a number of abilities that we don't even know about." The middle Tiger hunched over and turned feral looking, drooling, and lashing out at nothing. "And last is what he is right now, a breaker."
"A what?" Connie asked confused.
"Yeah what is that? P-dot?" Amethyst asked looking to the green gem.
"I'm not sure almost all files on 'breakers' require Diamond level access. But I believe they are warrior gems of some kind." Peridot answered.
"Close but they are so much more..." Prism said as the last image of Tiger turned into what looked like the corrupted gem that they had seen earlier. "Each Diamond had one, each different from the last. This is Tiger's it makes him about as strong as Tektite but blind to who is friend or foe." Prism said the corrupted version of Tiger scratching his mane with his back leg like a dog before laying down.
"So is he corrupt?" Ruby asked concerned.
"No. Just in a animal like state." Litch answered. "But not to worry Lava will be able to find him in no time."
"Good I'm kinda worried about him." Amethyst said visibly relaxing before heading to the kitchen to raid the pantry.
"Yeah I was worried he was corrupt and I don't know if I could handle that." Steven said looking relieved. Steven then turned to Lapis and went up to her. "Are you okay?" He asked her.
"Fine." Lapis said looking out the window at nothing.
"Well when you wanna talk I'm here." Steven told her leaning against her. Lapis just smiled and nodded still looking out the window.The group continued to wait for Pearl and Sapphire to reform for a few hour till Pearl's gem began to glow and she reformed with her spear ready but instead of combat she was met with the group sitting around watching a movie. "Pearl's back!" Steven yelled running down to hug her.
"What happened?" Pearl asked hugging Steven back. Litch began to fill her in but halfway through Sapphire's gem began to glow and she reformed gently floating to the ground but was instantly tackled by a red blur in a crushing hug.
"Ruby!" Sapphire laughed at Ruby nuzzling her neck.
"I'm so glad you're back." Ruby told her crying tears of joy. The two small gems continued to hug and nuzzle each other till they were wrapped in a glow of light and two became one. Where they once stood was now Garnet who was hugging herself and smiling.
"The gangs almost all here, now we just wait for the rest." Prism said and in seconds the warp-pad activated revealing only Lava and Jasper. "Hey where is Tiger?" Prism asked looking at the two.
Lava and Jasper traded glances before Lava spoke rubbing the back of his neck. "We couldn't find him."
"What?!" Litch asked in a panic. "Do you realize what he could do in his current state?! If he gets into a populated area he'll rip it apart like paper!" He said getting in Lava's face.
"Hey don't talk to me like that! We looked everywhere, The Hidden City, his room, any place he might go but we couldn't find him!" Lava yelled back.
"HEY!" Prism yelled getting everyone's attention. "We need to stop and take a second to think...where would he go?" He told them.
"Well he's a quartz..." Jasper said. "So he'll go to his basic survival instincts."
"Right, and he'll be exhausted maybe hurt so he'll head to familiar ground." Litch added.
"But you said he didn't go to his room or the city." Steven said. "Where would he go more familiar than that?"
"Look we need to think like Tiger or we'll never find him." Lava said. "Or atleast find someone who thinks like him."
"Where will we find someone like that?" Connie asked making everyone start to think but were pulled right back out by a loud 'POP' from the kitchen. All of them looked to see Amethyst covered in chaaaaaps with a deflated bag in her hands.
"What?" Amethyst asked.
"Amethyst where would you go to clear your head?" Litch asked.
"My room probably." She answered eating a few chaaaaaps.
"No I mean where would you go if you just needed to be you without anyone else around or to say something." Litch asked this time shaking her a bit.
"Well I'd go to see the fam probably." She told him.
"The what?" Jasper asked.
"She means some boulders in the Prime kindergarden." Steven answered.
"So if they think the same then..." Pearl trailed off. The group exchanged looks before the Black Diamond gems went to the warp-pad.
"He's at the Beta no doubt." Lava said and they instantly warped off.
"Come on we gotta help 'em." Amethyst said running to the pad with everyone behind her save for Peridot and Lapis. "Hey come on you two we'll need all the help we can get." She said which made Peridot run up to the pad but Lapis didn't move. "Hey, Come on we need you."
"No, I'm not going." Lapis said glaring at the group.
"Fine! Stay here and sulk! Peridot get us to the Beta!" Amethyst yelled getting her to warp them all away leaving the blue gem alone to look out the window trapped by her own thoughts.
--Beta kindergarden --
When they arrived they saw sand, sand, more sand, and hey look sand. But they noticed the canyon they had appeared in had more just sand (but it did have alot of sand) but similar holes to the Prime kindergarden but they weren't at all straight or even in correct looking shapes and seemed to be in more disrepair than the Prime. Jasper stepped off the pad and took in a deep breath before sighing. "Feels good to be back."
"You came from here?" Steven asked running up next to her.
"Yes I did Rose." She told him continuing to walk through the canyon.
"I'm not Rose, Jasper." He told her as the group followed the two. As they walled the group looked for any signs that may lead them to where Tiger may be. "TIGER!" Steven called out.
"COME OUT SOLDIER!" Jasper called.
"TIGER! COME ON AMIGO!" Amethyst called looking in one of the holes. They continued to walk calling for Tiger. After a little bit they came across something odd. "Hey check it out." Amethyst said holding up a small gear about the size of a quarter.
"What of it?" Jasper asked taking the gear and holding it up to the light to look at it.
"Tiger always took these things when we threw them away." Peridot chimed in. "Perhaps he's gathering more."
"Garnet can you see where we can find him?" Connie asked the tall fusion.
Garnet focused for a minute but left out a defeated sigh. "No...but we can find him here somewhere if we follow the trail of scrap."
"Then let's go!" Amethyst said taking off down the canyon grabbing the small pieces of scrap and parts along the way. They kept running grabbing scrap as they went till they came to a large pile of metal in the middle of the canyon. "Hey look! I bet Tiger's pilling the metal here! See?" Amethyst called to the group who turned the corner just in time to see her be quickly snared up by what looked like a net made of chains making her cry out in suprise.
"Amethyst!" Steven called running to just below the net as she swung back and forth. "We gotta get her down!" He called to the group.
"Calm down Rose." Jasper said walking over and began to give the net several tugs.
"Jasper...*clank clank*...I keep telling you...*clank clank*...I'm not...*clank clank*...Wait what's that sound?" Steven asked making Jasper stop also making the sound stop.
"I don't hear anything." Jasper said pulling on the net again making the clanking start again. "Hey fusion give me a hand here." She called to Garnet who groaned at being called the derogatory term but still walked over helping pull on the net making the clanking louder.
"Wait there it is again!" Steven cried making the two stop and making the clanking stop. Steven then gave the net a shove making a few clanking sounds. "See?" He said before looking under the net seeing what looked like a few old cowbells tied to the bottom.
"What are those for?" Peridot asked running up and looking at the bells.
"For letting me know when I've caught something." A voice called out making them all turn to see a tall ash grey gem atleast the size of Opal sitting on the edge of the top of the canyon.
Said gem was dressed in a pair of white pants that puffed up at the bottom and had a sort of swirl design on them with a grey sash that was tied so one end went down to about mid-thigh with a black diamond on it. The gem also wore a strap across his chest up to his left shoulder that held what looked like a empty quiver and his shoulder down to his fingers were covered in a leather like armor while it looked like he kept another pair of arms folded behind his back. The fusion's hair was grey with streaks of black in a tight braid from the front of his head down to the tip which reached the middle of his back.
They all got ready for a fight but the gem put up his hands in a surrender "Hey hey no need for that you know us." The gem said hopping off his seat to the canyon floor and turning around showing a smooth black gem on his neck and a black gem full of small holes lower on his back.
"Lava? Litch?" Steven asked the fusion.
"Yes and no." The fusion answered. "We prefer Camo stone but we'll settle for Camo."
"Wait you fused with a pearl?" Jasper asked talking to the Lava side of the fusion.
"Not now Jasper." Camo said walking over to the net and unhooking it letting in fall to the ground with a heavy crash and a 'oof' from Amethyst.
"Why'd you two fuse?" Connie asked. "Wouldn't you be able to look for Tiger faster unfused?"
"You'd think, but as Camo we are amazing at tracking." Camo answered. "Yeah we could find a hawk on a stormy day."
"Really?" Steven asked.
"Yup nuthin gets by us." He said but the second after he said that a huge blur thundered past the group grabbing the net full of scrap and Amethyst still inside screaming as she was dragged along. The group turned to Camo who groaned pinching the bridge of his nose. "Damn you comedic irony." He mumbled.
"After him!" Garnet yelled and they all ran after the blur.
They chased the blur till it turned a corner and as they followed they turned the corner to see the canyon split into multiple different paths but had lost the blur, the net it was carrying along with Amethyst.
"Which way did they go?" Jasper asked.
"Hmm." Camo said kneeling down picking up some sand and smelling it then tossing it up seeing which way the wind blew it. "Prism is right behind him and both are headed...that way." Camo said pointing down one of the paths. They all ran down the path till another blur flew by them crashing into the canyon wall making a hole.
"Uh was that Prism?" Pearl asked pointing to the hole.
"I believe so." Peridot answered looking where the hole was. "I'm beginning to think that the Black Diamond Authority wasn't as powerful as the stories say."
"So we've gotten rusty now is not the time for judging each other." Camo said about to take off where Prism had flown from before stopping and turning to Peridot. "And you're short." After running for a few minutes Camo turned a corner he saw something that confused him. "HEY GUYS! YA MAY WANNA SEE THIS!"
The rest of the group along with a now recovered Prism ran to see Camo leaning against the canyon wall. "What is it?"
"Hehe look." Camo chuckled pointing.
They all looked what he was pointing at. It was Tiger holding Amethyst laying on a pile of scrap metal and grooming her like a cat by licking her as she groaned and trying to get away. The group started to snicker till Amethyst heard them and shouted. "HEY! A LITTLE HELP?"
"What do ya think guys?" Prism smiled. "I think they look like quite the happy couple."
"NOT FUNNY! P come on lend me a hand?" Amethyst cried and Tiger pulled her closer nuzzling his head into her hair, but looking over at the white gem she just saw her trying to her snickering behind her hand.
"Okay...okay that's enough let's help her." Garnet laughed walking closer before Tiger let a low growl warning her to stay back. The fusion wisely stepped back making Tiger's growl turn into a low purr as he turned his attention back to Amethyst who was still wrapped in his arms and under his chin. "So how do we get them apart?"
"Well last time he was like this he found an old engine from a car only way we got that away was to give him something that he liked more..." Camo said scratching the back of his neck. "...but I think we'll need more than what we gave him last time."
"What was that?" Steven asked.
"Old propeller off a yacht I think." Camo answered walking over to small pile of scrap and started sifting through it.
"No that was his Christmas present." Prism said finding his own pile to look in. "Last time he was like this he had an engine, we just replaced it with a bundle of uranium rods. Which we're aren't doing because he'll just lose them again, we'll have another Chernobyl, and I'll have to clean it up." He said tossing a chunk of brass over his shoulder.
"Wait...Chernobyl?" Connie asked a little confused.
"QUESTIONS LATER, HELP NOW!" Amethyst yelled as Tiger was now laying his head on her as he purred.
"How about this?" Steven asked holding up a old VCR.
"Maybe, try it." Prism said.
Steven started to walk toward the animalistic Tiger and the current pinned down Amethyst holding the VCR out like an offoffering. Tiger watched him curiously as Steven got closer till he was merely feet away from Tiger who was making low rumbles and clicks at him. "It's okay, it's okay here this is for you." Steven said putting the VCR down in front of him watching his reaction.
Tiger reached for the device with a huge claw like hand picking it up and dragging it closer into the pile. Tiger then turned back to Steven looking at him and tilting his head before smiling at the young hybrid.
"Guys I think it worked!" Steven yelled with excitement turning to the group with a smile. The rest of the group smiled back...until Tiger picked him up with his teeth in his by the back of his shirt and setting him down next to where he had Amethyst pinned before laying his head back down on her.
"Hey." Amethyst said to Steven.
"Hi..." He said back. "...how are things?"
"Could be better." She answered.
The group looked on now needing a moment to think on how to approach the situation. While one on them in particular was implanting her own idea without telling the rest. Jasper began to take position before charging straight at Tiger letting a war-cry startling Tiger who grabbed both Steven and Amethyst slinging them onto his back before jumping up to the top of the canyon and bolting off down the huge sandy field with Jasper still giving chase. "Oh for the love of- Camo take position and get him somewhere we can pin him down, Garnet, Pearl help me cut him off, Connie, Peridot you two find some way to help Steven and Amethyst off his back. Everyone got it?" Prism said taking command and directing the group.
Each of them went to their task with Camo took position on a plateau and summoned Lava's hammers in his lower hands then Litch's sword in his upper hand before combing the weapons into some sort of bladed great bow with a chain for the string and the hammers for the ends. Taking aim Camo pulled back aiming just infront of Tiger before letting a bolt of energy fly from it hitting just infront of the red gem. When the bolt hit it Tiger quickly turned running to his left straight towards a fast approaching Garnet with her gauntlets ready to fight.
Tiger charged at Garnet but turned right as he reached her. Garnet began to give chase, Jasper close behind till they were right next to Tiger seeing Steven and Amethyst holding on tight to the long mane as Tiger ran. "STEVEN! JUMP!" The fusion yelled. Steven moved to jump toward Garnet but Tiger made a quick turn making the young hybrid grab on tighter to Tiger as he ran.
Camo fired another arrow inches away from tiger making him turn again and dive down into another part of the canyon running till a few bolts of light made him turn down a different path as the one who fired the bolt, Pearl, joined in chase as Garnet and Jasper jumped down continuing to run.
"SLOW DOWN, TIGER!!!" Amethyst yelled right into Tiger's face which caused him to come to a screeching halt which happened to be right infront of Prism who held his hand out in stop motion.
"That's a good pup." Prism said rubbing the top of the animalistic gem's head making him give out a low purr. "I'd get off now before he starts up again." Prism told Steven and Amethyst as the two climbed off. Prism brushed some bangs out of Tiger's face revealing his eyes showing sadness, confusion, pain, but also a little relief.
"Is he okay?" Steven asked looking at the two gem interact.
Prism sigh. "I really don't know kiddo, last time he was like this we could atleast get him to say something."
"Well we can't just leave him like this." Amethyst chimed in. "Maybe he just doesn't understand us, how about..." Amethyst thought for a minute. "Hey big guy..." She said getting Tiger's attention. "puedes entenderme?" She asked.
"Sí, por qué?" Tiger asked in a much deeper voice than normal and a growl mixed in.
The three looked shocked as the rest of the group came running up but stopped at the sight of Tiger sitting like a dog watching Amethyst, Prism, and Steven.
"Why are you just standing around shouldn't you poof him?" Jasper asked seeing.
"Hermana mayor, ¿por qué serías tan malo?" Tiger said looking at Jasper with a frown.
"Wait I thought he couldn't talk?" Pearl asked confused.
"He must have come back to consciousness during our little chase, right Tiger?" Camo answered dropping down into the canyon joining the group again giving Tiger a scolding look.
Tiger let out what sounded like a laugh before rolling onto his back like a dog looking up (or down? No up. or...whatever this is giving me a headache.) at the group. "¿Qué? Estaba disfrutando nuestro pequeño juego de persecución."
"Okay so can you change back yet?" Prism asked. Tiger just shook his head with a small frown. "Why not?" Prism asked again making Tiger shrug before rolling to lay on his stomach with his limbs spread out.
"Well now what do we do?" Amethyst asked.
"We will just have to take him home and see if we can think of a way to fix him later." Camo said before defusing back into Lava and Litch.
"Well we should find Peridot and Connie so we can head back." Pearl said getting nod from the rest of the group.
"We're over here!" Peridot called as her and Connie ran up panting.
"Sorry we couldn't keep up." Connie said.
"No problem. Come on let's get home." Lava said walking to find the nearest warp-pad the group following along with Tiger who took a little urging but followed.
--Back at Beach city--
The group had arrived back home with Lapis now laying on Steven's bed reading a book she found and the rest waiting for Litch and Pearl to finish cooking some stew. They had Tiger stay outside with Lion so he didn't break anything and in truth they all agreed that Tiger in his current state was more or less like having another Lion around.
"So how long we he be like that?" Connie asked watching Tiger and Lion from the window.
"A day atleast, maybe more if he gets stressed." Litch said dicing veggies.
"Well atleast he's home now." Pearl said throwing some meat into a pot on the stove. Litch adding the veggies just after as he and Pearl continued to work with each other making supper for the group the two working like well oiled machine around the kitchen. The two finished the food and served eveyone who was going to eat. One recipient of the food who was confused which was Jasper.
"Hey! Peridot what is this stuff?" She asked the small green gem who was aslo a bit confused.
"I believe it's something humans ingest to sustain themselves." Peridot answered poking a chunk of potato with a spoon.
"It's called stew." Lava chimed in. "Try it like this." He said taking his bowl and pouring the entirety into his mouth in one gulp and swallowed. The two looked at him confused before Jasper followed his example perfectly giving a 'mmm' of approval. Peridot on the other hand only succeeded in spilling stew all over her face making her scream at the scalding hot food now all over her getting laughs from the room some out loud a few internal.
"Go wash off Peridot. Anyone want seconds?" Litch asked sending Peridot to the bathroom.
--transition--
(lazy right?)
It was now midnight and the entire temple inhabitants were asleep Steven in his bed, Connie on the couch, Prism and Garnet in her room, Litch and Pearl sharing a room, Lapis was sitting on the roof looking at the half-moon, Lava and Jasper asleep against a wall near the warp-pad, and Peridot had fallen asleep in the bath tub, Lion and Tiger were outside under ther deck. But atleast one inhabitant was wide away and was taking the leftovers in a pot from the fridge and making her way outside and down the steps. "Hey, hey Tiger." Amethyst called softly waking the still animal like gem. "Look what I got." She sang holding the container up to him.
Tiger let out a low purr as the short purple gem set the food infront of him. "Sorry if it's cold bu-" Amethyst was cut off by a loud woosh sound and saw a small fire under the pot. "Well never mind."
"Gracias amatista." Tiger said watching the stew slowly come to a boil. "Únete a mí por favor?"
"Sure." Amethyst said sitting down and leaning against Tiger's side into his thick mane soon finding it super soft and nuzzling into it more. "Soooooooooooo sooooooooooooooooft." She said almost falling asleep. But before she could the sound of the door opening and closing making the two watch as Pearl came down the steps wearing a leather jacket stopping halfway seeing the two.
"Uum...I...You see..." Pearl tried to form a sentence but was cut off by the sound of a loud engine pulling up a small distance away. After turn towards the sound then to the two gem.
Amethyst gave a huge smile. "Yeah get it gurl." She said making Pearl blush before she continued down the steps.
"Eh?" Tiger asked.
"Tell ya later." Amethyst answered before nuzzling back into Tiger's Mane drifting off to sleep. The two gems would stay like that until moring. Feeling peaceful just in each other's company.
Well took a bit but I'm kinda happy with it and I almost waited till 'Diamond days' was over to finish it but by the time I introduce White, Yellow, or Blue it will be much farther into this and at my current update rate 'Diamond days' will be reruns. But anywho the next few chapters will be back to the drill, going to the moon, and eventually the cluster maybe throw in a backstory or character development somewhere. Till then let me know what you think and I see ya in the next chapter.