Prodigal Gem ch. 6
I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING!
Until Pearl regenerated, Garnet had nothing but time. She'd overheard what they said to each other...and now she felt she had a better understanding of things.
Meanwhile, she wasn't worry about Dipper getting the journal she hid.
He'd have to come to Beach City for it, and when he did...one way or the other...this would end.
Meanwhile, it was best to tell Mabel immediately about her "pets"...that was not going to go over well.
Centipeedle was bad enough...But Lion...Lion was all their fault. The only reason why he was in quarantine at all was-
…...
"But why!?" Shouted Dipper as he Defended the Giant black scorpion he'd bonded with in the strange temple he'd found.
"Dipper, it's a giant monster of unknown supernatural origins-"
"So's Lion! But you didn't take him away from Mabel!"
This completely threw Pearl, she had no idea how to respond.
Fortunately, Garnet stepped in.
"Your absolutely right Dipper. We should've quarantined Lion the moment he came in contact with Mabel. We'll do that the moment we get home."
Dipper was so surprised by this turn of events, he ended up letting them take Scorpion without anymore argument.
Pearl leaned over to whisper to Garnet. "Are you sure about this Garnet? This will really upset Mabel."
Garnet sighed. "If you have a better idea of getting that creature under observation without explaining to Dipper the "real reason" I'm all ears."
Not knowing what to say both Pearl and Amethyst followed Garnet briskly away from the newly discovered Cipher temple...
…...
Mabel had not been happy about it...And this would not help. But the whole thing confused Garnet.
She understood why Dipper would steal the Journal and Scorpion...But why Lion? Why the Bubbles?...None of this made any sense! Why would-
Stomp!
Garnet looked up from her musings to watch as a giant creature that looked like a cross between a tipsy turtle and a gumball machine stumbled by.
Garnet as always was conflicted at this sight. On the one hand she was proud that Mabel was such a fusion prodigy(it was the one part of being a Gem she had an interest in)...On the other hand fusing with all the children in town was a bit...much.
It also didn't help that seeing how good Mabel was with fusion...Reminded her how Dipper...wasn't.
Garnet felt herself almost fall apart, as the mere memory of that day destabilized Ruby. It was only Sapphire's soothing influence that kept them together.
Suddenly she heard a familiar noise that(thankfully) took her mind off it.
Stan was once more hawking objects he'd "borrowed" from the temple.
Garnet sighed. To this day she didn't know what to make of Stan...
…...
"Amethyst, let go!"
Shouted Stanley as he tried to wrestle his wallet that the younger Amethyst had clenched in her teeth.
RIP!
Both fell backward as the wallet split in two. Amethyst Groaned, then saw a picture that fell out of the wallet.
"Hey, how come you have a picture of yourself looking at a mirror?"
Pearl looked at it. "That's not his reflection...it appears to be a human that looks almost identical to him."
Stan sighed as he snatches the photo away.
"That's...My twin brother Stanford-"
"I didn't know you had a brother." Interrupted Rose.
I...Don't talk about him...And I'd appreciate it if we dropped the subject...
…...A couple hours later...
"-Explain to me again why I'm dredging up a painful part of my life that I've sworn to never talk about?"
Rose smiled. "Because you love me...Also Amethyst wouldn't stop bugging everyone about it until you did."
Stan let out an irritated(but resigned) groan. "Fair enough..."
And so he told them how he and Stan used to be thick as thieves. How Stan protected him from bullies, and how he'd let Stan cheat off his homework so he didn't flunk, but mainly how they used to fantasies of adventures in far away lands filled with treasure...And also how Stan destroyed his chance at his dream college...
"Did he do it on purpose?" Asked Rose concerned.
YES!...No...Maybe?...Gah! I don't know! He said it was an accident...and I want to believe him...The whole thing just makes me so mad!
At that point Garnet stood up. "Even if he did do it on purpose...His actions were the catalyst that led up to the life you have now. And last I checked your very happy with it, aren't you?
Stanley frowned, then he took in where he was. In a wonderful house, filled with unbelievable supernatural knowledge and research. A loving amazing Wife, a child on the way(which come hell or high water his wife would live to see!)...And he really was happy with it.
And the more he thought about it...The more he realized that Garnet was right.
If it weren't for the negative stigma against Backupsmore University, he wouldn't have had to go to such extraordinary lengths to get himself noticed by the academic community...Which was what led up to that unfortunate accident that ended with Fiddleford going insane...Which made him feel guilty enough to go on that big epic quest that eventually led to his confrontation with Bill to get those books to cure him...And he never would have meet Rose...
He shook his head out of that thought.
"You might be right Garnet...But it doesn't really matter...Even if I wanted to reconcile...He won't want to see me either...We really ended on unbelievably bad terms."
Rose Smiled reassuringly. "Come on dear, I'm sure that it wasn't as bad as you think-"
"-My parents took my side, disowned him, threw him out of the house, and forbid him to come back until he made up the millions of dollars that his stunt cost them."
The Gems gaped at him in horror...
…...
As it turned out Stanley had been keeping track of Stanford all these years. Garnet could still remember those awful Commercials Stanley had recorded and wondering how on earth he was able to sell such things!
They also learned that in his mad quest to get the money, he ended up being banned from 32 states...and imprisoned in at least 3 foreign countries...In other words not a great life. Still, Rose eventually was able to convince him to at least try to reach out to-
Garnet abruptly ended her train of thought as Mabel's fusion came undone-
…...
Stan watched as the fusion became undone and the kids wobbled home dazed and confused.
"Wow, what a Rush! Thanks again Mabel!" Shouted a flustered Sadie.
"Yeah! Thanks again! Your a Super Lady!" Agreed a tipsy Lars.
"I'm still pretty sure I'm too young to have done that." Admitted a reluctant(but happy) Peedee.
"WOO! TODAY I AM A MAN!...AGAIN!" Shouted an ecstatic Ronaldo.
"Wow...Mabel certainly knows when to be gentle." Says a happy Kiki awkwardly.
"-And when to be rough and wild!" Adds on an excited Jenny.
Sour Cream says nothing. He just zips up his fly...Which he only just now realized was down.
Onion also says nothing. He just gives Mabel a light peck on the cheek, and stuffs a dollar bill down her pants pocket.
Why dose he do that every time after we fuse? Wonders a confused Mabel, as Connie comforts her.
"-I just want you to know that whatever happens to dipper, I'll be there for you" Mabel smiles. "Thank you Connie, I appreciate that-"
Yeesh, it's like a family-friendly o***.
Thought Stan as he watched the other kids stumble home. Stan couldn't help but chuckle to himself. My niece fuses with dozens of other people to form a giant monster...And I don't bat an eye...Man, my life has gotten weird. Thinks Stan as he reminisces on the day he got roped into this crazy town...
…...
Jan 5
Stanley nervously watched Stanford approach the outskirts of Beach City.
What do I do? What do I say? At the very least I "indirectly" made my brother's last ten years a nightmare...What Do I-
His internal monologue was cut short as a happy Stanford hugs his brother.
Bewildered by this unexpected turn of events, Stanley could do nothing but awkwardly hug back.
ter...
"-But, enough about me. What about you? What have you been up to?" Asks Stanford as he and Stanley walk into beach city.
Stanley suddenly looked reluctant.
"Uh...We'll on top of several other things...I'm married."
"What!? You? Married?" Exclaimed Stanford in disbelief.
Stanley glared. "You know, you don't have to sound quite so surprised."
"Right, right. Sorry. Seriously though, that's awesome! I can't wait to meet her!"
Again Stanley looked reluctant.
"Right...See about that...She's not your garden-variety "woman.'"
Stanford chuckled. "Look, I've been around the world, okay? Whatever she's like, I'll understand-"
…...
"-There is nothing about this I understand." Said Stanford flatly as he beheld the house/alien base, with the four aliens standing in front of it.
"Whoa! He's like a fatter version of Stanley!" Shouted Amethyst.
Stanley and Rose face palmed...
..…several awkward hours later...
"Uh, Stanford listen...There's something else I need to tell you."
Stanford groans. "Can it wait till tomorrow? I'm still trying to process the several dozen curve balls you've thrown me today."
Stanley shook his head. "No, this can't wait."
He then tells him how Rose is pregnant...Also how she might not survive it.
Stanford was horrified. "What!? Why would you let her-"
"I didn't know! She didn't tell me this until she was 5 months along!"
Stanley growled. "If only if she'd told me sooner...Given me more time...I wouldn't have to-"
Stanley stopped his rant to give a resigned sigh.
"Stan, just promise me that whatever happens...you'll look after our child."
Stanford looked at him warily. "Uh, bro. Your really scaring me here-"
"Stanford! Please! This is important!"
Stanford still looked uneasy...But he nodded.
"Okay, Bro. I promise."
Suddenly Stanley personality dose a full 180 and happily slaps him on the back.
"Hey! I had the gems bring the Stan "O" War here from my old storage unit in New Jersey, and had it fixed up. After the child is born, what do you say we fire it up?"
Stanford just looks at him confused-
…...
Stan's flashback was cut short when he saw Garnet approach...
…...
Garnet cautiously approached Stan's "Mystery" stand. Things become very tense between Stan and the gems after the twins were "born."
Especially between Pearl and Stan. Pearl blamed Stanley for making the deal with Bill. And Stan blamed Rose for not giving Stanley enough time to find Synthetic Gem formula on his own...That turned ugly very fast.
Things didn't improve when Stan wanted to use the Journals to find and Kill Bill. Pearl and Amethyst however, wanted to hide the journals and have nothing more to do with Bill.
And Garnet...Well, Garnet agreed with Stan...But she felt taking care of the children took priority over everything else. Thankfully, she managed to convince Stan of that.
He and Pearl also but heads many times over how to raise the children...Mainly Dipper.
Garnet turned to Stan. "Dipper is somehow finding the journals, and then taking them. Do you know anything about that?"
"No, Hello? No, how are you Stan?" Garnet just glared.
Stan sighed. "Several months ago Dipper came to me asking who Bill is...And I told him everything."
"What!?" Snapped Garnet. She knew that Stan was firmly against them not telling the kids anything about Bill or how they're parents really died, But this was-
Stan glared right back. "Considering that he was only asking because he overheard you guys theorizing about how he might have something to do with all the Cipher Temples rebuilding and reactivating themselves; I don't think your in any position to criticize me!"
Garnet felt her heart wrench. Dipper...heard that? She thought in horror.
Stan, meanwhile continued. "Yeah, he knows all about how the temples started coming back online ever since the day Ruby-"
RIP!
Garnet split in two! "I knew it! This is all my fault! I'm a horrible person! I'm sorry Dipper!" Screamed Ruby as she ran away in tears.
"RUBY! Don't blame yourself! It was a bad day all around! I'm just as bad! I should have been paying closer attention to Dippers personal future! RUBY!" Shouted Sapphire as she floated after her.
Stan felt a large pit grow in his stomach. Despite all the problems he had with the Gems...Garnet was okay. Unlike the other Gems she was fair with him...Tough...But fair nonetheless. Also among the Gems...Dipper clearly felt the most connected to her...and clearly Garnet felt the same way. Seeing her falling to pieces like this...It just felt wrong.
Stan pushed these anxieties aside as he got a text message from Mabel saying she'd be playing with Connie for the rest of the day.
Seeing that now was his chance to slip away, Stan quickly closed up shop and began to walk to the outskirts of town...While he continued his memory from where it was interrupted-
…...
-"Hey! I had the gems bring the Stan "O" War here from my old storage unit in New Jersey, and had it fixed up. After the child is born, what do you say we fire it up?"
Stanford just looks at him confused...not because of what he said...But what he was doing while he said it. He had done the "zipped lip" motion. Something they'd come up with as a child to secretly communicate without anyone else knowing...
…...Latter, after the Twins are "born"...
-Stan looks though the Stan "O" War...sure enough he finds a hidden compartment with a note inside:
STANFORD; if your reading this then I've died or worse.
If so, there's something I need you to do.
I have reason to believe our world will soon be in grave danger.
I have a plan to thwart it...But the Gems will never agree to it.
I can't risk giving you all the info here...
Find my partner Fiddleford, give him the codeword: Scipio, he'll explain the rest.
P.S. My greatest regret was that we never went on that voyage...Sorry Bro...
…...
Stan wipes away a tear as he reached Fiddleford's shack on the outskirts of town. He goes inside, types in the password into the vending machine/secret door and descends into the underground lab. Where Fiddleford is hard at work with the portal...
…...Meanwhile, on the other side of the world...
Dipper reads the journals one more time to make sure everything was done correctly, then he reaches for the lever.
Garnet, Mom, everyone...forgive me...
Thought Dipper to himself as he pulled the lever. And so one-by-one...the kindergartens...the same horrid facilities that Dippers mom and the gems sacrificed everything to shut down...started to come back online...
…...
TO BE CONTINUED?
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