"See you later, Howlite!" Sodalite said. "I gotta check up on the prisoners again."
"See ya!" Howlite called back.
"Well then, I best be off." Sodalite smirked before walking out the door. Howlite snickered at her reference to Benitoite and last night.
Rhodochrosite heard faint footsteps in the hallway. She didn`t care to look and see who it was, but whoever it was, had better calm down the screeching guard Gem a few cells away from her. She was still wailing, but it was louder, and she could hear the pounding footsteps in on the concrete floor, like she was pacing, and her claws scraping against the walls.
The approaching person stopped at the guard Gem`s cell, Rhodochrosite could tell, because the wailing turned to low, deep growling, and the footsteps stopped.
"It`s okay, it`s just me. Do you recognize me?" Sodalite`s piano tones pierced the growling, like how the sunlight cuts through the night when the sun rises.
"Of course I do, you`re the reason I`m stuck here!" The guard Gem roared with a loud thud, Rhodochrosite guessed that she punched the wall or something.
"You don`t look so good, you wanna talk about it?" Sodalite offered.
"Like I`d talk to the likes of you." The Gem muttered.
"I`m here to help you, take care of you, so let me." Sodalite whispered in an even gentler tone.
"WHY LET YOU INTO MY WORLD WHEN YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SHATTER IT ANYWAY?!" The Gem wailed and more pounding echoed through the halls.
"I`m not gonna hurt you, trust me." Sodalite said. The Gem let out a low growl. "Trust me." Sodalite whispered.
The growling stopped. "Fine." The Gem croaked. "I was abused by my superiors for years, not Rhodochrosite, but people above her, who controlled the sentry business at its highest levels. I gave them my everything, my life, my service, my freedom, and now Homeworld isn`t coming back for us. I know they aren`t, I talked to Agate, the pilot. And now I`m going to be killed, and for what, being on a side I had no say in choosing!"
"We aren`t going to shatter you right away, you can join our side if you want." Sodalite reassured her.
"Too late now," The guard croaked. "War really rocks your world, sitting in here, I have time to think, and now, here I am, corrupt, lost, scared. Like a puppy that`s too far from home."
"We`ll try to fix you, I know someone who can help." Sodalite replied.
"And who is that?"
"The leader of the Crystal Gems, Rose Quartz."
"Oh no, you aren`t getting me anywhere near her."
"Ah, just trust me."
"Right, okay."
"I gotta go, I`ll see you tomorrow."
Rhodochrosite heard Sodalite`s footsteps get louder until she finally stepped in front of her cell. She had a wry smile on her face, and there was laughter in her eyes. She looked the same, same outfit and everything, but this time, the softness of her actual self remained, not the abrasive side Rhodochrosite saw the other day.
"What`s up, Pinky?" Sodalite asked.
Rhodochrosite shrugged.
"You might get to stop hearing that Gem screaming all the time. On the night of...the thing...someone`s gonna come in and get her, and take her to Rose Quartz." Sodalite said, looking back at the cell in which the guard Gem resided.
"The thing?" Rhodochrosite asked.
"Fine, soon, we are going to decide what we`re doing with you guys. You either join us or you don`t, that simple." Sodalite explained.
"I don`t even know what it means to be a Crystal Gem! How am I supposed to make a decision?" Rhodochrosite asked, raising her voice.
"Quiet down! Look, I hear ya, that`s why I`m gonna meet you here, tonight, don`t fall asleep on me." Sodalite crouched down to Rhodochrosite`s level, she was sitting up against the cell door.
"Asleep?" Rhodochrosite looked at Sodalite quizzically.
"It`s a human thing, when your body goes into complete rest mode, but we can do it too." Sodalite replied.
"But still, what`s happening tonight?" Rhodochrosite whispered.
"You`ll see." Sodalite whispered, then winked at Rhodochrosite. "Gotta fly, see you tonight." Sodalite walked away from Rhodochrosite`s cell, leaving her dumbfounded.
"I`m going out, I`ll be back around midnight." Sodalite said, getting out of the bed.
"Hey, wait! Where are you going?" Howlite said groggily, sitting up.
"I`m just going to the the top of the hill, don`t worry about me. Go back to sleep." Sodalite reassured Howlite.
"Alright, I trust ya." Howlite laid back down.
Sodalite went out the door and briskly walked to the prison hall, nothing but the click of her heels and the soft growling of the guard Gem echoed through the hallway. Rhodochrosite was awake, but bored, she had resorted to writing poems in the dust on the ground, and she was so preoccupied with that that she couldn`t hear Sodalite approaching.
"You ready, Pinky?" Sodalite stopped at the door and flipped her hair.
Rhodochrosite looked up, startled. "Huh? Yeah...I guess. Depends on what we`re doing."
"Oh, believe me, you`re ready." Sodalite smiled and pulled the metal keys from her utility belt. She held them by two fingers and jingled them tauntingly, she then singled out a key and opened Rhodochrosite`s cell.
"You`re freeing me?" Rhodochrosite asked.
"Don`t get too excited, you`ll be coming right back here once I`m finished with ya." Sodalite said.
Sodalite walked in and unlocked Rhodochrosite`s chains as well, allowing Rhodochrosite to finally stand up after a few days of sitting and crawling. Rhodochrosite was at least a foot shorter than Sodalite, and Sodalite could finally get a closer look at Rhodochrosite. She had transparent pink eyes with long black lashes, and her teeth were as white as freshly fallen snow. Rhodochrosite`s hair looked like it was made of white cotton candy.
"Let`s go." Sodalite walked out of the cell, Rhodochrosite followed.
The two Gems walked out of the prison hall undetected, Sodalite holding Rhodochrosite by the wrist and pulling at her to move forward.
"We gotta move quickly or someone`ll see us." Sodalite muttered.
"Where are you taking me?" Rhodochrosite asked.
Sodalite turned abruptly around to face Rhodochrosite. "You`re gonna see Earth."
"Oh.." Rhodochrosite said quietly. The two Gems kept walking until they were out of the base and the cold sand touched their feet. It was strange, the air that they were breathing, and these cold little grains that got stuck in between Rhodochrosite`s toes. Sodalite didn`t seem to mind, which Rhodochrosite found even weirder.
"What is this stuff? It feels weird on my gravity connectors..." Rhodochrosite had a wry, disgusted look on her face.
"It`s sand, idiot! It kind of massages me, but don`t get it in your eyes or your clothes, that sucks." Sodalite smiled.
"Eyes?" Rhodochrosite looked at Sodalite quizzically.
"Vision spheres, but we call `em eyes." Sodalite replied.
"Oh, what`s that over there?" Rhodochrosite asked and ran over to the shoreline.
"That`s the ocean." Sodalite said, walking up beside Rhodochrosite.
The water rolled up onto Rhodochrosite`s feet, she flinched at the cold and backed away fearfully.
"It`s just water, it won`t hurt ya. Watch!" Sodalite ran into the water and fell backwards into it, giggling.
Rhodochrosite watched Sodalite and shuffled her toes in the sand nervously, she finally dipped her foot in the water, then her other foot, and then she slowly waded into the water. Sodalite popped her head out of the water and flipped her wet hair out of her face.
"Atta girl! How`s the water?" Sodalite chuckled.
"It`s cold...but in a refreshing way." Rhodochrosite had a fearful expression engraved on her face.
"Oh, lighten up. Nothing`s gonna happen here! You`re free here on Earth, isn`t it great? No one`s watching, have some fun, princess!" Sodalite flicked some water in Rhodochrosite`s face.
"Oh, Sodalite! Don`t think I won`t splash you back!" Rhodochrosite smiled for the first time in ages and splashed Sodalite back.
"There ya go!" Sodalite smiled, taking the splash. "But I bet you weren`t expecting this!" Sodalite tackled Rhodochrosite and they went underwater with a loud SPLOSH.
The two Gems laughed and giggled underwater, with little bubbles trailing from their mouths to prove it. It was surreal, Sodalite`s hair was in blue wisps, like cirrus clouds, and they floated as though they were weightless. Rhodochrosite`s hair was a large, white mass, and it lost its curl in the water. The two Gems finally rose to the surface and they burst through the water, laughing and shaking their hair.
"Okay, okay, you win." Rhodochrosite choked between laughs.
"Have I?" Sodalite grinned before it started to downpour.
Rhodochrosite looked up then back at Sodalite. "Did you do that?" She asked.
"Yep, I never knew I had this power before I came to Earth." Sodalite said.
"What...is this?" Rhodochrosite asked.
"It`s rain, just a little something we have here." Sodalite said, the downpour stopped.
"Let`s get out of here." Rhodochrosite began to wade out of the water, Sodalite tagged along.
"Hey, I`m supposed to be the one leading you." Sodalite speed-walked in front of Rhodochrosite when they reached the beach.
"Okay then, lead the way." Rhodochrosite smirked.
"Ooh, this is the best part!" Sodalite began to run up the hill, Rhodochrosite followed, but she followed slowly so she could look at the sculpture carved into the side of it, it looked like a fusion of some sort. Sodalite was already at the top, and she sat with her legs dangling over the cliff edge. Rhodochrosite finally made it and sat beside Sodalite. The moon had risen then, and it made the ocean glimmer its usual silver ribbon. The stars were out, Sodalite cleared away the clouds, and the stars twinkled in the darkness as well.
"Beautiful, isn`t it?" Sodalite said.
Yeah..beautiful.." Rhodochrosite sighed. "Why did you show me this?"
"Maybe I just wanted to be nice." Sodalite replied.
"I don`t think that`s it." Rhodochrosite said.
"What, you don`t think I`m nice? Brutal." Sodalite smiled at the ground.
"I think you`re nice, but I don`t think that`s just it." Rhodochrosite clarified.
"A day from now, you have to pick a side, Homeworld or Earth, and that`ll decide what we`re going to do with you, but I didn`t want fear to influence you. I wanted you to get a chance to see what I saw in the place." Sodalite looked off into the distance.
"Oh...well that`s very...kind? Of you?" Rhodochrosite wasn`t sure how to respond.
"What do they say? Of Crystal Gems back on Homeworld?" Sodalite asked.
"That you guys are ruthless, fuse-happy hooligans." Rhodochrosite said quietly.
"Oh, you didn`t hold back anything did ya? I was hoping you`d stretch the truth a little bit!" Sodalite chuckled.
Rhodochrosite laughed. "Well, now I know it`s not true."
"Thanks." Sodalite smiled. "Man, I`m tired." Sodalite fell back and laid on the grass; Rhodochrosite followed.
"I just have one question..." Rhodochrosite said.
"Yep..questions..what is it?" Sodalite asked.
"How do you know which side to fight for?" Rhodochrosite asked.
Sodalite sat up and put her hand over her mouth, she then pulled her hand down from her mouth. "That`s a tough question...I guess it just depends on what you believe."
"But, I don`t know what to believe." Rhodochrosite sat up next to Sodalite.
"If you think destroying the Earth and all of its innocent creatures is wrong, then you are a Crystal Gem, like me. If you support the Kindergarten and progress of Homeworld Gem technology, then you are with them." Sodalite explained. "It`s that simple, well, for you it is. It was harder for people like me, and Howlite, Garnet and Pearl. We have specific things to fight for." Sodalite explained.
"Why are you here?" Rhodochrosite asked.
"I guess I have to tell you, I was a slave for Yellow Diamond, and I wanted to be more. I saw what some of the..higher Gems were doing, flying ships, exploring the galaxy, experimenting in the labs, and fusion. I wanted to do that, but they wouldn`t let me, so I ran away, flew to Earth on my own." Sodalite sighed.
"Oh...You know what I just realized?"
"What?"
"Homeworld`s not coming back for me...are they?"
"Ask Howlite, she crashed here years ago, she had to use her wits to make it here alive, and she had just got an augmentation in her eyes too, gave her excellent precision and amazing eyesight now, but she had to live 3 years blind."
"And she`s still here."
"Yep."
Sodalite stood up and helped Rhodochrosite up as well. "We gotta go."
"What, why?" Rhodochrosite asked, following Sodalite down the hill.
"I gotta get some sleep, and besides, the night watch will be checking your cell soon. Remember what we talked about and make a decision, a`ight?" Sodalite said.
"Yes, yes, okay." Rhodochrosite nodded.
They reached the prison hall, the guard Gem had finally figured out sleep, and it was curled up in the corner, purring softly. Sodalite opened the cell door, chained up Rhodochrosite and locked the door back up again. Rhodochrosite was about to go back to her poems when Sodalite`s voice pierced the quiet.
"Good night, Pinky." Sodalite quickly gave a salute and walked away.
Hi everyone!
I have to ask, how is everyone liking Adventure Time`s miniseries "Stakes" if you watch it?
I personally love it, and it reminded me with what I`m doing with Rhodonite, exploring her past in-depth.
In case anyone was wondering why I`m doing this. :) To help ya`ll get to know my homegirl Rhodonite better.