Entry 1:
I have spent many years now searching for many answers to our ancient history, collecting artifacts, translating ancient languages and speaking with world renowned archeologists for their own input. However none of what I have collected seems to be more ancient than a golden crown with three red jewels embedded in it. While the crown looks to be in pristine condition it is far older than anything I have found and I found a forth jewel inside it.
As I looked it over I found strange writings that have me taken me years to translate:
See What Cannot Be Seen.
Hear the Secrets of Ice and Snow.
And Feel the Cold Touch of Frost Save He Who Wears the Crown.
I cannot make heads or tails of what it could all mean. Perhaps it was forged by someone, intending it to be some sort magical crown. It gives me little to understand other than what its hidden meaning could be but I suppose that's the curse all archeologists must deal with. Still, perhaps it was worn by a king in times of deep crises which would give meaning to the writings.
Perhaps I am thinking too hard with this.
Plus I have to hurry or I will miss out on Betty taking Marceline to the local tournament. It will go a long way to helping Marceline become a Huntress.
Xxx
Lee, Marie and May Kanker were all trembling with their heads lowered, facing the ground as their mother loomed over them.
"My daughters, the ones who I trust to take over and lead our family in my place one day. From the moment you were born I've had high expectations for all of you. I have trained the three of you to always be strong, to strike fear in anyone who might get in our way and never sympathize with weaklings. So tell me," She leaned forward. "How could you disappoint me so much?"
She glanced at May who trembled slightly.
"May, I can forgive you since you fought against your older sister. At the very least you have a reasonable excuse for that."
She walked past May and over to Marie.
"And you, Marie. You lost your first round, the very second round of the tournament against a girl with a similar Semblance to you who made a fool out of you."
Marie shook now as her mother walked over to the eldest.
"And you, Lee. You only made it past the first round because you are more skilled and experienced then your little sister and then you faced a boy with a cold-based Semblance who outwitted you." The Kanker matriarch said coldly, looking down at her three daughters. "So far, only May's loss is excusable. You two are the eldest and most experienced, so why did you lose?"
None of the sisters had the courage to speak.
"It's obvious I've been too neglectful in your training." The Kanker matriarch spoke coldly. "If you are to have any hope of protecting our family you have to be ready to take on any opponent. Any opponent."
The Kanker sister's flinched; knowing the kind of training their mother would put them through.
"Remember this, my daughters. We place survival of our family above all other matters. Strength ensures victory and victory ensures survival."
Xxx
Wally flexed his arms, still feeling a small sting from losing but nothing too bad. He could have done a lot worse since he was actually holding back. Glancing at the wrist bands on his wrists he smirked.
'These wristbands are laced with a form of Gravity Dust that will increase or decrease gravity to you. Wear them at all times, even when you are sleeping or eating. Right now they will start at five time's normal gravity and as you get use to them I will increase their weights, building up your strength and stamina. ' His Uncle Lou said, giving the bands to him, Nigel and Abby.
They took some getting used to but they powered on through, getting used to the increased gravity. The wristbands allowed them continue the special training Wally's uncle had set up for them.
"I think you'd love something Simon's got." Wally heard Marceline's voice as he walked into the infirmary. "He showed it to me one day and said it would help me in my Huntress training. It's called 'Ninjas of the Ice: The Art of Fridjitzu'."
"Really?" Nigel said as Wally stepped into the room. "Well, considering my Semblance I'd love to take a look at this book."
"A book on how to be a ninja?" Wally asked as he walked up to the two who were sitting and talking from their beds. "I thought you lived with an actual ninja."
Nigel rolled his eyes. "I am sure Abby would love hearing you say that to her face."
"Where is Abby anyways?" Wally asked.
"She stepped out after she changed into an extra set of clothes, saying she needed to stand in the sun." Nigel answered, shrugging.
"Well you did freeze her up to her neck." Marceline commented, smirking slightly now. "Can't really blame her for that."
Xxx
Abby walked around the stadium, narrowing her eyes as she caught sight of a familiar blond, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "Valerie."
"Abby." Valerie smiled. "You finally remembered me. I was a little hurt that you forgot me."
"Maybe I just wanted to keep forgetting everything about before." Abby glanced away slightly. "I can't believe you're even alive."
"Thought I was dead?" Valerie asked, tilting her head.
"Along with everyone else back there." Abby tried not to look hopeful. "You found me…What about my sister? Did you find her too?"
"Cree? I was about to ask you that. I heard she went underground after the two of you vanished from the Twisted Forest. They've been looking all over the place for her but found nothing." Valerie answered, frowning slightly now. "I was actually wondering if you had any idea on where she is, Abbs."
"Don't call me that." Abby said sharply.
Valerie raised her hands, seeing the angry look in Abby's eyes. "Okay, okay."
Abby looked away, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She wasn't sure to be happy or angry that Valerie had no clues on where her sister could have gone. Even though Cree left her with people she came to see as her family her sister leaving her still hurt Abby and she often wondered if she would find her one day.
But that still left…
"What about my brother?" Abby suddenly asked. "He wasn't there when we fled the forest."
Valerie seemed hesitant. "…Dead."
Abby's eyes widened and her entire breath seemed to leave her for a few moments. "Wh-what?!"
"He was killed…By Cree." Valerie said, watching as Abby started to back away.
"No…I refuse to believe that!" Abby barked. "Why would she-"
"Because he believed in the Satyra enough that he wanted to join them, hand you over to them and when he tried to find you he was killed by his own sister." Valerie explained stoically. "You should remember he spread the word of Satyra throughout the village we lived in. He believed that the Satyra could change everything of how the Faunus and Mobians were treated here and all across the world."
"It's different here. My brother and the Satyra were wrong about how we are treated, at least here in GrimmFall and maybe in most of America." Abby retorted, glaring at Valerie. "The Satyra killed my parents."
"They did not. You parents betrayed them." Valerie said as Abby walked straight up and stared her in the eyes with a terrifying glare.
"You better not say that to me again. My parents never liked the Satyra and I know who they work for." Abby growled dangerously before taking a step back. "They're just a gang of monsters now and I'll never help them."
"You better hope you can back up those words, Abby." Valerie said, heading towards the exit. "Things change, you know."
Abby said nothing as Valerie left, hoping she would just leave the city and never come back.
'Cree, what have you done?'
She didn't want to believe her sister would actually kill their brother.
But if he joined Satyra and tried to hand her over to them…
'No, no!' Abby shook her head.
She didn't remember her brother much from her early childhood but she couldn't believe he would actually hand her over to the Satyra. He didn't even know she was the Candy Elemental.
Did he?
And what about Cree?
Would she really kill their brother in cold blood?
Abby may have misgivings about her older sister leaving her behind but she knew Cree did it to keep her safe. She then disappeared and Abby heard nothing from her since that night.
She was now twelve, having been four when Cree left her.
Eight years without a word.
She never planned on hating her sister, even though she'd likely beat the living crud out of her if they ever met again but the news of her sister killing her brother made her wonder exactly how she might react if they ever did meet again.
Her brother joining Satyra.
Her sister, a cold blooded killer who murdered their own brother.
What did this say for her?
The Candy Elemental whose powers were a curse to everyone she cared for.
"Can Rolf offer what you call credit for your thoughts, Hat-Wearing Abby?"
Abby jumped, spinning around to see Rolf standing not far behind her. "...Rolf."
Rolf stepped forward, his behind his back and a sympathetic look on his face. "Rolf sees you are in deep conflict."
"Did you hear anything?" Abby asked.
"No. Rolf does not spy on others." Rolf shook his head. "But Rolf knows when one is conflicted with oneself. Would Hat-Wearing Abby like to speak to Rolf?"
"I…" Abby glanced away. "I am not sure. I mean…"
"Rolf understands." Rolf walked up next to her. "Hat-Wearing Abby is conflict with herself, fearing herself more than she fears others. Rolf has seen that look before."
"When?" Abby could not help but ask.
"Many a year ago when young Rolf was ready to face his trials and become a man." Rolf closed his eyes. "Rolf's village was peaceful and the people kind. But happiness did not last long. The enemy of Rolf's village came and all was lost."
Abby remembered seeing the scars under Rolf's shirt. "And who…was this enemy?"
Rolf turned around. "Rolf hopes you never meet the enemy. Be thankful for your friends, Hat-Wearing Abby."
Abby watched as Rolf left, considering his words.
"Hey Abby!"
Abby perked up, seeing her friends and the people who she had been with since she was.
Monty and Jennifer Uno, the ones who treated her like she was their own daughter without any second thought no matter who she might have been.
Nigel, who had been her best friend and someone she could count on.
And Wally, a fellow Faunus who had become close friends with them on the day they met.
"Ready to go home?" Nigel asked.
Abby smiled and walked over to them. "Yeah. Let's go home."
Maybe she'd learn the truth one day but for now she wasn't worried about it. She was with people she considered family and that was all that mattered to her.
Xxx
"YEAH-YEAH-YEAH!" A man on a motorcycle shouted as he shot Grimm after Grimm.
Though Malachite Plasmius had disappeared there were still large numbers of Grimm that had been attracted by the negativity emitted from the Gem/Ghost Fusion. The man on the motorcycle was one of many Huntsmen that had been sent to Beach City to help protect the citizens. He had a blond mullet, a thick mustache, and was very muscular. He wore a blue ripped-sleeved t-shirt, a pair of jeans with a black belt, a pair of black gloves and shoes.
He had dark circles under his eyes, and had an 'ED' Tattoo on his right arm and had hair on his biceps.
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The man bellowed as he shot an Ursa. "MOTOR-ED IS IN THE HOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSEEEEEEE!"
Not too far away Scotty Blake rolled his eyes as he slew a Beowulf and looked around, seeing the vast majority of Grimm had been killed. "And people say I am loud."
Ben sighed, shifting from Heatblast to his human form, resting against the Rustbucket. "I don't think I've ever fought this long before."
Max glanced at Beach City. "The town is going to need help. The ice and snow cloud will have caused some damage."
Ben groaned silently, wishing to take a nap.
It had been a long day of destroying Grimm for everyone and it left them all exhausted, including Scotty Blake.
Rex sighed as he sat on the ground. "Man, these things made dealing with EVOs look like a walk in the park."
Six remained composed, even looking like he wasn't winded at all from the fighting. "At very least this town is safe."
Meanwhile Pops had stopped his van, allowing Johnny and Carl to exit and look at the battlefield.
"Man, what party did we miss?" Johnny asked aloud.
Xxx
Seph sighed as he sat down on the ground, seeing almost all the Grimm were now gone. "I haven't been this tired in over a thousand years."
"Seph!" A familiar voice called out, causing Seph to flinch as his wings vanished.
Steven rushed over to him, looking him over. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Just a little tired." Seph rubbed some sweat from his head. "I haven't had a fight like this in a long time."
"Steve, get away from him." Pearl called out as the Crystal Gems approached.
"Oh, here we go." Seph rolled his eyes. "Can we please save this for tomorrow? I could go for a nap."
"Hold it!" Pearl jumped and leapt over Seph, landing in front of him and pointing her spear at his nose. "You're not going anywhere. You have a Gem but you're human and a human can't have a Gem's power."
"Steven's human despite his heritage and has a Gem's power." Seph pointed out, not seemingly afraid of the spear.
"That's different and don't bring Steven into this!" Pearl exclaimed. "Who are you and how did you get that Gem?"
"And what will you do if I don't answer, Pearl? Kill me? Trap me? You'd really break your vow not to harm humans just to get answers out of me?" Seph frowned. "This is why I refused to let myself be known. I knew it would lead to this as despite your good intentions I know most Gems are unable to comprehend that almost any species, even humans can become something else that is as powerful as them."
"You may be human but your body can't handle the power of a Gem and against a real Gem like myself you're outmatched." Pearl declared confidently.
"Am I?" Seph asked innocently.
Before Pearl could answer Seph moved too fast for her to react as he slapped her spear away and grabbed her by the collar of her tunic and spun around, throwing her back to the other Gems who jumped aside and allowed Pearl to land face first in the ground, kicking up dust.
"Pearl!" Steven cried out.
Seph wiped his hands of imaginary dirt with a poker look on his face. "I'm sorry. Were you saying something about me not being strong enough to take you?"
Pearl got up, glaring at Seph while Garnet scowled as her three eyes narrowed at Seph for a second before her third eye widened. "I can't see…."
"He blinded Garnet?!" Amethyst exclaimed.
"No, I can see him fine…I can't see him." Garnet clarified.
"You mean…" Pearl's eyes widened in shock as she temporarily stopped struggling to break free of Amethyst's whip. "He's immune to your clairvoyance powers?! How can he do that?! Even if he has a Gem's power it's not possible!"
"Is that why you're taking so long?" Seph asked with a frown. "You're afraid to fight without the future on your side?"
Garnet scowled as she summoned her gauntlets.
"I think that this fight has gone on long enough don't you?" Seph asked, looking amused at the state the Gems were in. "Believe it or not I could do this all night and still have enough energy to keep on going all day tomorrow. This isn't the first time I've tangled with Gems and even though it's been centuries I haven't forgotten or let myself become complacent. Perhaps now would be a good time for us start acting like civilized people instead of cavemen."
"Why you…" Amethyst growled.
"Guys, please stop fighting!" Steven called out, stepping between them and Seph. "I know you guys are scared because of what Seph might be but you don't have to fight!"
Seph raised an eyebrow as he looked at Steven. "That sounds like something Rose would say."
The Gems seemed to hear Steven as they reluctantly lowered their weapons but continued glaring at Seph who remained still, making sure they didn't try anything.
"Well since Steven has asked us to stop I'm all for it." Seph remarked with a small smile. "So in the interest of settling this peacefully I will fully introduce myself. I don't go by my human name anymore but I am indeed a human with Gem powers." He lifted his shirt to show his Gem. "This Gem was transplanted into my body during the Gem war and as such I was gifted with a Gem's natural immortality and powers. However there is a price I must pay for having this much power." He stopped talking and yawned suddenly. "I have not felt this tired for some time now."
Pearl seemed to catch on. "The Gem's power is too much for a human to handle. All that power would be physically draining and eventually strain the body to the point that it would die."
"Yes…Which is why the Gem was placed directly into my chest where my heart was. The Gem pumps its energy through my body along with the blood, enhancing my healing factor to the point I can recover from wounds that would be…much harder for an ordinary human. In addition to that the Gem also balances the energy in my body, releasing physical and mental blocks that allow my body to unlock the potential that sleeps inside all of humanity. I've been kept alive all this time because the Gem's power granted my body natural cellular regeneration which is the key factor to how I've been alive for all this time." Seph continued.
"Cellular regeneration…" Pearl's eyes widened in realization. "Of course. That is how the Gem is keeping you alive."
"Yeah…Whatever that means." Amethyst mumbled.
"It means that the Gem is able to naturally regenerate damaged and aged his body, making them as good as new." Garnet clarified. "But the question is why do you have a Gem? Did you take it from a fallen Gem?"
"It was the very power that Rose used to create young Steven that allowed me to live like this." Seph glanced at Steven. "She found a way to combine Human DNA and Gems together to create a child born from the union between her and Greg. Though I'm probably just a Frankenstein compared to Steven."
"Huh? Power that Rose used to create Steven?" Amethyst mumbled in confusion.
"Really? You can't figure it out. I thought I made it corny enough for you Gems to finger it out. I figured one of you would catch on." Seph buried his face in the palm of his hand.
"Come on, Seph, stop being so insulting." Greg said as he carefully stepped forward. "I mean even Rose was surprised by what you did. And you come back after all this time, appearing literally out of nowhere again and you expect them to catch on."
Seph looked thoughtful as he crossed his arms. "Well last time I didn't come here expecting to find Gems so Rose had more time to figure it out. Should I just offer a multiple question to help them along?"
"Oh Seph." Greg sighed as he rubbed his head.
He remembered Seph or rather Seraph acting the same the last time he was at Beach City once all the tension was gone.
"Will you two stop that? From what you are saying it not only sounds like Rose didn't tell us about this guy but you also knew and didn't tell us." Amethyst grumbled.
"I am sorry. I promised Rose I wouldn't tell anyone, not even you guys and I didn't think he was coming back. " Greg tried to explain.
"How could Rose think that letting a human wander the world with Gem power without us knowing was a good idea?" Pearl questioned harshly.
"Because I wandered the world centuries before she even knew about me." Seph answered simply.
"What?" Pearl looked at Seph with a look of surprise and confusion.
"In fact before I met her I thought I was the only left on this planet with any connection to the Gems." Seph clarified. "I thought the two sides that had fought each other during the Gem war wiped each other out during the final battle when the home world Gems tried to wipe out the human race. I found out from Rose that she used a shield that saved only a handful of Gems and fooled the survivors from the Gem home world in thinking they were gone. Any other Gems retreated back to the home world, their numbers depleted with their outposts on Earth destroyed but I suspected one day they would be back. Their leaders are stubborn and don't care how long it takes…or who they have to step over to rebuild their empire."
"And what have you been doing this whole time?" Garnet asked.
"…Living on Earth, the same as you." Seph looked at Beach City. "I've been around the world probably more than twenty times. The thing about us humans is that we can get bored really quick so I have been through a bit of everything that's happened in the last five thousand years. Of course, it seems the Gems have finally decided to pay attention to Earth again because a month ago I heard about Beach City losing its ocean and it wasn't hard for me to figure out what happened."
"Lapis." Steven muttered.
"And then just a week ago a Gem ship crashes onto this very beach." Seph finished with a small grin. "And since you are all still here I can safely assume that the home world Gems failed to capture you."
"Yeah. We crashed the ship here and then a mean Gem named Jasper fused with Lapis to get us but Lapis pulled them into the ocean." Steven explained.
"Well, sounds like you have had an exciting time." Seph said, starting to sound intrigued but yawned and seemed to have trouble standing.
"Are you okay?" Steven asked.
"I'm fine. I just haven't used this much power in years and I forgot how much of a strain it has on my body. A Gem's power is not suitable for a human, even one that's been alive for centuries." Seph shook his head. "Unless there are any more monsters tonight I am heading back to my hotel for a good night sleep. My work in this city is done."
"You're leaving?" Steven asked. "But you just got here."
"Yes but time marches on, young Steven." He bowed his head and glanced at Greg again. "Oh and start your father on a diet and exercise program. Mortal or not if he doesn't improve his health than all this Gem magic will probably drive him into an early grave."
"Seraph!" Greg exclaimed.
"Oh it's true and you know it, Greg. Honestly, you need to lighten up on the hot dogs." Seph smirked as he turned around and started walking. "You only live once, Universe. Magic or not."
The Gems and the single human watched as Seph walked down the beach towards the hotel.
"Should we try and contain him?" Pearl asked.
"…No. We'll wait and see what his motives are." Garnet answered.
Xxx
Seph collapsed onto his bed and let out a sigh. "Aw man…Thousands of years into the future and I'm still too young for this."
His gem flashed once.
"Oh come on. How could it have been worse?" Seph mumbled.
Flash.
"Sure, they listened and they not watching me talking to myself…Or sound like I'm talking to myself." Seph rolled his tired eyes. "Days like this I feel like going back to the asylum. At least I'd have some privacy."
Flash.
"That's what they all say." Seph closed his eyes. "You just love to make me react to that stupid phrase."