Several days had passed since it all started, and lately I found myself talking to Perla more than usual. It was strange, because each conversation with her relaxed me a little more. I felt like I was slowly no longer looking at myself like my mother's shadow, and boy was I grateful for it. It was like removing that constant mirror I didn't ask for. I'd also been training; nothing out of the ordinary, but with more discipline.
I remember one time we went with the girls to the Celestial Sand Palace—or something like that, I can't even remember exactly. The place looked like something out of an interdimensional postcard. Everything was peaceful until Perla started fighting a hologram. At first, it seemed normal, because, well, it's Perla, but suddenly the hologram passed through her like it was nothing. I'm not going to lie, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. It's not every day you see someone you consider family being pierced by their own weapon.
Yes, I know what you're thinking: how could I not remember they can regenerate? Well, I didn't remember, because I have a thousand thoughts a day, and my brain isn't exactly a hard drive with infinite storage. I stared at her and even put a finger to my temple, telling myself to get my head together. Get your act together, brain, get your act together.
Overlooking that minor heart attack, I must admit that after regenerating, she came back shinier than before, almost like a freshly polished lamp. But that wasn't the point. After the whole spectacle, the Gems deigned to give me an explanation. Obviously, they didn't tell me anything remotely about everything they knew. About the Diamonds, for example, not a word. Nothing about how they were space colonizers or their true plans. They only told me something I already knew: that they were space gems, that they could fuse, and that they had waged a war with their own species. Quite an explanation, huh? A tremendous revelation... worthy of a tourist brochure.
In the end, I felt like I had to find the information myself. That way, at least I could have a knowledge base to better understand the gems and not wander around like a lost tourist in an alien museum.
Something I should highlight, and that honestly makes me feel quite proud, is that I have healing powers. Yes, I know, it sounds impressive, and it is. Thanks to that, I was able to help Connie. Now she's not shocked anymore, even though I made fun of her many times about her glasses. I used to call her four-eyes, but now I can only call her four and a half because I took the lenses off. She, of course, thanked me with a mixture of gratitude and annoyance, pursing her lips in such a funny way that I ended up laughing even more. It was impossible to take the moment seriously. After that, I went back to the girls, thinking the day had had enough weirdness on its own.
But of course, I had to forget that with them, it's never a peaceful day. When I returned, they gave me a mirror. At the time, I didn't think much of it; I thought it was one of those rare objects that Pearl keeps just for fun. However, when she told me to look for something specific inside it, things changed. I stared at the reflection, trying to understand what she was talking about, until I realized what I had in front of me. It was the Lapis Lazuli gem. Or maybe Pencil Lazuli... or Laluli's Gem... well, whatever it's called, my pronunciation isn't exactly expert.
I remained silent, processing the fact that I was literally holding a powerful gem in my hands. It's not every day someone hands you such a thing as a souvenir. For a moment, I didn't know what to do. And of course, my brain did what it does best in situations like this: nothing useful.
So I simply did the most reasonable thing I could think of at the time: talk to the mirror like a complete idiot, as if it were a person. I don't know if I was expecting him to answer or shoot a laser beam at me, but there I was, greeting my own reflection with a nervous smile and zero dignity.
Well, like I was saying, mirror, he muttered as he walked along the beach, the waves caressing his bare feet. If we make two plus three equal six, then math would have a whole new path. Imagine, imaginary numbers wouldn't have to be imaginary anymore. X could be anything and nothing at the same time. Seriously, why can't I write down on a test that the answer is X? If the teacher gives me an X, that means I guessed right, right? And if I guessed right, then I should get a ten. Simple as that.
He kept walking, the mirror tucked under his arm and his expression so focused anyone would have thought he was solving the mysteries of the universe. He approached the chip stand, where a familiar face greeted him.
Oh, hello, Peedee, he greeted with a broad smile.
Hello, Steven, the boy replied, now accustomed to his constant visits. The usual?
Of course, he answered, rubbing his hands together like someone about to receive a treasure.
Thanks, Peedee. Say hi to Ronaldo and tell him not to run his theories without me.
The boy let out a small laugh and nodded, promising to do so. Steven walked away with his request and a satisfied smile. Phew, child exploitation, he thought, amused. He hadn't seen him in a week.
The mirror at his side seemed to suddenly glow, but he didn't pay much attention. It wasn't the first time his gem had done something strange. Sometimes, he even thought it was his own brain playing tricks on him, giving him some kind of mild schizophrenic microattack.
The sound of a car approaching made him stop. He wasn't stupid; he knew when to move aside. But then something happened that stopped him in his tracks. A soft voice, coming from the mirror, repeated exactly what he had said a moment ago: child exploitation. He hadn't seen him in a week.
Steven stood still for a few seconds. He slowly turned his head toward the mirror, blinking in disbelief. Of all the things you could have learned from me, he thought with resignation, you learned just that. The mirror didn't respond. It just remained still, reflecting his confused face.
Finally, he sighed and shrugged. It was probably his mind playing another trick on him. He walked over to his father and left him some chips, which the man acknowledged with a genuine smile. Steven smiled back, unaware that the voice he'd heard hadn't been a figment of his imagination. The gem in the mirror seemed quite comfortable by his side, silently watching and learning.
The afternoon sun filtered through the clouds as he climbed the hill, the mirror tucked under his arm. Connie wouldn't be coming that day; she was in a yoga class or something. I didn't think much of it, honestly. I settled down on a rock, the ocean breeze gently blowing against my face, and looked at my reflection with a smile that only one can bear.
You know, all-seeing mirror that obviously recognizes that I'm the most handsome of all, I said aloud while posing exaggeratedly. Life has tremendous meaning, but I imagine you already know that. According to Pearl, you've lived longer than them. Or so I understood, because honestly, I didn't pay much attention to it.
The mirror suddenly flashed and, to my surprise, reflected words I had said earlier.
Two. Gems. Are. Bad. Than. Children.
I stood still, one eyebrow raised. Am I imagining this, or are you talking to me?
The mirror responded again with a string of staccato words.
Steve. Gem. It's. Bad. No.
That's when I stared at my reflection, looking like someone trying to solve an impossible riddle. I mean, are you asking me if I'm a Gem or something?
The mirror showed a small recorded fragment of me, like some kind of miniature video, where I was speaking.
Damn, I look so handsome in this mirror, I thought with a smile. Well, I'm a Gem, but I'm also human. And not just any Gem, the son of a crazy woman: Rose Quartz. What do you think of that?
The mirror said nothing. It just glowed a little, as if processing the information.
Well, it's not every day you get told something like that, I continued. I'm only thirteen, but I'll be fourteen soon, in case you want to give me something. I winked at the mirror as I turned my gaze toward the sea.
What do you think? The sea is beautiful, isn't it? So many beauties within this same blue water.
Yes, Steven. It's. Great.
The mirror responded using my recordings, in a tone somewhere between clumsy and mechanical. I laughed.
Well, mirror, it's not every day they take you out for a walk. I don't think you like being cooped up, do you?
No. Like it. Steven. Mirror.
Can't you answer a little more fluently, huh? I asked, a drop of sweat running down my temple.
The mirror, of course, took this literally and repeated the recordings as if it were trying to. At that moment, I decided my imaginary schizophrenia had reached its limit for the day. I walked back to the house with a relaxed gait.
As I entered, the three gems were there. I waved with one hand, the mirror dangling from my other arm. Hello.
Amethyst, as always, was eating something she shouldn't have. At that moment, a tractor tire.
"Hey, man," she muttered with her mouth full.
"I'm not going to ask where you got that," I replied, resigned.
"Good for me," she said matter-of-factly, taking another bite of the tire.
Pearl, on the other hand, watched me with a twinkle in her eye. "What do you think of the mirror? Very informative, isn't it?"
"Of course," I replied with a smile. "It hears very well and responds to everything... although I'm starting to suspect it's part of my head."
But then, the mirror glowed brightly again, and a distorted voice emerged from its surface, amidst fragments of recordings.
Steven. Gems. Bad. Kid. Run. Sound. Megaphone.
Silence fell over the room. No one moved.
"What was that last bit?" I asked, staring at the mirror with a drop of sweat running down my cheek.
"I shouldn't do that," Pearl murmured, visibly confused.
Garnet stood up with a serious expression, her glasses reflecting the light from the mirror. "Steven, give us that mirror."
I glanced at her, puzzled. "Why?"
"Just give it to me," she said in a dry voice, advancing toward me.
The mirror gleamed again, and in its reflection, for a moment, I swore I saw something moving inside. Something that definitely wasn't me.
"No," I said, placing the mirror behind me like a shield. "It's rare that I'm given a gift and then just want to take it away from me."
"Steven, you don't understand," Garnet replied, advancing.
"Then explain it to me," I snapped, looking her straight in the eyes.
"It doesn't matter, you're a child," she murmured, trying to take the mirror from me.
"Don't grab it," I warned, squeezing the mirror tightly.
But Garnet made a bad move, and I accidentally hit her head. Silence fell like a rock.
Everyone stared.
Garnet's glasses fell to the floor, and with a fury rarely seen, she glared at me. "Shit," I whispered before quickly running outside.
Come on, Garnet, he's a boy. It's not so bad to have a mirror, Pearl tried to calm her down.
Garnet remained silent for a few seconds before saying with chilling calm that that boy would be grounded for the rest of his life.
Amethyst and Pearl looked at each other. "Come on, girl, he's still a child, and she's right. It's not every day we give him something, especially a talking mirror."
"Does he have a gem?" asked Amethyst, looking at Pearl.
"Uh... yes," she answered with clear doubt.
"Then that gem is dangerous."
The three of them remained silent.
"My baby," murmured Pearl before running after me.
"Come on, old man, don't die," shouted Amethyst, running after her.
Garnet just walked slowly, because from her visions, she knew this would end very badly... or badly.
I was behind a column, muttering curses. "Mirror, mirror, please tell me you have a solution. Tell me, because if not, we'll both be shot." The mirror shone brightly and began issuing instructions, as if it trusted me. My plan was bearing fruit; Before freeing Lápiz, I wanted to gain her trust, and it seems I succeeded.
I quickly followed the instructions and removed the gem. Beautiful watermarks appeared beneath me, which vanished as soon as I removed the gem.
The gem shone, and with a beautiful glow, a figure began to form. It was a blue-toned girl, her color palette vibrating with an intense blue that was pleasing to the eye. She wore a waist-length dress, leaving her navel exposed, and a T-shirt that highlighted her youthful figure. The gem was on her back, but something ruined that beauty: her gem was broken. I wanted to fix it before the seawater washed away, but before that could happen, the gem almost fell off. Without thinking, I went to help her.
"Are you okay?" I asked with genuine concern, completely forgetting my plan.
"Yes, thank you very much, Steven, you freed me." You're not a Gem, you're not like them, she whispered in a broken voice.
"Calm down, you're okay now," I replied with a smile.
But something interrupted us. An explosion in the rock where I'd been standing shook the place. It was no one but the Gems.
"Steven, stay away from the Gem," Garnet said furiously.
"You guys," Pencil muttered angrily. "You knew I was imprisoned in that mirror, and yet you left me there."
The sea behind her began to move, forming a gigantic arm of water.
"Hey, um... what's your name?" I asked, trying to keep up appearances.
"Pencil. Pencil Lazuli," she replied, now looking at me with a smile. That change in mood made everyone break out in a cold sweat.
"Steven, let's go," she said softly.
"Where to?" I asked, confused. I didn't remember this from the series.
"Home," she whispered.
Forgive me, Pencil, but my home is here, I replied after a few seconds, looking at her with a mischievous smile. You're welcome.
The gem just looked at me, walked toward the sea, and, before submerging, said in a whisper that pierced my skin: Don't trust them. And so, the planet-terraforming gem of the sea was gone.
Everyone fell silent.
Garnet looked at me sternly. "You're grounded."
"If it weren't for you, this would be calmer," I replied curtly, glaring at the three of them. Garnet was surprised by the venom in my voice. Of all the futures, this was the calmest, but my attitude wasn't in any of them.
If only they'd listened before acting, they'd see that the gem was damaged, and on top of that, their gem was broken. Something that, by the way, seems to be the fault of the war or yours. If it weren't for you, I could have fixed someone and avoided a bigger problem." I walked with my hands in my pockets beside them, who were still frozen. I'd never spoken to them like that.
"And by the way," I said, looking back, "don't look for me today. I'm going to see my father. If you're going to punish me for doing something right, then there's no need to continue living in a place that only makes its rules and doesn't consider my opinion." I walked toward the truck.
A silence fell across the beach.
We screwed up, didn't we? Amethyst murmured, looking at me.
My baby..., Pearl whispered.
Garnet glowed for a moment, but quickly faded. Pearl and Amethyst looked at each other. This is serious, they thought.
Come on, let's go to the house, Garnet said, her voice a little husky. And so, a relationship was damaged by impulses that maybe could be fixed... or maybe not.
End of Chapter 17.