Disclaimer: yadda yadda don't own the holidays or SU yadda yadda.


We... wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

And a happy new year,

Good tidings to you!

From your favorite gems, Good tidings for Christmas!

And Steven~

Wrong Song!

Episode 6: Return of the Spire's Lapis:

After a thrilling night of nightmares, I decided that, Yes. I was an idiot.

Nearly sacrificing my arm to take down a space squid was a very moronic plan, and after I talked with Lapis about it, I couldn't hear the end of it. At least I managed to finally convince her I wouldn't sacrifice any body parts until I managed to free her gem.

Which is another form of contention between us. She hasn't said it exactly, but it's kind of obvious she wants out of there. I tried poking the gem once at some point, only to feel the gem and mirror creak. I'm not exactly sure I can remove them from each other without them both breaking. I have been able to curb those thoughts with conversations about Camp Pining Hearts, and showing her all the sights around.

This of course felt like I was spoiling an over-eager kid. All the Oohs and Aahs at all the new things included, followed by all the Whines and Cries when I had to head back home. Where did I find all the time for this? Well, I spent years not dealing with gem hoo-hah I think I earned a break without it for a few days. No powers, no Crystal monsters coming at me for my flesh. Just normal Steven. Well Normal Steven with Pink powers and a magical talking Mirror, but my point still stands...

"Let's go on a Camping Adventure!" Pauleen's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Lapis I told you, I can't just up and go camping randomly."

"Why not? You chicken?" Pierre's mocking voice echoed in the room.

"I'm not a chicken, I just don't want to go camping right now." I shuffled around my room.

Where did I put that bag…

These days I have fallen into a rhythm, wake up, shower, get some food, check my online classes, check-in with Lappy, go out and tour the city with her, come back and relax.

Surprisingly I haven't heard from the Gems since that night on the pier, which makes sense I suppose. I was always the one butting into their business anyway.

Which I feel should stay their business. My arm deserves its place in its socket after all.

Thoughts like that are what have me so against planning a camping trip. Who knows what crazy gem monster-people are out there. Stepping outside into the city had set my teeth on edge, who knows how I would feel out in the woods on my own.

Then on the flip side, we have Lapis who has been in a mirror for longer than recorded history for a crime I have no way of knowing if she really did. It's not like I can really trust the rebels of an empire to tell the truth regarding crimes against said empire… I couldn't really have her ask either as with her panic attacks when I mentioned Rose for the first time was any indication- they aren't on the same side.

Honestly, I probably should take her to the fountain to heal her gem at least, but I don't really have its exact location memorized. Which is apparently a requirement for these warp pads to work.

I tried.

Ah, there's the bag.

I pulled the bag over my shoulder, flipped off the tv, and lifted Lapis to her spot.

"What kind of Adventure for today Lapis?" I asked my cramped companion while I stepped down the stairs.

"?????????????????????et's go hiking through the Great P???????ines! ????????????dventure, Danger, ??????????omance!" Percy's staticky voice called out from the mirror.

I winced at the static, but did not comment… Despite how much I didn't want to get into a fight with the gems, I don't want my friend to die.

Turning the corner I spotted my breakfast already laid out for me, water and pills included. After a moment of shoveling my breakfast and downing the medicine I made to leave the house when my father called out from the living room, "We have a lunch date with your mom next week, just so you know!"

What.

"You are going to do this and it's final no use complaining! Have a nice day!"

I ground my teeth feeling a bit nauseous all of a sudden. Great, a "Nuclear family dinner". Great idea Mr. Maracaca. Without much thought, I slammed the door to the house closed. I froze when I heard the sound of wood cracking and Pierre's voice followed, "Ooooooo~ You're in trouble now."

Stars.

I was not going to stick around for the earful. Like a bolt of lightning, I took off down the street, houses becoming a blur as I kept jogging away until finally, I felt my skin begin to cool down and found myself on the beach.

I sighed, before scratching the back of my head. Great, I was only planning on being out for a few hours, but with the door broken, it's best if I'm out all day.

"Guess you're getting your adventure after all Lapis."

"Horray! We did it S??????????teven!" Percy and my dad replied.

"You know. You are getting really good at switching those around now. What else can you do?" I looked around gathering my thoughts. I didn't have anything planned other than exploring the safe, non-gem infested city. So I suppose I can try and stretch that out for longer than the day.

Without much thought, I turned away from the temple side of the beach and began walking away with a whistle tune.

The beach was much less busy this time of day, not counting the Funland crowd of course. So I wasn't surprised when the melodic tone of Camp Pining Hearts echoed out from my backpack. Lapi's had taken to filling the silence with what I can only assume is her favorite songs from the show, sort of like an old boombox with only three songs on it.

Annoying, but I won't say that to her.

"Camp Pining Hearts!~"

I was however surprised when Paulette's voice was replaced by some sort of synthesized voice of herself and some of the other campers. The tune continued, and when it was Percy's turn to sing the song stopped. A few seconds passed by and then I just heard the synthesized voice 'cough' and crickets.

"Oh. You want to sing together?" The song restarted after a short noise of confirmation.

I guess that's Lapis' voice, or as close as she can get it maybe? Well… I suppose if I sing bad enough she might start learning other songs.

Doubtful Hah.

"Camp pining hearts!~"

Together we sang, my own voice matching Percy's to the best of my ability, which to my ears was off tune, but who am I to say that but a retired rocker's son.

Play a game of darts, Race in hand-made go-karts, This is where it starts: Camp Pining Hearts!

We fight in the war of Cooler; we'll rise above And maybe even fall in love!

Wild chases, Protecting bases, Footraces, too!

We'll go rafting, fishing, All while I'll be wishing That I could be kissing Here with you!

Every storm we'll weather, Though we're not together. Our love will last forever And a day!

Building huts! No matter what, I'll still love you!

They say love's an art, Even though we're apart. Now is when it starts on Camp Pining Hearts.

Camp Pining Hearts!

As we finished singing for the umpteenth time I pulled Lapis out of my pack, "Alright so I'll give you a choice we have the boardwalk…"

She blew a raspberry at me.

I turned the mirror from the boardwalk and pointed it towards the direction of the Big Donut "Downtown?"

Lapis groaned, "Eehhhhhhhhhhh"

"The library?" I asked turning the mirror towards a building farther right from The Big Donut the building was one of the largest in town

Lapis replied a short, "No thank you."

"Well, where do you want to go then?" I sighed in frustration turning the mirror towards myself as I flopped onto the sand looking out to the water crashing onto the shore.

"Home." Paulette cried. I think that was from one of the earlier episodes… Home Sick maybe.

"We can't go to my-" "MY Home." Paulette's voice cut me off making me blink at the mirror

Uh-huh…. Haven't we hashed this out multiple times already? It looked like today was going to be one of her homesick Days.

"Lapis…We have talked about this. For you to go home you need to be out of the mirror and Homeworld is light-years away. I don't want to break you. The mirror is the only thing keeping your gem from shattering right now."

Lapis seemed to quiet for a minute before I saw a swirl of blue in the glass. I looked closely at the mirror before a crying face I've never seen before showed. I was confused about who this girl could be. The girl in the image looked blind and her blue hands started to hit at the glass from the inside, making me jump.

She looked to be screaming but no sound came out as she hit the glass over and over her mouth shouting the words I could not hear I could only assume were "Let me out!" Was this… Lapis?

I watched her attack the glass from the inside and I just couldn't make heads or tails of it. I could only let her get this fight of hers out of the way while I tried to calculate the right thing to do.

I looked around before coming to a decision.

"Fine, we will have to ask for help."

Lapis stopped hitting the glass and all I could hear was a repeated scream and no repeated back at me over and over in various voices. I stopped and watched the glass and how could I respond to it taking a deep breath I stoned my face.

"Lapis stop!"

Lapis stopped screaming as I stared down at her.

"Look, we need the Gems to help me find the fountain. So you need to stop screaming and panicking. I won't let anything happen to you. You will just have to trust me. At this point, you have nothing to lose if I pull you from the mirror you will shatter. End of the story."

Lapis faded away from the mirror and went silent and I took that as my cue to head to the Gems' beach. I had a lot to think about on my way there but my main thought was who would I talk to for help? I would teleport to the fountain on my own if I only knew where to go.

As I came up to the Statue of the giant woman I could see a crowd of volunteers hard at work on the statue's restoration. A group seemed to be taking a cast of one of the statue's many hands to find a way to repair some of the fingers from the statue that was missing and reattach some of the limbs that have fallen away from "The Great Mother" as the townspeople were referring to her.

I saw Pearl with some cleaning supplies and wearing a 'Great Mother Cleanup Volunteer' shirt. She was hard at work removing sand and plants from one of the removed limbs on the beach on her own.

"Uh Pearl what's going on."

I witnessed Pearl jolt a little before turning, "Now huma-... Steven?" She shook her head a little before clapping her hands together leaving her… broom and… toothpaste? Ignored on the ground, "Ah yes I am here working with these humans as my Rose trusted me. She aims to help the humans repair the statue of Obsidian."

Oh right, Dewy's election is coming up isn't it.

Pearl leaned over slightly before whispering to me while looking to the others, "The humans believe that Obsidian is some 'Great Mother' who helped create the Earth and all organic life. Rather dimwitted aren't they?"

Wow~ Pearl realizes I'm half-human right?

"It's rather amusing finding out that there are multiple stories in human legends that have some small tidbit of Gem history in it. Did you know that they thought there is a city made of pure gold? They describe it as a giant golden hand as large as the city..." Pearl continued whispering to me while eyeing the other humans on the beach.

I just raise a brow, didn't we talk about this? "Right Pearl I did know that... We talked about it a few months ago when we went to the Lunar Sea Spire to start its repairs."

Pearl stood up straight, the picture of elegance only muddied by the off-color shirt she wore.

"I do not know what you are talking about. I think I would remember going to such a place with you. Now that you bring it up though I would love to go. There is so much history I know about but I would be remiss not to experience the history from the ligation itself."

Pearl seemed to slump slightly, "However I have been forbidden from going by my Rose."

Huh, so mom is putting restrictions on her friends? Time to break them!

I put on a reassuring smile, "She wouldn't even notice your gone Pearl, we can just hop over there and be right back before dark. Trust me it would be exciting."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive Pearl trust me!"

"Well, I don't."

Ouch. That hurt a little.

"But…" She gazed off to the side. Following her gaze, I saw Rose and Garnet walking off with the Mayor towards the town. "I suppose…"

"Well how about this. Just show me how the warp pad works, drop me off at the healing fountain so-"

Pearl grabbed my shoulders, "Healing fountain? Why do you have to go there? Is your gem crac-" "Woah Woah. Pearl. Calm down, I just want to learn how to use the warp pad and where to go in case of emergencies. It's not like I know anywhere else there is a warp pad."

Pearl calmed down, blushing slightly in embarrassment. "Well, I haven't been to the fountain- BUT we can both find out and teach you about all the gem locations. I recall there being plans for the colony being stored there, so all the warp pads should be neatly marked-" She stopped herself, before turning to me, "Yes let's go."

I followed Pearl to the Warp and stood on the pad in trepidation "O.k Pearl how do you start this thing?" I asked watching as she danced onto the Pad and light grabbed us and flung us through space and time. When we arrived at the location all I could do was blink at the drastic changes I could see. The Spire was steadily becoming more repaired and like a fresh coat of paint, on every surface.

"Wow, when we were here a few months ago it was crumbling into the ocean."

Pearl looked at me aghast at the very thought this historical place was falling apart not too long ago. "In its prime, the building was a hub for all gemkind and a great many inventions that were brought to the spire. We revolutionized technology on earth with autonomous surveyors and cleaning units."

"You mean you have drones and Roombas? Humans have those too." I commented as I walked along the edge of the cliff the Teleporter was on.

I could see the city slowly raising itself from around the tower and a bridge had rebuilt itself from the cliff face to the sands below.

Pearl looked at the areas still in need of repair with disgust "Look at all the cracks and the water damage." Pearl said as she inspected the walls.

"Trust me Pearl it was worse the last time we were here."

"Impossible this was the peak of Gem architecture!"

I'll tell you what it was the peak of. Irritation. Lumping, Cloding, me having to help fight kaiju sized shrimps with crystals growing out of them trying to eat my squishy human flesh.

If she noticed my irritation she didn't comment while praising the tower.

"Oh, Steven this Spire was the Glory of all gem kind. You should have seen the spire as the sun hit the peak the city shined and shimmered like our glorious Diamonds. The walls were painted in vibrant colors and Art to rival the greatest mortal renaissance painters. You see this very bridge shimmered in refracting lights by day and at night at the peak of the moon the city shinned like stars." Pearl led us into the spire and I could see some reasons for her awe. The building was still visibly repairing itself, but the main structure looked much cleaner than when we left it...

"Oh Steven, look here! You see! The statue still needs to be repaired. If we had a full gem artistry team you would see how beautiful this was in its original form but as you see the statues were in precious stone and dressed in the finest silks and glittered in gold or silver thread." She ran her fingers over the marble.

This was very much going to be a history field trip, wasn't it? Oh well then.

"Pearl, Start the tour!"

She smiled brightly and began pointing at various things, her giddiness washing over me.

Pearl was in her high being my tour guide leading me from the bottom floor up the spire pointing out various features I had no time to notice last time we were here.

"Here is where the Peridots would store their technological advancements. All are stored in a chamber unenterable by organics or lower gems."

"Do you think you would be able to open it?"

"Possibly. Pearls, while of a lower station, tend to have universal access to all locations depending on who we are meant to serve." Pearl placed her hand on the pad by the archway. The Archway glowed as it opened revealing a workshop reminiscent of those space sci-fi fantasies. The workshop had the appearance of a white, pristine, workshop that could hold many engineers working on various projects. If you ignored the various puddles of water on the ground of course.

Attop the tables there were several holograms with the gem language gliding along the surfaces. Cubbies displayed what could only be described as metal suits, weapons, various tablets, and machinery. There were cubes and spheres and crystalline displays.

"What is all this?"

"Various projects of our highest prime inventors. Only the most perfect cuts were given free rein to create. It's one of our highest honors."

"I see… So what of all of this would I be able to use?"

With the only hint of her excitement being a hop in her step Pearl walked to a glowing green screen and passed her hands through it.

There was a faint sound of electricity as her gem glowed and presented images of various gems of all shapes using the equipment around the room. She stepped away from the console, her projections fading away, and pointed off to one of the corners of the room, "All items on the display there should be usable finished projects."

She raised her hands in a 'what can you do' gesture, "If it's not destroyed like the rest of the Tower is, however. Although I'm unsure what you would desire to use... The robonoid squares are mechanical companions to help clean, polish, and log information should you not have your own Pearl. There is armor built for Pink Diamond if she ever went to the battlefield, but you would have to grow into it… My Rose wouldn't even fit in the armor."

I laughed, "Rose doesn't fit in any-..."

I could only blink in concern seeing the Pink Crystalline armor; it was regal, floral, familiar

And freakishly large.

"How...tall was Pink Diamond?"

"Oh, My Diamond was nine feet tall. Much shorter than the rest of the Diamonds. Blue and Yellow Diamonds are as tall as the Temple of Obsidian. And White… much larger."

If she noticed my shocked look, she didn't comment on it and walked back to the entrance, before standing next to the door panel waiting.

I shrugged and walked around the room looking at the various work in progress machines.

I couldn't understand any of the writing whatsoever, but the images and damaged parts on tables were interesting to see.

Eventually, I had enough of the quiet room with Pearl being… unnervingly silent by the door. I briskly walked back to her and she opened the door without a word following behind me out.

As if a switch was flipped she seemed to quicken her stride until she was in front of me and take the role of tour guide once again, pointing to the various repaired murals and pillars.

"The Morganite that designed the tower wanted to depict all of homeworlds history up until this point. The earth project was the start of Era two of course. The technology was being created faster than gems could keep up with them. Why there was a time that My Diamond asked where the-" "Wa?r?p? ?d?r?i?v?e? ?i?g?n?i?t?i?o?n? ?w?a?s?.?" I interrupted a smile on my lips, "Exactly! The Peridot on board didn't know whether to correct her or not!" Pearl just started laughing before continuing to point to the murals.

I blinked, before toning Pearl out and looking at the murals. What were we talking about again?

Let's just ignore that for now...

Depictions of various moments of gem history lined the walls, starting from the dawn of Era One with the, I suppose not exaggerated height of White Diamond standing atop a ringed world.

Hope I never see her face to face ?????g???à???i???n???.

The unification of the gem race under White led to the expansion of their empire to the stars. The creation of Yellow and Blue Diamonds was depicted rising from the ground, while overhead a pink comet flew.

Apparently shortly after there was a battle in the stars with giant hands and angular gem ships fighting against… Space squids?

Various alien races also defended their planets from the lithoid invaders to apparently no avail against the gems.

Yellow Diamond could shoot lightning from her fingertips apparently. With enough power to pierce large beasts, which given the Diamonds size in comparison to a normal gem is rather… insane to think there are creatures larger than themselves...

Blue Diamond however seemed to have the alien races bow to her. Conquest through indoctrination maybe?

However, all these Murals of conquest and war came to a stop when Pink Diamond emerged from the ground. She was depicted as being much shorter than the other diamonds. Only slightly taller than a Jasper.

I had to remind myself that she was Nine. Feet. Tall.

I know Rose is huge, but how tall is the rest of gemkind?

With Pink now being centerstage to the Murals, they began to depict balls and galas. Gems dancing before the large thrones of the diamonds.

Over the next few murals Pink grew in height, her murals looking more angular, a few oddly colored gems began to be depicted in the murals.

The final mural before the staircase was earth with a bright pink diamond emblazoned on it.

I started to pay attention to Pearl when she halted at the foot of the stairs-

Wait, the stairs aren't there.

"Isn't there a staircase here?"

Pearl tilted her head to the side, "Well yes. But only a Diamond can use them. How do you know about them?"

I deadpanned towards her, "We were here before Pearl. The stairs were out."

Pearl just looked at me confused, then blinked in recognition, then looked concerned.

"Wait. Did you seriously forget? Like… you aren't just joshing me?"

Pearl turned around and walked through the location the stairs were supposed to be. I followed after to keep up.

"Pearl?"

And now she is muttering to herself, that's normal. She opened up a side door that was revealed to be an opening to the outside of the tower.

I almost lunged forward to grab her before stairs began to slide out from the tower's walls leading up.

That's actually pretty cool. I took a step out onto the staircase expecting to feel the ocean breeze, but nothing.

Neat. What's not neat, is Pearl stalking up the stairs holding her forehead and talking to herself.

Remembering the whole palanquin fiasco-

"Pearl? Talk to me. Ple-"

She snapped her head towards me, "What Pink!? Can't you see what's happened!?"

Uh, "No. That's what I'm trying to find out."

"I did something… bad. But I don't know what! My Rose of course had too- so that's fine, but- I shouldn't- Then-'' Pearl just continued freaking out devolving back into barely coherent mumbles stomping up the stairs. I could see the back of her neck start to form cracks along her light-form.

Holy Stars above mom. What the heck-

If trying to calm her down only leads to this, I'll just let her burn herself out…

The staircase eventually ended a few stories up the tower before Pearl slammed her hand onto the panel then stopped when the door opened.

I stood a few steps below her waiting as she stood there staring at her hand. Before she stood back at attention and walked inside.

I… hope she's fine?

When I walked through the door I heard the stairs slide back into place and the doorway shut back into the wall.

Pearl looked towards me back to being all smiles, if you ignored the way her lip twitched and the faint cracks on her form near her gem.

"Let's not tell Rose about this okay, Steven? A good Pearl doesn't punch things." I just nodded and Pearl clapped her hands, "Now only a few more levels until we are at the Lunar Goddess terminal and we can search for the information you need and I can get back to what My Diamond assigned me."

"Right…" lets… get her mind off Rose for now… "So what's around here?"

The murals from the floors below were replaced with statues of various gems each posed in various salutes with screens in front of them… It was a museum, wasn't it?

"Before you is the 'Hall of the Perfect Cuts!' The finest gems of all types, and their deeds forever immortalized in all of gem history!" Her tone was that of a star-struck teen.

Her mood swings were getting worrying. But at least she was happy right now.

I toned out her talking about the various gems as we walked through the hall until I spotted a figure as tall as Rose with a square gem on her chest. In her hand was a white pyramid I swore looked familiar but I couldn't remember where I had seen it. "Who's that one Pearl?"

Pearl looked over to who I pointed towards and read the panel before replying, "This. Is Prism-Bearer Hessonite. The high honor of being a holder of a Prism, she is one of the highest-ranking commanders of Homeworld's forces and was put in charge of Earth's forces by White Diamond."

Pearl nodded to herself, before turning towards me, "She was rather… pompous, but you can't argue with her efficiency. If she wasn't one of the best she wouldn't have been given a prism, let alone be one of the heads of the military."

I hummed to myself, motioning for Pearl to go on while we walked, "And what is a prism? I'm guessing it was what that statue was holding?"

Pearl gave a noise of confirmation before stating, "Light Prism's are one of the rarest types of gems created from White Diamond's essence. They are given to especially outstanding high ranking gems and have the capabilities to create light constructs out of all visible lights. However, they only are able to if a particularly powerful gem holds them… Most Prism's only reacted when an Emerald or Diamond used them. Which is what makes Hessonite rather special and worthy of recognition."

I nodded along, but couldn't help but start to tone Pearl out again as she began to drone on about other 'noteworthy' gems. Apparently, a Jasper that took down fifty enemies in a day was worthy of being declared a perfect cut. Which thinking about "perfect cuts" what makes them so special really?

They just did what they were told and supposed to do. Nothing special at all about them. Where is the individuality here? What makes them unique? A Jasper that fights, is just like all the other Jaspers that fight. W?h?e?r?e? ?i?s? ?t?h?e? ?J?a?s?p?e?r? ?t?h?a?t? ?b?u?i?l?d?s??? Where is the Peridot that sings? W?h?e?r?e? ?i?s? ?t?h?e? ?L?a?p?i?s? ?t?h?a?t? ?f?o?r?g?e?s? ?w?e?a?p?o?n?s??? W????h???e??????????? ?????????s???? ?????t????????e???? ?????P????????a?????????l????? ????t????h???????t??? ???I???? ???l????o?????v????ē????????

We once again reached the next staircase and I took one last look at the last statue in the row. The gem's body was that of a ghost Halloween costume. No arms, hollow eyes, and the only distinguishing feature being a tear-shaped gem on its chest. S?????h????ê???? ????????o?????l????d????? ???t???????e??? ???b???e?????s???t??? ????s????t???ò???r????ì???e????????.???? I wonder faintly that all gems seemed to have a somewhat humanoid appearance... What made this one so unique?

I shrugged and followed Pearl up the staircase leaving the Jeremejevite statue behind.

We walked up the staircase together in silence.

And more silence.

Just the tapping of our feet on the smooth floor.

"So Pearl… Do you like working with the other gems?" What can I say? I dislike awkward silence.

Pearl almost stumbled up the stairs surprised at my random question, "Oh… Well, It is an honor to serve my Rose."

That's a very basic response, "That's not what I asked though Pearl."

"Then please elaborate."

"I mean...are you happy Pearl? Just from talking with the other gems you always seem a little stressed." Well. Purple just thinks you're annoying and wants you to stop trying to clear her room.

"I'm not sure I understand what you are talking about Steven."

Well maybe if you stopped acting like a robot- "Like… Cookie Cat." I noticed the raised brow, "It's an Icecream that I love. It's soft and tasty and looks like a ca- Anyway! I've been eating it since I was little and when I take a bite out of it I always remember the good times with my dad."

I would always get one after we visited Rose and she brushed me off, or whenever Grandma Mayo would call me a leech on his life-

"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it is something that at times brings a sweetness to wash away the bad feelings."

I finished strongly, I definitely explained that correctly.

"I have no need to eat things." Right. Thanks, Pearl.

"Ok no. You don't. However! Does being with the Crystal Gems bring you happiness like Cookie Cat Ice Cream brings me."

"I'm not… sure?" Pearl responded confused, "Gems don't… emote. As you humans do. We feel things differently."

"Oh?" First time I'm hearing this.

"It's not as if I can't feel happy. I just don't experience things as you do, nor do I have many experiences to shape my perception. I only just emerged not too long ago."

I'm being confused a lot lately, aren't I?

"Pearl I have known you personally for several months, and have seen you with my mother since I could even remember."

"Possibly. But I am not that Pearl."

"Wait. What?"

"I'm saying that the Pearl you have interacted with, is not the Pearl you see in front of you. I am the same Pearl, but not the same Pearl."

Pearl stopped walking up the stairs and continued, "When gems of low status such as myself misbehave or do something that is grounds for termination, our owners can instead choose to rejuvenate us. Removing all memories and resetting us back to our initial self. This process was pioneered by the diamonds when Pi-"

"Wait Wait wait. Owners? Rejuvenation? Didn't you… Fight against all that?"

"Fight against it? Why? My Rose is perfect in every way. I'm sure I did something to warrant it… I just wish I knew what it was… But It's better if I don't know. I am just a Pearl after all."

I couldn't help but just stare. I knew about the castes from Lapis. Diamonds and their courts at the top, and everyone else below them in a pseudo-military structure… but slaves? Wiping memories? What?

"Pearl- I… what… one moment."

I just turned away to gather my thoughts

Holy sh- mom. What the heck. I knew you were a little crazy and messed up but-

No one should have to forget everything that makes them unique.

I looked at Pearl who continued to stand there too straight, too proper, too subservient-

"It's one thing to serve someone because you're forced to. It's something else to serve someone because you respect, trust, even love them."

Pearl paused and seemed to look at me thoughtfully for a moment before continuing up the tower.

I followed after and just hoped she would think about that…

The silence stretched for the rest of the climb and we began to move down what I hoped to be one of the last floors…

Stars today has been just a huge dump of information, hasn't it? I definitely have to talk to Lapis ab-

Dang, I still got to get Lapis fixed!

Internally screaming in frustration I broke the awkward silence again.

"Pearl you told me earlier about a map..."

"Oh yes. We are on our way to the Cartography room. Because this Spire was created to be the central hub of the colony many of the surveyor drones delivered information here before transmitting it to the Lunar Spire. Lapis Lazulis were then informed of where to terraform next based on the information."

"Um… Terraform?" As in destroying the entire ecosystem to make it livable for another species without care for the organisms and life that is still there?

"Oh yes, Lapis Lazuli's jobs are to clear an area of organic matter and level a location with the precise use of water, bring the minerals of the planet closer to the surface, and then cut open great ravines that are then used as the foundations of kindergartens. Lapis Lazuli's are very important to the creation of the colony because of this."

Pearl led me into a side room and leaving me stupified by the door she explored a large room full of what appeared to be many tablets on tables that lined the walls.

Moments later she returned with a palm-sized screen, "This is a surveyed map of the world as of the last update five thousand six-hundred years ago... we can however quickly update it should you like if we activate all of our surveyor drones." she said as she pointed to what looked to be small disk-like objects. She tapped one and it floated and did a scan of the room then flew out the window.

"And how long would that take?"

"With just one drone several weeks possibly 2-5 months if we activate every drone possibly a few days."

Well alright, that's all well and good I suppose. I clicked the small circle at the bottom of the screen and it revealed a spinning globe with dots all over… hieroglyphics scrolled along the sides and the bottom of the screen.

"So… Pearl. How do you even read these things?" I looked up to Pearl who was reading some tablets, her eyes scanning the gem language and growing distress. "Pearl?" I called out to her again, and she turned towards me, her eyes once again distant stress visible on her face- I looked away to the tablet.

I wish I could help her, but...

Without looking up from the map I asked Pearl, "So… How exactly do I use this with the warp?"

She stepped over to me, her footsteps clicking against the ground. From my peripheral vision, I saw her cracked light-form reach for my tablet and flinched.

I felt a pull from my navel and-

S?o?m?e?t?h?i?n?g? ?i?n?s?i?d?e? ?m?e? ?t?i?r?e?d? ?a?s? ?s?h?e? ?g?r?a?b?b?e?d? ?t?h?e? ?t?a?b?l?e?t? ?f?r?o?m? ?m?y? ?h?a?n?d?s? ?a?n?d? ?I? ?b?l?i?n?k?e?d? ?l?o?o?k?i?n?g? ?d?o?w?n? ?a?t? ?P?e?a?r?l?.? ?

?P?e?a?r?l? ?s?t?e?p?p?e?d? ?b?a?c?k?w?a?r?d?s? ?r?e?a?d?i?n?g? ?f?r?o?m? ?t?h?e? ?t?a?b?l?e?t? ?i?n? ?h?e?r? ?h?a?n?d? ?h?e?r? ?f?a?c?e? ?s?c?r?u?n?c?h?e?d? ?u?p? ?i?n? ?c?o?n?c?e?n?t?r?a?t?i?o?n?,? ?b?e?f?o?r?e? ?s?h?e? ?b?l?i?n?k?e?d? ?a?n?d? ?l?o?o?k?e?d? ?u?p? ?a? ?b?l?u?e? ?b?l?u?s?h? ?a?c?r?o?s?s? ?h?e?r? ?c?h?e?e?k?s?.?

?T?h?e? ?c?r?a?c?k?s? ?a?r?e? ?g?o?n?e?.? ?T?h?e? ?r?o?o?m? ?i?s?…? ?c?l?e?a?n???

?I? ?l?o?o?k?e?d? ?a?r?o?u?n?d? ?t?h?e? ?r?o?o?m? ?a?n?d? ?f?e?l?t? ?s?m?a?l?l?e?r?,? ?b?u?t? ?c?l?e?a?n?.? ?T?h?e? ?S?p?i?r?e? ?w?o?r?k?s? ?f?a?s?-? ?

?W?h?o? ?i?s? ?t?h?a?t? ?c?u?t?e? ?l?i?t?t?l?e? ?c?u?p?c?a?k?e? ?g?i?r?l? ?a?n?d? ?w?h?y? ?d?o? ?i? ?t?h?i?n?k? ?s?h?e? ?i?s? ?a?d?o?r?a?b?l?e?…? ?a?n?d? ?i?s? ?t?h?a?t? ?a? ?C?a?r?t?o?o?n???

?D?i?d? ?I? ?f?a?i?n?t???

?"?H?e?y?a? ?P?a?d?d?y?,? ?w?h?y? ?d?o?n?'?t? ?c?h?a? ?g?o? ?w?i?t?h? ?P?i?n?k?y???"?

?T?h?e? ?P?i?n?k? ?S?l?e?n?d?e?r? ?g?i?r?l? ?s?t?o?o?d? ?o?n? ?h?e?r? ?h?e?a?d? ?t?a?l?k?i?n?g? ?t?o?…? ?P?a?d?d?y??? ?

?I? ?t?r?i?e?d? ?s?p?e?a?k?i?n?g? ?b?u?t? ?s?o?m?e?t?h?i?n?g? ?h?e?l?d? ?m?e? ?b?a?c?k?,? ?m?y? ?t?h?r?o?a?t? ?t?i?g?h?t?e?n?i?n?g? ?b?e?f?o?r?e? ?I? ?c?o?u?l?d? ?v?o?i?c?e? ?m?y? ?t?h?o?u?g?h?t?s?.?

?W?h?a?t?'?s? ?g?o?i?n?g? ?o?n???-?

?M?y? ?t?h?r?o?a?t? ?w?a?s? ?c?l?e?a?r?e?d? ?a?n?d? ?P?e?a?r?l? ?f?r?o?z?e? ?f?o?r? ?a? ?m?o?m?e?n?t? ?b?e?f?o?r?e? ?t?u?r?n?i?n?g? ?t?o? ?m?e?,? ?"?Y?e?s???"? ?M?y? ?b?o?d?y? ?s?m?i?l?e?d? ?u?n?s?u?r?e?.?

T?h?e?n? ?I? ?h?e?a?r?d? ?a? ?v?o?i?c?e? ?t?h?a?t? ?s?c?a?r?e?d? ?t?h?e? ?s?t?a?r?s? ?o?u?t? ?o?f? ?m?e?.?. "Pearl, are you okay?"

My head snapped around and I spotted Rose standing in the doorway, she seemed to tower over me as she always did despite me somehow being taller than Pearl. The area around her seemed to crack the floors and walls.

She turned towards me looking down her eyes piercing me from the shadows of her hair, "Steven? What are you doing here with Pearl?"

Rose and I both flinched back as a hardlight tablet cracked against the Quartz's face. The shards of the tablet glitching as they cracked against the floors and walls.

"Shut Up Rose! You always do this!" Pearl moved to a table and slammed her hand on something, the drones all at once blinked on, and the silent room was filled with buzzing for a moment as all the drones flew out the window.

She turned her blank gaze back to Rose who had stood back up from the surprise tablet to the face… she didn't look pleased.

Great, I just thought about escaping this too.

"Pearl. You are having another episode again. You need to cal-" "I AM CALM!" I flinched at the shrill tone and watched as Rose slowly raised her hands as Pearl started flinching, snapping her eyes between me and Rose.

"You always do this! I remember now!" Her light form started to glitch, colors, and shapes of outfits appearing and shifting, "You say you care, but you don't!"

"Pearl. If you remember everything, then you need to calm down. Your Gem cannot handle-"

"C?a?n?n?o?t? ?h?a?n?d?l?e? ?w?h?a?t?!? The memories of all the different lives I've had?! It'll take more than that to shatter m-"

Pearl froze up mid-scream, her iris's shining pink, "You shattered her… you shattered our Diamond."

Rose stepped in front of me as Pearl grabbed her head, "We trus- I. Trusted. You."

"Pearl I never meant to hur-" "Stop Lying to me!" Pearl glared at Rose and reached into her head pulling out a polearm. I wasn't sure what was more disconcerting the fact she put her own hand in her gem or that she looked so unhinged as she brandished her weapon.

Rose pushed me towards the door before pulling something small from her gem, "Please, don't make me do this again."

Something in the back of my head just said to run as a pink diamond-tipped pole expanded from Rose's hand.

I stood by the door as Pearl twirled her weapon and Rose stood defensively between me and Pearl. I wasn't sure how to handle that thought either it was almost as if she...cared. Rose glowed briefly as her dress morphed into a jumper with dark pink boots.

"You dare to wear the colors of my Diamond! The one you shattered!"

"I can not change who I am Pearl!"

"But you did! You changed everything! You destroyed our universe, murdered countless gems, our Diamond, and are the reason thousands of rebels to your cause were shattered at the hands of the diamond court. Me… You are nothing but a Monster!" Pearl cried out and I could see her cracks spreading and glowing. She ran at Rose, slashing at her only for Rose to meet her swing. The force of the clash tossing Pearl onto her back. A beat passed before Pearl stood back up gasping even though she did not need any air. Just heaving in anger.

I could not see Rose's face but I could see how tense she also was. Her fists clenched the pole, which seemed to activate a blade- a scythe of pink, and there was an indescribable ripple over her skin like the tension of a spring ready to leap into action. I felt myself stepping backward raising a shield e?v?e?n? ?t?h?o?u?g?h? ?i?t? ?w?o?u?l?d?n?'?t? ?h?e?l?p?.

I gulped before asking, "Rose-" "Go Steven!" she shouted, turning her head only slightly. I could see a faint pink liquid on her face. Was that tears?

"But…"

"Get out of here it's dangerous." She stressed as she turned back to Pearl leaning forward slightly.

"She's right Steven, get out of here we wouldn't want you to 'accidentally' lose your mind. Rose always did love you, Humans." Pearl shifted her grip as she extended her spear out to skewer Rose. "That's not fair Pearl!" Pearl lunged forward at Rose and the dance began. The two slashed and twirled around each other, both almost too fast for me to see. Pearl somehow anticipated each of Rose's attacks before they came and pushed Rose back on the defense.

They moved closer to me and I just barely tumbled back to avoid the pink scythe from taking my head from my shoulders.

They jumped back from each other as I stumbled out of the room.

"Fair! You want to know what's not fair. Constantly second-guessing who I am and What I know! You keep doing it to me! Every time I come back I am forced to clean! Answer questions for things you all should know! Meet with Humans! Dealing with an overcooked runt who can't learn anything!" Pearl punctuating each point sentence with a stab towards Rose. Screaming in frustration when the Rose parried each attack.

"I care about you Pearl, it's for your own good!" It sounded like her voice was cracking- She really is crying, isn't she.

"You just want a pet!" Pearl jumped back raising her free hand to her gem and pulling out a second spear.

"This is torture, Rose! I would rather be shattered than be stuck like this!" She started throwing the spears wildly at Rose, drawing a new one before just throwing it at her. Rose twirling the Scythe around the blade seeming to phase through the objects but the staff of the weapon knocking them away.

"Rejuvenating over and over. It's been millennia of torment. Just. Let. Me. Go!" Pearl having seen her fountain of spears didn't work ran forwards again grabbing two of them and slashing wildly at her.

Around the room, the screens and tables took the brunt of her fury as Rose dodged and parried blows. I watched from the hall; it was a horrifying and beautiful dance to death. Rose dodging or blocking every blow that came her way. Pearl's light-form continued to glitch, but she just kept going on her attack, seeming to ignore the tears of rage pouring out of her eyes.

Rose didn't seem willing to defend herself, only parrying and blocking, as the battle continued I saw Pearl continue to crack further and further. She was going to shatter if she wasn't poofed at this rate. "R?o?s?e? ?d?o? ?s?o?m?e?t?h?i?n?g?!" Rose jolted slightly before instantly responding and went on the attack.

I rushed forward into the room erecting a shield in front of Rose. Pearl's weapon hitting the shield and being knocked back, leaving an opening for Rose's attack. Roses Scythe cut through both the shield and Pearl poofing her. I dived forward catching her fragile Gem before it could fall to the floor in pieces.

After a moment I stood up and turned to Rose who was shaking slightly, her eyes distant.

I looked down at Pearl's gem. All this is out of my depth, and I really need more information on all this before I pick sides here.

But what I do know is regardless of what happens with this whole mind wipe thing… R?o?s?e? ?w?o?n?t? ?s?h?a?t?t?e?r? ?P?e?a?r?l?.

I walked up to Rose. Getting her attention, her eyes focusing on me, giving me that distant stare she always did, "Steven."

"Here." I said handing Pearl to her and I watched as she smiled slightly reaching and taking my Pearl with care. She cradled her gem-like an infant and for a moment I wondered if she ever held me like that.

Deciding to cut that train of thought I asked.

"What did Pearl mean? Are you really wiping her memory- is that… common?"

"Steven you don't understand. Pearl is unstable- She has to be protected. She's one of the last of us here on earth."

"So why? Why are you wiping her mind? How is this really protecting her?"

"Pearls are… She fractures herself at the thought of our Diamond being shattered. But she would never understand the necessity of it. What they d-... Nevermind."

"What? Tell me."

"Someday when you are older Steven maybe you will understand."

"Understand what? Your not telling me anything!" I sighed at the look she was giving me. Like I'm demanding a raise in an allowance or something, "Look… Just tell me are you treating Pearl like a slave?"

"I am not using Pearl Steven. Pearl is my... friend. My job has and always will be to keep her and Earth Safe. I have my mission Steven- I must see it through. This will all make sense to you someday."

I wasn't sure it ever would, but whatever helps you sleep at night I guess. I turned around taking in the state of the room before grabbing a discarded tablet and tossing it into my bag, ignoring Rose's look. Eventually Rose picked herself off the ground before motioning me out of the room.

I noticed we were heading back the way we came, so I decided to try and get some information… even if it is Rose, "So… Mom?" Ugh, "Pearl promised to take me to the fountain. Can you please show me how to get there?"

I almost missed Rose's eyes, glanced down to my gem, and then back forward, "Are you hurt or damaged?"

"No, but it could happen one day and it would be better if I can get there in case of an emergency."

"Steven, you never want to use a warp when damaged. If you attempt to use the Warp when cracked your gem could send you anywhere the warp is connected to. It is safer to always travel with another gem in control." She explained to me.

So that's a no.

Most of our descent down the tower was quiet and she led me to the warp pad. When I finally stood on the Warp she activated it and we traveled through the light steam back to the temple at Beach City.

I held my bag tightly throughout the warp, glancing to Rose who just stood there on the nonexistent ground.

Eventually, we touched down and I attempted to rush- "Steven."

I froze feeling Rose's eyes on my back, "I know you learned a lot today. I just want you to realize that everything I do. I do for this planet. I do for your father, and I do for… you."

I turned to her and saw she was holding onto her arm, looking away, and gritting her teeth. "There are things about Gems I know you can not understand even if I try to explain it…"

"You never even tried to explain anything… just-" I spotted Garnet in the corner with her arms crossed. She tilted her head to the door and not wanting to deal with Rose anymore I walked towards it.

"I'll see you at that dinner… and tell Pearl I'm sorry."

Garnet rested her hand on my shoulder as I met up with her and she led me away from the Temple, the sound of the warp activated as soon as we touched the sand outside.

"Garnet…"

"Steven as she told you, one day you will understand everything. Today is just not that day."

"But I messed everything up and did not even accomplish the one thing I wanted to do today." I said looking to the ocean in frustration. I was such a failure.

"You are not a failure Steven and in my opinion, you accomplished much more than you think you have. Take this map of the planet for instance." Garnet plucked the pad from my backpack and started to tap it a bit. "You activated the drones that are now updating the map live charting several anomalous entities as we speak. This is an amazing feat Steven don't sell yourself short." Garnet said pointing to several red zones pinging on the map.

"What good will a map do me right now though. I don't even know how to use the warp and no one will teach me."

"Well Rose had a point earlier Steven if you use the warp alone you are going to be thrown anywhere the warps connect. That is dangerous right now with you not having 100% control of your abilities and with your gem being… what it is. Just give it time. In the meantime, I would say you have everything you need right here." Garnet said, poking my cheek.

"You know that sage wisdom doesn't work as well as you think it does." I said with a blank look.

"Steven, You will come to find that all gem's have things unique about them. My 'Sage wisdom' was worth a shot. If you don't want to follow my advice you could always kiss your problems better I hear that works for humans." Garnet said with a smirk before walking away from me.

I groaned to myself before dropping myself onto the bench. If it wasn't for that wink I would have thought I pissed her off with that remark. Me and my dumb mouth always gets me in trouble...

Today was a bust. Wake up, break the front door, bring Lapis on an adventure, avoid Rose, convince Pearl to rebel against mom, attempt to convince her to bring me to the fountain, but instead get dragged to the Lunar Sea Spire, only for Pearl to start having her PTSD flashbacks and almost get stabbed by Rose and Pearl multiple times and just barely escape.

Oh, I also found out gems can wipe each other's memories and "reset" them like robots.

That was fun, better not let Lapis anywhere near them.

This actually explains why she was so against me bringing her to them.

I pulled Lapis out of my bag and she gave me no welcome.

Nice, silent treatment.

"I'm sorry Lapi. I know you wanted to go on the adventure with me not be carted around in a bag the whole time." I flipped the mirror over and looked at the cracked gem. I licked my lips in frustration.

I need to get to that fountain that is the only way to help Lapis with the cracked gem problem.

You can always just kiss your problems away

Wait.

I blinked as I remembered the cracked Pearl in my hand…

That I stuck in my mouth. And spat out a perfectly formed Pearl...

I mean the worst this could do was just make this awkward.

I licked my lips again before I gave the gem a quick kiss. I watched the cracks begin to glow. Garnet, you must be a damn prophet!

I started laughing as the gem began to fill in the cracks. I reached for the gem and almost began to pull it from the mirror before I stopped.

Lapis Lazuli's Terraform

"Steven...what is happening!" Lapis's voice was no longer synthesized- It was natural.

"I think I healed your gem. I'm going to pull you out of the mirror… But just… D?o?n?'?t? ?t?e?r?r?a?f?o?r?m? ?t?h?e? ?p?l?a?n?e?t? and h?e?l?p? ?m?e? learn my gem powers!" My nail caught on the back of the teardrop and I started to dig my nail into the side and the tip cutting into my fingertips my blood began to coat the gem with my red life's liquid.

Biting my lip I dug my fingers deeper into the gem as I wrenched it away from the back of the mirror slashing my hand in the process. The gem flew away from me towards the ocean as it separated from the mirror. The mirror fell uselessly from my hand as I looked on in horror as the Gem became lost in the waves.

"Did… I just do that."

I stared frozen out into the waves as my blood dripped to the sand. I just lost Lapis into the very ocean itself...

I rushed out into the water, splashing the saltwater everywhere as I reached down fumbling trying to find the palm-size gem.

Nothing. No matter where I felt or looked I couldn't find it.

I kneeled into the seawater, I could feel my tears of frustration begin to build.

Why can't anything just go right toda-

Camp Pining Hearts~

You have got to b-

The music was playing from the waves. I could see a bright light to my right as Lapis' gem floated out of the water.

The gem glowed bright, making me squint my eyes as the light flashed into several different forms, until it settled and the second flash of light had me shield my eyes. When I blinked the spots out of my eyes I spotted a blue girl on the beach looking away almost... dramatically.

There 'Camp pining hearts' theme music seemed to play in the air from an unknown location as I slowly approached the blue scout.

"Lapis?" I called out to her.

When I was within arm's reach she turned around with a wide grin, "Hey Steven! Let's go on a Pinning Adventure!"

This fucking bitch.


Authors note:

Big notice: This chapter would have marked the beginning of the 'Shattered Pink Bombastic New Year Special' - Title pending. BUT I didn't realize just how bad my immune system is and fell sick again. Thankfully I recovered but not rapid-fire chapter releases are… less rapid-fire as they should have been.

ALSO, We are coming close to the End of "Season One: Jailbreak Stories". We only have 'at most' 10 more chapters planned (maybe less if the "episodes" when we get to them are too short to really be "one episode"- and instead are added to the next one.)

Then we are going on hiatus and swapping gears back to Danny Phantom: Half Dead.

The idea when we started this story was to finish one chapter of this story, then swap back and forth between the two, but we decided to instead do it in "seasons." Once the "Season" is over we will swap back and forth. This isn't marking the end of the story of course. One season does not make a "Series". This is a cartoon, not an anime ;)

Mark the Mark: So yeah chapter notes… I gave some nods to the expanded lore of Steven universe that may or may not make its way into the story (it will- maybe). As well as hinting at possible changes to history without giving too much away early.

Lapis is in a campers outfit. Why? She likes the show, and it looks like an awesome uniform.

Artemis_HNR: Wooo So we are close to finishing up our Season only a few more episodes to go. I know it is much shorter than Season 1 of the show but we are working more towards a more coherent story with a more mature Steven. I don't know about all of you but Season one Steven was just a little too….Spongebob for my taste.

We hope to get a few more chapters out in the next 2 weeks which we know is a lot on us but we want to use our time off wisely. Let us know what you think of our work it helps motivate us.

As a Christmas gift to the both of us Please Like (kudo), Comment, Subscribe, and hit that notification bell (button) so you never miss an update~

MtM: I hear comments are a great Christmas gift.