Note: Hi everyone! Just wanted to ask, is the story okay? I have drafts, and I noticed that in the previous chapter, it was even hard to get to 40 words. Do you see anything strange? Don't you like my writing style? Do you think I should cancel the story? Let me know in the comments; I really enjoy reading them.
Let's continue.
"Mmm?" I said as I opened my eyes, noticing how the ship was now descending through a corridor filled with incandescent lava.
"Huh? So fast!" I said, rubbing my eyes, feeling the heat seeping even through the ship's metal walls.
"What's wrong?" Amethyst asked as she settled down next to me, her expression reflecting a slight nervousness.
"Nothing," I replied as I felt my gem flicker, a familiar sign that reminded me of Rose and everything I still had to learn.
"Damn," I muttered, more to myself than to her, as my body tensed slightly.
"Are you okay, man?" Amethyst asked gently, moving a little closer.
"Relax," I said, raising my hands to reassure her. "It's just... it's my mom's thing, you know. She didn't leave me an instruction manual for this gem."
Amethyst nodded slowly, though a hint of uncertainty still lingered in her eyes.
As the lava glowed like a liquid ocean beneath us, shadows began to move among the crystals embedded in the rock.
"Uh... do you see that?" Amethyst asked, pointing at shapes that moved gracefully in the heat.
I looked closer and noticed something strange: they were gems, but different ones. Some seemed fused together, but not by choice. They moved together, as if the lava had temporarily forced them to combine. Their movements were slow and cautious, and although their gazes seemed curious, they showed no aggression.
"Are they forcibly fused?" I murmured, frowning as I analyzed their forms.
"Yes... and they seem... unstable," Amethyst replied, frowning as she observed them. "If they get scared, they could do anything."
As we spoke, one of the fusions began to lean dangerously toward the ship, as if it wanted to explore it more closely. My heart raced.
"Wait!" I said, pointing at it.
Lapis, who was controlling part of the system from a nearby panel, reacted instantly. With a swift movement of her arm, she pressed the remote control in her other hand, and a small mechanical cannon fired a beam that pushed the fused gem back, ensuring it didn't make contact with the ship.
"Wow! That was close..." Amethyst murmured, clearly impressed and a little scared.
"Relax, they're far away and they don't want to fight. They're just... exploring," I said, trying to calm them both. My gem was blinking rapidly, as if responding to the danger I sensed, even though I was trying to stay calm.
Lapis sighed, her gaze fixed on the screen as she controlled the mechanisms that kept the gem fusions away from the ship. "These fusions are... tricky. I've never seen anything like this before. If we don't keep them under control, they could hurt themselves or us. But for now... they're calm."
Amethyst crossed her arms, though it was clear her curiosity was getting the better of her. "Hey, Steven... does that mean... they could be dangerous later?"
"Not necessarily," I replied, watching the fusions move with a certain balance between the lava and the crystals. "They're forced to fuse; they don't intend to attack us. We just need to make sure we keep them under control as we pass."
One of the fusions leaned too far, but before it reached a crystal on the ship, Lapiz activated her remote control again. The small beam gently separated them, guiding them back to a safer position.
"Lapiz, you're amazing," I said with a smile, though my pink form was tense. "Thanks to you, we haven't had any major problems."
"I'm just doing my job," Lapiz replied, a glint of pride in her eyes as she adjusted some parameters on the remote control. "But yeah, I almost missed one."
The fusions seemed to understand, in a way, that the ship was a boundary they shouldn't cross. Lava glowed around them, illuminating their bodies as they remained aligned between the crystals. The feeling of tension lessened, though not entirely; any wrong move could cause disaster.
"This... is weird," I murmured, watching one of the fusions move with an almost ethereal grace, the lava water reflecting its light in shades of green and blue. "I've never seen anything like this... and I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Amethyst nodded, though she still kept her guard up. "Yeah... it's weird. But at least they're not attacking... yet."
"Exactly," I said, taking a deep breath as I tried to relax. "We need to stay alert and stick together. Lapis, control the distance, I'll keep an eye on them, and you guys... just be ready in case anything changes."
Lapis nodded, her hands moving quickly over the controls, adjusting each parameter as the fusions continued their path through the lava and crystals.
This is awful, I thought as Pearl covered her mouth, unable to watch. Garnet, for her part, seemed completely oblivious to her surroundings, and honestly, this had to be the worst thing she'd ever seen in her entire life as a Gem.
"It's horrible," I muttered to myself as we ventured deeper into another section of the Earth's crust. Only thirty minutes to go, and although I was descending without feeling anything physical, my Gem's presence was making itself known with a strange tingling, as if the place were reacting to me in some way.
I didn't care, though it still felt odd; in the show, this was supposed to cause depression, visions, something that would affect the mind. But here, none of that was happening... until, out of nowhere, darkness engulfed the entire place.
"Shit," I said as I felt a brutal pull, as if someone were dragging me down, just like that time I was pulled toward White Diamond.
I felt gravity shift around me, as if the ground had become empty and was swallowing me whole. My gem vibrated intensely, a constant throb that seemed to scream at me that something was wrong, that I shouldn't be there. I tried to move, to resist, but it was useless; each attempt only made me feel pulled further into the unknown.
The air turned cold, almost solid, and the echo of my own thoughts rumbled in my head as if someone else were listening. The darkness wasn't just the absence of light; it was a presence, a mass pressing down on my senses and making me feel small, vulnerable. Pearl was screaming in the distance, her voice distorted, as if it came from another dimension, and Garnet remained silent, as if she were waiting for something I couldn't see.
Suddenly, a strange sensation ran down my spine. It wasn't fear, not exactly; it was something deeper, something that resonated with the very essence of my gem. For a moment, the world went completely silent, and I could hear a faint murmur, as if the earth itself were speaking. My mind tried to cling to memories, to the show, to anything familiar, but even that felt distant, as if I were floating outside of myself.
And then, I fell.
There was no end, no floor, no ceiling, only the sensation of being pulled into the core of something gigantic and ancient, something that seemed to know me better than I knew myself. Every vibration of my gem multiplied, and for a moment I thought it would shatter, that everything I am might disappear into that darkness. But even in that abyss, there was something... a thread of curiosity, a nagging feeling that told me maybe this was just the beginning.
Out of nowhere, I returned to my body. I took a deep breath as my pink form clearly manifested.
"What's wrong?" Pearl asked, handing control of her controller to Garnet.
I looked into her eyes. For a moment, only Pearl noticed a strange glint in them: the diamonds appeared for a second, making her eyes widen. I shook my head, and immediately my eyes returned to normal.
"My gem..." I said as I touched it and sat down on the ground, feeling it vibrate.
"Every time I feel us getting close, I feel something," I added, looking at my hands, unable to disappear from my pink form no matter how hard I tried.
"Strange..." I murmured, examining my hand before standing up.
"Are you okay, Steven?" Pearl asked, now more concerned.
"Just my gem acting up," I replied, giving her a deep look so she understood.
Pearl's eyes widened; she had no choice, she was the only one who knew enough about this for now.
"I'll be with Steven, just in case," Pearl called out so everyone knew her decision.
"Okay," Peridot said, adjusting her visor as a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. Amethyst was in another area with Lapis, ready in case they encountered any Gems, and Garnet simply gave us a thumbs-up, calm and confident.
As we moved through a larger section of the ship, Pearl and I looked for a place where no one could hear us. The metallic, silent atmosphere heightened the tension, and each footstep echoed with a muffled sound that seemed to mirror my thoughts.
"Are you okay, Steven?" Pearl asked, her voice now heavy with worry, almost a trembling whisper.
I looked at her, noticing how her expression reflected both fear and confusion. Before I could answer, I felt a familiar tug, as if something were pulling me down again, deep and uncontrollably.
"Hold on tight, Pearl… I'll try again," I warned, sharpening my focus as I tried not to panic.
"Huh…?" Pearl said, confused, staring at me with wide eyes. A shiver ran down her spine as she watched my eyes transform into diamonds, glowing brightly as I fell in front of her, completely still and vulnerable. Her breathing became ragged, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
"Huh…," she repeated, even more shaky, looking at my body as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her hands gripped the edge of her controller, but I couldn't intervene; Her fingers twitched and opened in an unconscious gesture of frustration and fear.
"Steven..." she murmured, almost without strength, as a lump of anxiety rose in her throat. Her eyes couldn't leave me, as if any blink would make her lose me forever.
I took a deep breath and returned to reality, feeling my consciousness return to my body. I looked directly at Pearl, noticing how her face softened slightly as she tried to compose herself, though her worry was evident. She was breathing heavily, her lungs rising and falling unevenly.
"Damn it," I said, leaning against the wall as I tried to steady my breathing and calm the constant tingling in my gem. My hand went to my hair, tugging lightly at it with tension. "Those things... they're alive."
Pearl approached cautiously, her eyes wide and filled with alarm. She leaned in slightly, gently rubbing my shoulders to try and ease the stress coursing through my body. "Alive...?" she said, incredulous, as if she couldn't process what she had just witnessed.
I nodded, unable to tear my gaze away from the floor. "Yes... and they feel everything. Every movement we make, every thought... it's like they're reading us." My voice was deeper than usual, heavy with tension and a hint of fear I hadn't even known I possessed.
Perla frowned, breathing slowly as she tried to gather her thoughts. "How... how do you know that?" she asked, her voice trembling, almost whispering, her hands still resting on my shoulders, as if she could somehow transmit calm through touch.
"I feel it in my gem," I replied, touching it carefully. "It's unlike anything we've ever faced. It's not just power... it's awareness. I feel... that they're watching me, that they know what I'm thinking before I even think it."
Her eyes widened. "That... that's... too much, Steven." She stepped back a little, but kept me in sight. "We have to stay calm. If you go back into that again... you might not come back so quickly."
"I know," I said, taking another deep breath, trying to calm myself as my pink form seemed to want to fade, but couldn't. "It's just that... every time we get close, I feel like... something wants to come out, or come in... I don't know. It's like the place breathes with me."
Pearl nodded slowly, pursing her lips. "Then... we need to be vigilant. I... I'll stay with you. No one else knows how to handle this, and no one else should interfere." Her voice grew firm as she stood before me, determined.
"Thank you, Pearl," I said, managing a small smile, though my eyes still reflected the tension. "It means a lot that you're here."
She leaned in slightly, making sure I understood the seriousness of her words. "No matter what happens, Steven. I won't leave you alone. And if you have to go again... I'll be here, watching, ready to help you."
I took a deep breath and nodded. I looked at my hands, still feeling the tingling of my gem, and then at Pearl. The ship remained silent around us, but that stillness no longer felt peaceful; it was the calm before the storm. Amethyst and Lapis were keeping watch over other areas, Peridot was carefully peering through her visor, and Garnet, as always, gave a thumbs-up from a distance, confident we could handle it.
I knew what lay ahead was dangerous, but as long as Pearl was by my side, I felt that maybe, just maybe, I could control what my gem was feeling and return, without being completely lost in the darkness.
"I'll be here... Do you have a bandage?" I asked, looking at Pearl, trying to keep my voice steady, though a little shaky.
"Always," she said quickly, pulling a long blanket from some corner and carefully handing it to me.
"Is this the one you used to clean me with when I was little?" I asked, letting out a giggle that brought back distant memories.
Pearl blushed slightly, and her expression made me smile even more.
"You remember that? Humans aren't supposed to remember things like that," she said, a little surprised.
"I remember, of course," I replied, as my pink form intensified, reflecting the emotional state coursing through me.
"I remember good things... and bad," I added, and for an instant my eyes transformed into diamonds. But I quickly shook my head; thanks to my training, I had control of this form, and thank goodness, because if I hadn't trained, I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten this far.
I looked at Pearl, who was a little saddened by my memories. I felt the need to reassure her, so I shook my head as I put the cloth over my eyes.
"What are you doing?" Pearl asked, confused, her voice filled with care and curiosity.
"I don't want them to see my eyes," I said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Guide me... just say I need to concentrate and that my gem is telling me something, something about Rose... make something up," I added, with a touch of confidence and humor, so she wouldn't worry too much.
Pearl nodded, understanding me without needing any further explanation. She leaned slightly toward me and whispered, "Okay... I'll be with you." "Whatever your gem tells you, we'll feel it together."
I took a deep breath, feeling the blanket cover my eyes and Pearl's warmth beside me calm me. My pink form vibrated gently, as if my excitement and focus were merging, ready for whatever my gem was trying to tell me.
"Okay... let's do this together," I said finally, trying to sound confident. Pearl smiled at me, and for a moment, even amidst all the chaos and darkness of the ship, it felt like we were home.
Quickly, Pearl led me toward the center of the ship. Each footstep echoed against the metal, and glancing at the clock, I noticed we only had five minutes left. Time felt crushing, and every passing second increased the pressure on all of us.
"Are you okay?" Peridot asked, watching me from the floor with her eyes blindfolded, clearly worried about my balance and well-being.
"Jewel," I replied confidently, though I nearly fell flat on my face several times. I resisted the urge to collapse; I wanted to be as close to the cluster as possible to try and talk to those gems, to feel what my gem was telling me.
Peridot gave me a quick glance, still focused on her visor, muttering something under her breath as she continued with her own thing. Her expression was the same as always: concentrated, rigid, but with a hint of tension she couldn't hide.
Lapis looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, raising an eyebrow as if to say, "Seriously... you believed that crap?" Amethyst's expression was almost identical: arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and that classic mix of disdain and amusement she always had when someone exaggerated.
Garnet, on the other hand, simply took off her glasses, staring at me, though it was obvious she couldn't really see much because of the blanket covering my eyes. Her silence said it all; Even without words, her presence was enough to keep us alert and focused.
Pearl, seeing all this, positioned herself behind me, gently leaning against my back as I closed my eyes. Her touch gave me a sense of calm and stability, as if her weight and confidence were an anchor amidst the tension of the ship. Her hands rested lightly on my shoulders, firm yet calm, guiding me without the need for words.
"Pearl... thank you," I said, even if only in my mind. Her presence was enough to maintain my concentration and allow my gem to begin speaking, to send signals, without the pressure from the rest of the team destabilizing me.
The atmosphere around us remained tense. The hum of the ship's systems, the soft creaking of metal beneath our feet, and the ticking of the clock mingled with the anticipation of what we would find. Every glance, every gesture from my companions reminded me that we were in this together. That, even though my gem was pulling me toward something unknown, I wasn't alone.
"Let's do this..." I whispered, trying to focus as Perla gently adjusted the blanket over my eyes. Her calm, steady breathing helped me concentrate. I knew what was coming would be intense, that I would feel things I couldn't fully control, but having her by my side made everything seem a little more manageable.
End of Chapter 60.