Snow helps with Amethysts bizarre plan and recalls an old friend.
Snow's interest in the events got even high with this offer; this invitation to explore. The original idea was Amethysts, then she dragged the other two along the line, with Peridot citing that she's an expert on this stuff and Lapis just fell into the mold for what ever reason transpired.
But to help develop the love between them, was not what Snow had planned for at all. Sure, she wanted to understand its complexities and its true power, but to instigate it? She wasn't keen. She'd help to an extent, with her knowledge on human culture and its alluring detail too impossible to ignore.
Turns out they'd tried a multitude of plots that went no where. It aggravated Peridot to no end, but Amethyst wasn't about to give up.
"I know those two well enough that they're just too shy to admit their feelings." Amethyst told her.
Shyness..a trait to those unwilling to share what they know with others, lest the risk of others thinking less of them or worse.
"With the amount of examples and things that I've researched, we've come to the conclusion that...much to my own horror, we barely know anything about humans." Peridot revealed. "But you, gracious, glorious Snow Quartz, your intel could be what we need to finally get somewhere..."
Love was still pending in her mental encyclopedia, as Peridot dragged in a chalk board, drawing in multiple diagrams on it, as Snow scanned the imagery.
She wanted to say that she was in the dark as much as they were and didn't want to push matters not related to her level of comprehension...but the book Connie mentioned could help them.
"I know of a book that may aid us." Snow told them, as she rubbed her knuckles under her chin.
"A book that tells us the different types of love. So first we need to unravel the mysteries of love first, before we can proceed."
Eyes widened from Peridot as she whacked the palm of her hand with her fist.
"Of course!" Said the bold gem. "Humans write lots of...things on primitive paper! Lapis and I should find this book immediately!"
This exasperated Snow to no end, but she too, would love to read it.
"Storms pretty bad down there at the moment." Amethyst warned.
"I dunno if the library would be open."
Lapis groaned on how her wings would freeze in an instant and she might as well just become a snow man. Peridot lamented leaving her precious circular metal flyer in the library for what ever reason.
"I could escort you underneath my cloak...Dori could help us out too." Snow told them.
Why she agreed and why she put forth the idea was not in the same plausible sense she would normally portray, but Snow relented and had to go with the flow. They walked through Beach City as Snow followed Dori's trail through the thick snow, hearing the hollowing winds as she tried to cover the gems under the cloak. Amethyst transformed into a wolf like Labradorite while Peridot and Lapis were on each side of Snow Quartz, complaining and shivering that this was the worst idea they ever had.
"Got anymore songs?" Lapis asked.
Snow blushed, what a random question. The blue gem had an interesting personality.
"Well, one written by Snow-Throat, a well accomplished scribe." Snow told them.
"Less gloomy than Milky's."
The world around her turned white, the sky with its geometric shapes.
Give me the honesty, the sanctity, the beauty...
The glory, the clarity, the simplicity and complexity
What a way to say how our hearts always yearnnnn for more
I'll give you transparency, implicitly, joyfully, carefully...
Under the stars that shine so brightly...
Who are we, to say we are, always there, constantly.
Bashfully, we accept, we are key...
Snow-Throat...fought them, shouting at them...shouting at us to leave. We were overrun..
She was no where to be found.
"Snow?"
Amethysts words caught her off guard as they stood in front of the library doors. Peridot opened them promptly as she and Lapis left and fled inside.
"Everything alright?"
Snow snapped out of her trance and smiled.
"Oh yes. We're here." Snow told her, placing her hands together.
Dori made herself scarce as they all entered, with Peridot ready to roam the aisles for this book.
"So...do you know what the book was called?" The green gem asked eagerly.
Snow only recalled mentioning the Ancient Greeks...but that was all. She gave Peridot what she knew, before she pulled Lapis away to find out more. Peri was a bit annoyed, but she was very determined to find the book. It left Amethyst amused as Snow smiled.
"Milky...Snow-Throat. Fellow Snow Quartzes I imagine?" Amethyst questioned.
Oh the memories fluttered in her mind like warm, gushing water from a hot spring. Days gone by, having a laugh or a song in a literal hot spring from time to time. She nodded to confirm.
"Oh yes. Milky was the leader and oldest of our facet." Snow told her.
"Snow-Throat was a bard...she loved to sing."
And sing she did. Fighting the Lillim wasn't an easy job, but Snow-Throat always did her best to cheer people up. Amethyst was amazed.
"A bard huh? So tell me...they had all you split up, but then had you all fightin' a war together? Were they worried about what would come out of there?" She asked.
If only Amethyst knew.
"The Lillim were incredibly dangerous. Homeworld entrusted us to destroy them so they could colonize. We succeeded, but not without cost." Snow explained, solemn in tone.
It was then she heard Dori growling nearby. She could sense something, acknowledging Amethyst that she was going to check the perimeter outside the Library and left before Amethyst could say anything. It was fine...hopefully.
Going back out into the cold allowed Dori to sniff anything suspicious. Snow was suddenly knocked back by a mysterious force, almost blindsighting her. Opening her eyes revealed that the world had gone dark. The snow stopped, but all there was, was the silence in the void.
"Snow...flake..." She heard muttering on the dead winds.
Was...was that Milky?
"Milky where are you?" She called out.
Static filled the air, deafening her. Until she felt Dori bite her hand, snapping her out of it. White light returned...and the library behind her did too.
"She's here Dori." Said Snow.
She was deeply torn whether she should investigate or wait for the weather to better up. Instinct told for the former but logic was for the latter. Amethyst had come out to see what all the fuss is about.
"Hey Snowy." Said Amethyst.
She wondered if the Crystal Gems had suspicions about it all. Garnet saw something...that was enough to get Snow worried about it all the while as she continued to mull it in her head over and over again, like a rapid drum beat.
"Did your dog smell something out here?"
The static sounded very...familiar somehow.
"She did." Snow answered.
Darkness...static...it could only mean one thing.
"The Lillim are near. How...how did they..."
The pair jumped as they heard a door open, with Peridot brandishing a teal book in her hands.
"Hey Snow Quartz! I hope this is the one you wanted!" She exclaimed, then noticed the fearful expression on her face as she peered into the distance with tears in her eyes.
Amethyst shrugged, tugging on Snow's cloak.
"Ehhh something about the Lillim...should we be worried?" The purple gem wondered.
Snow bit her lip.
"I need to go...now..." She cried.
"Go where?" Said Amethyst, who was concerned for her fellow Quartz.
The static was obvious...the darkness was obvious. But they had captured them all on their home planet. How did they get to Earth? How? Snow had to protect everyone...all Snow could recall was the screaming and screeching. Dori pulled out her out again as she rubbed herself against her partner as Snow ran her fingers through Dori's fur. No she had...if Milky were here, she'd know what to do. If Snow had to get answers, she'd need to find out where Milky was hiding. But at the same time, did not want to abandon the gems here. All of them were at risk...
"I need to find Milky...she's still here...and she needs my help." Snow told them.
What could she remember about Milky. Snow remembered she had multiple Earth outposts. But where they were...it'd been a long time since she'd been to Earth. She'd hoped to recall where but the details were extremely fuzzy. Growls filled the air as Dori went on the defense again. Amethyst recognized the same shadows that had been crawling around them, suspecting that she'd seen them like they couldn't be seen directly, as if they were in the corner of her eyes.
"What's going on Snowy? Why are they here?" Amethyst said, preparing her whips.
It was impossible to fathom as to why the Lillim were out here in broad daylight. Unless...they had already started to infect people...and maybe gems.
"Oh...no...we need to head back as soon as possible. We need to leave now!" Snow ordered in a panic.
The snowstorm however got even worse, the world around them darkening in a mere instance. Snow covered Peridot and Lapis in her cloak as Amethyst shapeshifted in a wolf herself and ran behind Dori as they fled for the direction of the Beach House.
This was only going to get worse.
This was how it started.
They'd fill you with their paranoia, to get you scared out of your wits. One by one, they'd patiently...and slowly draw people apart and wait until their victims were alone.