Chapter 2: An Old Friend

"Graaaaah take that, not Pearl!"

"Nice one Steven!" Connie said as she watched Steven fling his shield and slice through the blue hologram. The human girl quickly rolled and took out another dummy with her sword. Steven turned to thank or congratulate Connie himself, failing to see the approaching sword come at him. It was stopped in the nick of time by a scabbarded sword. Ame had been watching the fight and had stepped in to save Steven. The holograms dissipated and the session was over. Ame's silly and genital aura was completely gone at this point as she hobbled around the arena observing. Unlike Pearl's mothering attitude when it came to fighting, trying to push yet protect Steven at the same time; Ame's style of training held no obvious acts of love. If the kid's stance was at any time incorrect she would firmly tap them into place and would paint very clear pictures of what they need to improve.

"Thanks is bestowed at the end of battle, not during it. If you must show it in battle, show it by getting both of you out of there alive and unharmed."

Ame was pushing herself all morning along with the kids. Pearl noticed that as Ame would hide a pained face anytime the kids would see her. Pearl fidgeted and stood up.

"How about a little break for all of us." She said as water and healthy snacks had appeared. Ame nodded and sat down on the steps next to Pearl. Steven and Connie sat cross-legged in front of the gems munching away.

"How do you know how to fight so well, Ma'am?" Connie had asked after she sat down.

"Well I'm an Ametrine. Back on Homeworld I was the general of both Yellow and Blue Diamonds armies since I'm a mixture of Citrine and Amethyst, yet not a fusion of those gems, like they so despise. So I had to learn and be the best at it, I guess."

"That's so cool!" said Steven.

Pearl cleared her throat and smiled proudly. "That's not even the half of it! When Ame joined me and your mother she was able to relay valuable information to us and help us avoid many battles!"

"So, Steven's mom convinced you to switch sides like the rest of the Crystal gems even though you were really high ranking?" Connie asked between sips of water.

Pearl and Ametrine glanced as each other briefly debating on telling this story. Ame smiled and cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, actually, me and Rose never really got along that well."

"What!?" said both Connie and Steven at the same time.

"It's a bit of a long story and kind of boring in parts, you sure you want to hear it?"

"YES!"

"Can't argue with that. It all started well over 6,500 years ago. I had just got done with my report to Yellow Diamond and that's when your mother approached me…"

6,500 years ago…

Ame was walking through one of the many grand corridors of Homeworld. She was fiddling with a display and becoming more frustrated as time went on.

"Ugh, curse this piece of junk! How do peridots even read this thing?" She flicked the screen away and continued her path

"Ametrine a moment of your time."

"Fine, state your business Rose Quartz."

You really talked to Mom like that?

It was a different time Steven, as I was saying

"I need to talk to you with less prying ears, meet me down in the kindergarten tonight at dusk if you truly care for your armies."

Rose all but disappeared after that and being ever curious Ame had done what she was told. The Kindergarten was cold and full of places to hide and ambush, but Rose Quartz weren't known to tell lies so she trusted her instincts and came along. There she saw Rose and a Pearl by her side.

"I've come as you've requested, what do you want?"

"Join us in the rebellion to save the planet Earth."

Ame had heard rumors of rouge gems and a planet named Earth but surely a Rose Quartz couldn't be involved.

"What you're suggesting I do is treason."

"No it's mercy to all those poor humans. All we ask is to keep Yellow and Blue's armies out of the way as best you can."

Ame reached for her sword prompting a response from Pearl to attempt and draw her own weapon. "And if I refuse, you understand I have the ability and authority to shatter both of you right now, yes?"

Wow, you were kind of mean back then Ame.

It was a different time Steven!

"I know you despise shattering gems."

"That is true, but I can't betray my Diamonds for such a sorry lot." Ame said as she put away her weapon. "I respect you as a soldier Rose Quartz, so I won't relate any information of this meeting to anyone, but I cannot help you."

As Ame turned to go she spoke just once more. "And tell your Pearl to put that thing away, shaking hands don't threaten anyone."

"Wait, wait, wait." said Connie as she set her half eaten orange slices down. "If Rose didn't convince you then who did?"

Pearl and Ametrine glanced at each other again then back to the kids. "Hush, I was just getting to that part" Ame said with a wink and a smile.

It was a few days later Ame was tired of paperwork and was enjoying a stroll around the courtyards. It was well into the evening and a cool air settled around her. She was just about to head back inside when she heard the faint sounds of combat in one of the side areas. When she went to investigate she found the Pearl she saw the other day practicing with a spear. She was trying to prefect her form to no avail as there was no one to teach her.

Pearl was bad at combat, no way.

Everybody's always a little bad starting out, Steven.

You were pretty bad.

Ametrine!

Anyway, as I was saying…

Ame watched for a little while silently judging her form. Pearl tried her best with the information she was given but came nowhere close even to the worst Ruby. But, the way she kept trying inspired something inside Ame as she revealed herself.

"You're too open, and your strikes are misplaced."

"How long have you been standing there?!"

"Long enough to notice you're in over your head."

"I'm fine!"

At that moment Ame attacked and disarmed Pearl in an instant. Because of the way she disarmed her, Ame drew in very close to the other gem. Pearl shrunk at the size of her so close and Ame basically froze at the feeling of the slender, almost fragile gem under her palms. It was a unique feeling since before she only fought other Quartz. Two patches of darker yellow appeared on her cheeks and she stammered as she spoke.

"No, you're not. I could, uh, teach you if, you know, want me to?"

"You, would?"

"Uh, yeah, here let me show you."

Ame quickly grabbed Pearl's spear from the ground and deftly positioned herself behind Pearl. Using her larger frame as an advantage she gently took hold of Pearl's arms and positioned her to the side to reduce her target size.

"So you see, like this your enemy has less to hit so it's more likely for you to, uh, not get hit."

"Thank you, I think I got it now, so you can let go, now…" She smiled awkwardly.

"Yes! Of course, sorry."

The short lessons continued for some time and Pearl improved greatly with Ame's guidance. Just as they were about to part Pearl spoke.

"Does this mean you'll join us? Rose just wants peace for everybody and she really believes you can help us."

"What do you want Pearl?"

"Me? I want a chance to be more then I should be, and Rose showed me that I could be that person if I try hard enough."

"You admire her that much?"

Pearl looked away and clasped an empty hand around her heart. "Everything I do, I do it for her."

"Then I'll help."

"Really?!"

"You have my word as an Ametrine."

Pearl smiled widely and jumped to embrace Ame. As her feet touched the ground still she smiled.

"Oh thank you, thank you! Rose will be so happy! I'll go tell her now!" She said then ran off.

"I'm sure she will." Ametrine said with a face of melancholy.