Author's Note: Sorry for the wait. I've had a long month so far, but with Christmas coming in just a few days and this year making its way for 2015, I'm hoping things'll get a little better. Same goes for Crystal-Gem-Goddess (whom you may've heard has had suicidal thoughts lately; if you can, pay her a visit and show her some love); as for everybody else, have a Happy Holidays!

Now I must get to work on chapter 4. Enjoy!

-Voltalia

Rose had led her new friend to the Crystal Temple where she and her supposed friends had been living for several decades. It was a pretty exciting evening for her; first she'd travelled by herself up to Fontana for the very first time and now she was showing off somebody she'd just met barely a few hours ago.

The first Gem to spot the newcomer right away was Tanzanite, who by now had gotten so used to Rose's antics outside the Temple that she didn't even bother commenting anymore.

"Ooh, who's this fellow character?" Tanzanite asked inquisitively.

"He's Greg Universe and he wants to be famous!" Rose perked up.

"Is he from around here?"

"I don't know." The pink-haired lady turned to face her new friend. "Where did you come from?"

"I, uh, came from all the way up there in Washington." Greg answered with a shrug.

"So what are you doing here?" the blue Gem asked again.

"Trying to become famous like she said."

Tanzanite pursed her lips. "And I'm guessing it has something to do with courting people with an instrument?"

"Well, not exactly-"

However, the long-haired and blonde Zirconia cut him off right then and there just as she was making her way besides the blue Gem. "You want fame? Here? Dream on."

"Zirconia." Tanzanite growled under her breath. "How could you say that to this human? You're unbelievable."

"Well, 'scuse me, Tanzanite." the synthetic Gem answered. "But I think if he wants to be famous, he should go back home."

That last part made the long-haired rocker cringe so badly that he retreated back into his mind. How would he tell these strangers that he couldn't just go home? that he didn't have a home to go to anymore? He couldn't just come out and say that, of course not. Then they'd probably mock him the first chance they got.

Tanzanite turned to face her guest and bailed him out of this embarrassing situation. "Don't worry about what she just said." she assured him. "She hasn't mastered the art of subtlety yet."

"Thanks, uh... Tanzanite, right?" he asked just to be sure.

"Yes, my name is Tanzanite." the blue Gem said calmly. "The lady beside me is Zirconia, the girl over there..." She pointed at the milk-white Gem Pearl who was verbally dueling with the violet Gem Amethyst at the moment. "...is Pearl and her adversary is Amethyst."

"Wow..." Greg answered with amazement. "Your names are cool. Are you guys part of a cult or something?"

Tanzanite desperately wanted to punch him in the face for asking that, but she kept herself composed anyhow and instead answered, "No, we're not. We just happen to be a group of tightly-knit friends, is all. Besides, I'm not finished introducing you to everyone." She gestured him towards the sealed door and led the way. "Jade and Diamond and Garnet are inside with the children."

"Who are they?"

"Well, I'm about to show you."