Andrea posed for the mirror as she adjusted her eyeliner. She was 14 years old now, older than a preteen but not a young adult yet. That meant she was in that precocious period of her life where she was between being objectively cute and objectively stunning, so she had to tread the line to be prepared to switch between both at a moment's notice. Daddy's brand and infomercials depended on it, after all.
Not that she was only doing it for herself. Daddy's brand was just a stepping stone, the foundation for her eventual lifestyle career. She would spend the next twenty years starting a skin care line, a shampoo for dogs with dandruff, a whole global lifestyle company! Then she'd marry Alina Webster (she was really good at marketing and analysis… it was cute watching her be smart…), and they'd merge their stores to become the ultimate Midwest power couple!
Some might say she was overreacting. But you know what they said. 'By failing to prepare, you were prepared to fail'. So it just made sense to have her future organized. It actually did wonders for her social life. It made her instantly recognizable at school as more than just 'the rich girl'. And it even helped launch her career as a social influencer! It didn't make the money that her Daddy made, but it was enough to allow her to not use the credit card her Daddy gave her… that was for when she wanted to buy something special, like a swimming pool, or a movie theater.
"So, are you free this weekend, Andrea?" One of her friends asked. "There's supposed to be a new premiere in the theaters."
"I don't know, I'm shooting another commercial for Daddy this weekend, and as flawless as my takes are, you can never be sure, so it's going to be an all day thing." Especially when you can hire Greta Gerwig for a small directing credit. "And then I have to stream to the Fawndreas, keep them updated on all the latest hot items, you know how it is."
"Right..." Weird they sounded like they didn't know what she was talking about.
"Enough about me.." Her image depended on having a certain amount of humbleness. "I want deets, any fresh hot gossip going around?"
"Well, we're getting another new student tomorrow." A boy reported. "I really hope she's cute."
"Ooh, a girl, potential bestie material." All the best influencers had a bestie. Andrea had a lot of friends, but none of them were bestie material. None of them just had the fab factor she was looking for, the factor that went above and beyond.
"I heard Ms. Lightfoot eats fish." A girl said.
"...So, seafood?" Andrea asked. Wasn't much of a big thing.
"No, she brings a whole raw fish from home, head, scales, and all, cooks it in the microwave for three minutes, and eats it whole." Another girl gagged. "The janitor took three hours to air out the smell."
"Oooh, oooh that's sick." Andrea grimaced. "That is so, so sick. And not in a good way."
"I heard the principal spent most of the arts and music budget on a high tech safe he uses to store all the soda he confiscates from the students." Another boy chimed in.
"Mmm… sounds interesting, but unbelievable until we can see the safe itself." She noted.
"Oh, the hidey duo's going camping this weekend."
"The who now?" She asked.
"You know, Sweater Girl and the Reaper of Gloom?"
"Ooh, right…" Two people she's known for quite a while but didn't really bother to get to know personally. The most she could remember of them was the fact that the Sweater Girl accidently wet the bed at a sleeping party, and that both her and the Reaper mispronounced her name.
Still, it had been YEARS since that happened, and Andrea liked to think she was mature enough to get over it. She would have to assess the situation first, which meant one thing… eavesdropping. "Anyone know where they are now?"
"No." One boy shook his head. "They always disappear so people don't pick on them."
"But it is about lunchtime." A girl pointed out. "Legend has it that they haunt the art room whenever they have the time."
"Haunt the artroom?" Andrea smirked. "You're making them sound like ghosts."
"The Reaper might as well be." A girl retorted. "His eyes are practically lifeless. So many dark circles, I don't think the boy even sleeps."
"Also, everyone around him always cries." Another shivered. "It's just… supernatural, you know? Like he's painting your soul sad."
Andrea may have laid it a bit too thick with the Reaper nickname, but even she knew they had to be exaggerating. "Well, I'm going to check out this 'legend' for myself." She snorted as she stood up.
"And risk ruining your make up with the tears??!" The girl gasped.
"I don't cry that easily." She walked away from her entourage. Always the art room, just like the first time. Full blown mob, nickname went overboard, and then… then…
Misery
She felt her eyes water…"Huh... allergies… must be kicking in…" That had to be a coincidence… that had to be.
She suppressed the tears, wiping her eyes ever so carefully to not smear her make up as she walked towards the art room. "There, there, Steven..." The voice of Sweater Girl chimed in the air. "He's not here anymore."
"It was the second one again… they wailed out of nowhere…" The Reaper's voice came out, followed by sniffles. "I feel like I can never get any rest around them… I've tried earmuffs, eye masks… dad even has me on sleeping medication… it never lasts… damn stupid metanolism..."
"Steven." The sweater voice chastised. "Be careful. You know what Pearl would do if she heard you curse? Or worse… my mom?"
"I know, I still remember the smell of the soap." The reaper muttered as Andrea opened the door a bit, making it creak ever so slightly. "I'm just… tired of seeing the same monsters every day…. I don't even think I'm scared of them anymore… I'm just… sad that I have to deal with them for the rest of my life…" The boy looked up to the girl. "I'm sorry you're stuck with me."
"Hey, I'm fine with it… you can't make me cry forever." She rubbed his head. "...So, you excited for the camping trip?"
In that instant… the crying… stopped. Andrea couldn't feel any more tears coming down her eyes. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot about it!" There was an uncanny happiness to the voice... an excitement she hadn't seen from him in… ever. "She's going to teach me more about Gem stuff! Apparently some old stuff from Pink's time here."
"So, does Pearl want something… or why are you heading there specifically?"
"Apparently it's a religious thing for a 'Moon Goddess'. Which is weird. Given how she talks about mom, you'd think she was her god."
"Pretty sure that's a different form of worship, my friend." The girl chuckled as the two of them shared a smile.
This… this was a genuinely cute moment for such a gloomy looking couple. She has to take a picture of it-
Creak
The door accidentally opened wider, and their attention was now turned on her. "Andrea?!" The Sweater Girl shouted in alarm.
"Ah... ah... I..." She struggled to think of an excuse.
"Were you… spying on us?!" The reaper shouted understandably mad, and she swore his eyes began to glow blue.
"Ah… not… intentionally..." She tried to back away..
"Why can't we just be ALONE!?" There was a wave of blue emanating as Andrea suddenly felt an immense pressure of… misery on her.
"I'll… I'll leave." She moved away from the classroom. Okay, maybe he really WAS supernatural… crap, did she piss off a wizard? Or a witch? Well, he didn't really do anything until he noticed her evesdropping… gah maybe trying to get more deets on them was a bad idea from the start.
========================================================================
Scratch laughed as he flew back to his room. "You done good, Scratch… you done good." He ate some waffles. Making that kid miserable was a bit hard at first with that Sweater Girl constantly clinging around him, but the fact he realized he'd never stop was a wonderful way to make them miserable.
Hell, it was so bad now that the kid had those blue wails three times a week, and Scratch didn't even have to scare a single person! He once went a whole month without doing any actual scaring. The ghost council may hate his guts, but he got the results, so he was free to live his cushy life.
The only issue was that even though he arguably had THE most important job in the ghost world… they STILL wouldn't let him into the club! Like seriously! The chairman himself approved it! Just because other ghosts didn't like him didn't mean he couldn't party every once in a while! He wasn't that much of a slob! So what if he got a tiny bit of maple syrup everywhere?
Whatever, just ignore the negative, and focus on the positive. Like this comfy little home that no one would ever- "Welcome to our new Forever Home, McGees!" Pardon? He looked outside the window, seeing a car up in the driveway… removing the 'for sale' sign!? "To our new lives in Brighton!"
"...Eeeh." The momish looking one winced.
"Granted, it IS a bit of a fixer upper…" The daddish one admitted. "The pipes are a bit leaky and there MIGHT be a few freaky boards, but the real estate woman reassured me that the roach problem was 90 percent solved!"
"Sweet." The son-ish figure looked up and down the house with a familiar mischievous grin. "A little bit of paint and some sun panels and we can make this work."
"Aww, Darryl, I'm proud you want to go green." The daughterish figure smiled.
"...Yeah, it's for that and not because I ordered 10 sun panels that I can't get rid of." The son-ish figure sweated a bit nervously.
"Either way, we can totally make this work! Just like this town, I'll make everything smile!" Gaaah, that was gonna be gross. Welp, time to scare her. Just wait till she came inside-
Splat
"Wow, such a spacious attic!" She cheered, as Scratch was squished into the ground by the trap door. "Just needs some paint, posters, and cleaning the cobwebs."
"HEY!" He shouted, pulling himself up. "Don't mess up those cobwebs, they're just how I like 'em!"
The girl turned to him, gasping in terror- "NEW ROOMATE!" She shouted ecstatically. "Hi there, I'm Molly McGee, lovely to meet you!" And she hugged him so hard he went splat. "AAAHH! I killed my roommate!"
"Can't kill.." He made his head float detached from his body, making it drip as he added some red coloring to the dripping globs. "What's… ALREADY DEEEAAAD…"
"A ghost…!" Yes, scream, scream and make your family move somewhere far away, somewhere where the sun didn't shine, like New Jersey, or if that was too far, Detroit! "That is… SO COOL!!" The girl... cheered... as she actually... HUGGED HIM MORE!?!?
"What, no, no! Not cool, it's not supposed to be cool, it's supposed to be scary!" He frowned. "Why aren't you scared!?"
"Why should I be? I have the world's coolest roommate now!" The girl pulled a check list out of her jacket. "I've befriended three talking bears, a talking shark, a couple of wizards, a vampire, a fairy, now I get to check ghost off the list!"
"I'm not your friend, I'm here to MAKE YOU LEAVE!" He created bugs from his maw.
"Ooooh, cool!" She put her head in his mouth. "Where did those come from!?"
He pulled back. "Stop reading into this! Be scared! Terrified!"
"But I wanna be around you." She smiled in an over exaggerated and sparkly manner. "As the orange alien spoon man once told me, strangers are just friends you haven't met yet."
"...You're one of those glass half full kind of girls, aren't you?" Scratch grumbled.
"Yes, yes I am." The kid answered. "I'm Molly McGee! And you are?"
"I'm ticked off, that's what!" He yelled as he began summoning his dark power. "I will not have my ONE shot at the big leagues get thrown off by one delusional girl!" He created the chains to bind their souls together. "KNOW THIS, MOLLY MCGEE! I CURSE THEE! NO MATTER WHERE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY! UNTIL YOU LEAVE MY DOMAIN, I WILL HAUNT YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS!!!!" HA! Now THAT ought to scare her off.
"....So you're saying that as long as I live in this house, you will forever be by my side and follow me wherever I go?" The girl asked,
"Precisely! You're cursed, Molly McGee! Cursed to have-"
"A new best friend for the rest of my life!" The girl hugged him in the middle of his scary performance.
…What the fuck? "Come again?"
"We're going to be best friends that never leave and stick around each other for all of eternity till the end of time!" She grinned, having NO negative reaction to anything he said as she began unpacking. "Now, do you prefer puppy or kitty posters…? Puppy posters, please say puppy posters."
"…I didn't curse Molly McGee." He shuddered in horror at his horrible mistake. "Molly McGee cursed me!" What kind of terrible sitcom did he drag himself into!?
========================================================================
Pearl watched as the warp gate dissipated. "The Moon Goddess' spire." She noted, letting the majesty of the building make its mark on the children. Normally, she wouldn't allow humans to get so close to Homeworld history… but, if she was unable to prevent Greg Universe from wooing Blue Diamond, she doubted her chances of preventing Libby Stein-Torres from conquering her Steven. Aside from that, the girl, as reluctant as she was to admit it, WAS a positive influence on the boy. "One of many built for the grandeur of Homeworld… though it might be the only one left after 6000 years."
"Six thousand years of architecture... Alien architecture for sure, but… this is impressive construction none the less." Libby Stein-Torres stared in awe as she took several pictures with a camera
"I thought gems didn't believe in higher powers?" Steven asked. "Weren't the Diamonds revered as the most radiant of beings?"
"Yes, but even Gem culture has religion, as little as it is practiced in the current era." Pearl nodded. "I believe I don't have to explain that as Gems, we ARE an artificial creation."
"Given the lack of organic matter, that does make a certain amount of sense." Libby Stein-Torres remarked. "So if you are a creation, that means … you have to have had a creator."
"Correct. We are simply… unaware of who the creator is." She noted. "All gems come from the Diamonds, but the Diamonds themselves are unsure of who made them. This in turn causes most gems to believe that they were created by the moon, given its celestial relativity to Homeworld." Pearl went on to explain. "So, for about two millennia, it was decreed that the duty of Homeworld was to honor the moon by spreading as much of our brilliance and beauty as we can across every and any available planet we could find."
"And earth was one of those planets?" Steven asked.
"...Yes… it… was." Pearl answered slowly. She had taught Steven much, but she hadn't taught him everything. He cared for organic life, it didn't seem in the best interest to teach him of… their lack of care.
"Suprised you didn't hook up a moon base with how much you worship it." Libby pointed out.
"Well, there IS a moon base, but there isn't a warp pad active there." Pearl explained. "So the only way to travel would be through a spaceship into a no oxygen area." Which wasn't a problem for Pearl… but MIGHT pose a problem for Steven.
"Do we have a spaceship?" Steven asked with a starry eyed curiosity.
"...No, not one in functional use." Blue Diamond was very specific in telling her Steven wasn't to pilot a spaceship until he reached maturity, by proximity… his 500th birthday would be the perfect time.
"For a space faring race with little to no biological needs, there's a lot of this structure dedicated to the flow of water." Libby wrote down in her journal.
"Gems have very little value for organic needs, but there's one or two items of note that we can appreciate." She nodded. "Pink Diamond loved flowers. Blue Diamond appreciated water and ice. She let it flow into frozen sculptures and fluid architects."
"What about the other two?" Her Diamond asked. "Anything they like?"
"Yellow admired fire, for how much it was capable of destroying with a single spark." Pearl went on. "White admired geometric perfections." She explained as she guided the children through the spire. "...How peculiar. I expected the spire to be more damaged and in disrepair..." She looked at the ground. "The ground would normally be covered with crystal shrimp."
"Is that some sort of species of space shrimp?" Libby Stein-Torres asked.
"If by species you mean a subclass of gem that hasn't developed sapience, then yes." She confirmed.
"Do you think hikers came by and cleaned up the area?" Steven asked. "Or archeologists?"
"It IS an open area." Libby Stein Torres looked around. "Surely it would make sense that SOME gem artifacts would have human interaction by now."
"You mean you haven't noticed the pictures of gems on your currency?" Pearl asked with a curious head tilt.
"...What? No… no, that can't be." Libby Stein-Torres took out her wallet and pulled out a dollar bill. "Oh my Mary Shelly, it IS there… It's been in front of us this whole time!?"
"Wow." Steven looked down at the bill himself. "That opens up a whole well of conspiracies." He tapped his chin. "Wonder if there's a gem artifact responsible for the Bermuda Triangle."
"There is." Pearl confirmed. "During the war, Homeworld experimented with an anti graviton distillation ray in hopes of using it to unearth the base of the rebels. What you call the Bermuda Triangle is an end result of gravity dispelling itself in random and unorthodox directions."
"Part of me wants to keep asking, but I feel like we'd be here all day…" Libby Stein-Torres tapped her chin. "What about… dragons?"
"Corrupted Gems." Pearl explained simply. "Human culture often mistakes advanced science as magic, especially in the olden days."
"...Corrupted Gem?" Steven asked. "I don't think you've explained that before."
"A lesson for another time." Pearl dismissed, not wanting to go over all the past misfortunes of her Diamond's, well, past. "Now, let us proceed. Gravity doesn't function normally in some areas, so be sure to latch onto each other, Steven's Diamond should allow him to adjust to any gravitational shift in a given area."
"Got it." And the children held hands tightly. "So, do we just… walk to the top and pray?" Steven asked.
"If that is what you desire, my Steven." Pearl nodded. "It is your choice to believe in a higher power if you so wish. I believe Libby Stein-Torres has a similar culture that functions around that."
"Well, yeah, sort of, my family and I do believe in Jehovah... Although given the existence of aliens, I do have to question just how accurate the Torah actually is now." Libby Stein-Torres muttered as they kept looking around. "So, was prayer all that they did here?"
"No, Spires held several functions, mainly for showing off and presenting performances of the musical variety." Pearl clarified. "Other functions were for communication, albeit in a much minor degree to the communication towers." She explained.
"So would we be able to make phone calls to people in outer space?" Steven asked.
"Visual transmission would be possible even with limited earth technology, although I do not recommend making a call across the universe without knowing who's on the other end. That's how a third of planetary invasions begin." She explained. "Or worse."
"...Noted." He slowly nodded. "...Did… mom come here often?"
"....Any chance she could." Pearl admitted. "She often came to pay her respects to Pink Diamond."
They didn't say anything else. Pearl explained about Pink as much as she could have in the past, and the boy respected them enough to not push anymore… for both Blue's memory and Pink's… "Aaah, Pearl?"
"Yes, my Steven?"
"Remember how you said I'd adjust to the gravity?"
"Yes, my Steven."
"I didn't!" She turned around, seeing him and Libby Stein-Torres hanging onto a ledge. "I didn't adjust!"
"My Steven!" She shouted as she quickly ran to grab the boy, pulling him and the girl away. "My deepest and sincerest apologies, my Steven, I assumed this trek would be safe for you on the assumption that your gem would've adjusted you to atmospheric change... I shouldn't have made such a broad assumption-" She sputtered out as she clung to the boy tightly, feeling worry fear fear of punishment fear of disappointment fear of failure-
"It's okay, Pearl, we all make mistakes." ...And none of those fears came about. Not even the tears came… just a simple smile of understanding.. And a sweet, gentle touch. "I'm more afraid for Libby... we probably should've gotten some mountain climbing gear if we wanted to be extra secure."
"I'll wait till we are in a regular gravitation environment to pull it out." Pearl replied.
"Wow, Steven was right." Libby Stein Torres viewed her in awe, something that admittedly felt… off. "You really can carry anything in your gem."
"I simply prepare for the comfort of my Dia-Steven." If you were to ask her who she preferred between Steven and Blue Diamond… Pearl wouldn't be able to answer, not out of reluctance, but... out of fear of what her answer would reveal about herself.
========================================================================
Molly grinned. "Soooo, are we friends yet?"
"No."
"How about now?"
"No."
"Now. Now definitely feels like the best time to be friends." Molly persisted. Everything was going great! Her family finally found a forever home, she had a room all to herself, and she made a new best friend for life, even if he was being stubborn and not accepting her friendship.
"Nothing in the universe can make us friends." Her new ghost bestie pouted.
"Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?" She offered, pulling out a Scooby Snacks box. "I got them off some meddling ghost chasing kids from Coolsville who ironically don't even chase ghosts." Usually just some real estate agent trying to commit insurance fraud… that was ironically how they ended up getting this NEW house.
"Do I look like a dog you can train?"
"...How about three Scooby Snacks?" She offered.
"...You drive a hard bargain, McGee." The ghost snatched the snacks as he chewed them graciously. "Name's Scratch, kid. Remember that before I run you out of the house."
"But you wooooon't~" She sang, opening up her friendship book. "For you are but a single step on my mission to befriend everyone and Enhappify Brighton!"
"Enhapiwhat now?" Her new best friend, Scratch, looked baffled at her made up word.
"Enhappify, make everyone happy." She grinned. "Nice idea, right?"
"No it's not, it's terrible." He shook his head. "My entire job is to make this town scared and miserable!"
"Sounds like YOU need a new job." Molly booped his floppy nose.
"I'm dead, it's the only job."
"If you're dead, why have any job?" She countered.
"'Cause."
"'Cause what?"
"'Cause none of your business!" He snapped. "Why do you want to be friends with a ghost anyway? It's weird and unnatural."
"Because you spread love and joy when you have a friend." She pulled out her map and took out the star stickers, placing them all over. "My Dad keeps having to change his job, he's had to do that ever since I was five, so my family's moved all over the United States." She smiled proudly. "And I've been making friends with everyone we meet…" Her smile almost became a frown at remembering the friends that might have not remembered her. "It's been… hard keeping friends… but now we have a forever home that we're never ever moving from, ever!"
"...Well if you're staying here, then I'm outta here!" The ghost flew out the window.
"Wait, Scratch, come back!" She shouted… as he floated back inside. "Aww, change of heart! I knew I was getting through to you."
"No, no no no! I flew out! Something dragged me in-the curse!" He deduced.
"...Are you saying I have a best friend on demand!?" She squealed. "This is great!"
"NO! THIS ISN'T GREAT!"
"It's amazing! No matter where I go in the world, as long as my forever home is here, I can call you from ANYWHERE!" Molly hugged the ghost. "You and me are gonna be best friends for eternity!"
"For ALL eternity!?"
"Yep, you and me, the ghost and Molly McGee!" Molly grinned. "We're never going to be apart!"
"Is there a way to hit restart!?" Scratch began frantically looking around.
"Oooh, we gotta make a theme song about this! We can sing it to anyone new in town."
"No, no, no theme songs! I already have enough musical numbers to sit through whenever Bluey wants to break out-" Scratch stopped his ranting… and a smile came to his face.
"Egads! So you do have a friend!"
"...Why yes. Yes, I do… in fact, I think I should introduce you to him, right now." Scratch pulled her closely. "I think you'll get along... swimmingly.."
"Fly me, baby!" He grabbed her as they went up-
SMACK
And she hit the wall, falling to the ground. "...You can't phase people through walls, can you?"
"I admit, I actually forgot about that. I live by myself, don't actually carry people too often." He picked her up again as they went OUT the window this time. "Trust me, you're going to love Bluey, he's the brightest personality in town, everyone loves him."
"I know I will!" She smiled as they flew through the air… flying from a ghost… so awesome… they flew... And flew... And flew…and flew… "...Do you know where you're going?"
"...Actually no, I was taking a day off from scaring today 'cause Bluey went on a trip or something… "
"...Stop for ice cream?"
"Okay, now you're speaking my language." So food was the way into the ghost's heart… well... If a ghost had a heart, that would be the way to it. Note for the future... She should also call Grandma Nin later, she was usually more on the superstitious side of things.
They made their way down to an ice cream shop. "Sooo, what's your favorite flavor? Mine's rocky road."
"Neapolitan. Why argue with a combination of ingredi-ooooh, there's Bluey, and all alone for a change!" Scratch chuckled, pointing to a kid in a cloak.
"Alright, so what if your best friend almost descended into a never ending water fall… It's fine, she… she enjoyed the trip and didn't die… she didn't die... that's the good thing here, that's the good thing here..." The cloaked kid sputtered out nervously.
"You sure it's okay to greet him now? He seems... kind of frazzled?" Not that it would stop Molly from befriending him, but Molly had great people skills for this sort of thing.
"Jump out while you're at it. He loves surprises." Scratch told her.
"You sure?" She asked one more time for clarity.
"Very. Cross my goopy sappy heart… you know, the one I would have if Ghost had hearts."
"Well, if my new best friend says so." Who was she to deny the advice of a new bestie!?
"Alright…" The kid took a deep breath as he began walking away with-OOOH, a cookie cat! This kid had great taste! Instant friend material! "Just... enjoy the rest of the day-"
"You love cookie cats too!?" Molly jumped in front of him.
"Gahh!" The boy dropped his ice cream sandwich-
FWOOSH
…As well as freezing the ground around him... And the mailbox. " "Oooh, you kept it cold before it hit the ground, well played." She picked it up. "Still edible. Here you go." Molly handed the boy his cookie cat. "Never waste a single whisker!"
"...You're… you're not... freaked out.?." The boy looked at the treat suspiciously.
"Of course I'm freaked out! We're both Cookie Cat fans! My excitement meter's off the chart!" She cheered. "Oooh, Cookie cat, he's a pet for your tummy, Cookie cat, it's super duper yummy! Cookie cat-" She pointed to the kid to keep it going.
"...H-he left his... Family behind…" The boy shyly continued.
"Cookie caaaaaat!" She cheered. "'Now available at Gurgeons off Route 109.'" She giggled. "Hello there, I'm Molly! Molly McGee!"
The boy kept looking at her, before a light smile came to his mouth. "I'm... Steven Universe."
"Steven.. Universe… COOLEST NAME EVER!!!" She shouted with excitement. "Oh, we are so going to get along grea-"
"BOOOAHAHAHAHAAHGGAHAAHA!" Scratch popped up in front of her, getting close to Steven's face as the world got all… blue for some reason.
"No... no no, not now, NOT NOW!!!!!!!!" Steven yelled as he actually… began crying.
"Aww." She felt sorry for the boy, before turning to her ghost. "Did you bring me here just to scare someone?" Molly questioned as the blue air became a bit yellowish around her. "That's not nice at all. Let's apologize."
"Of course I brought you here to scare-" Scratch blinked, turning back to her. "...You're... Not crying…"
"Well, I'm upset you're causing him pain, but it's not exactly something TEAR level of-"
"Okay, now I'm calling bullshit! This kid is literally made out of misery! How the hell are you still able to stand up and smile!?"
"Why would I be miserable?" She asked. "I'm making new friends, I have no reason to be anything but happy right now… also can we not curse? That's just wrong. You are getting so many frowny face stickers when we get back."
"I'M A GHOST WHO CURSED YOU!"
"That's no excuse to be a jerk, Scratch." She crossed her arms.
"How…" She turned to the boy, who now looked stunned. "How can you tell where it is?"
Molly blinked. "You mean Scratch?" She pointed to the ghost.
The kid froze. "...You… you… you see him…" The kid whimpered.
"Yeah. I can see Scratch." She confirmed. "Can't everyone?"
"...I'm not insane. I'm not insane. Other people are seeing them. Other people see the floating specters." The boy rocked back and forth… before pausing, looking at Scratch. "Wait... you said you were a ghost… you're… you're NOT in my head!?"
"Why would he be in your head?" Molly asked.
"Oh, get this." Scratch giggled. "He didn't know ghosts were real, so I was able to make him miserable by making him think I was just a hallucination haunting him… of course, now I need to step up my game."
"...That… that's awful!" Molly cried out, turning to Scratch with her best 'Mom found out Dad bribed her to keep her mouth shut`look. "Scratch, you need to apologize to Steven RIGHT now!"
"What part of 'my job is making people miserable' did you not get the first time?" Scratch rolled his eyes.
"..It wasn't in my head…" The boy muttered. "...I... I wasn't crazy…"
"Jury's still out on that." Scratch snickered.
"...I wasn't crazy… but I thought I was…." The boy's eyes shifted… as… something bright … blue… and… round formed above Steven's head. "And... it... it... it was all your fault!!!!!" The ball shot forward.
"Oh, like I'm scared of your lightshow-"
SMAACCCCKKKK
The ball actually hit Scratch in the air, smacking him into the brick wall. "OW! Watch it, that hurt… wait..." The ghost blinked. "..That.. that actually hurt!?"
"I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU DIE A SECOND DEATH!" Another ball formed.
"Whoa, whoa, hey. Steven, was it? Look, clearly I did some things, and you did some things, both sides should be heard-" And the ball was shot at Scratch's face again.
"I DID NOTHING BUT TAKE YOUR CRUELITY! NOW... NOW I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!" And Steven began chasing the ghost, shooting ball after ball at the dead guy.
Molly watched as he chased Scratch around. "...I feel like I should let this work itself out." She mused. When Steven tired himself out, she'd invite him to breakfast tomorrow, and then they'd hash everything out, and right before the first day of school too!
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Rose wrapped the Centipeetle in a bubble. "Even a corrupted Gem could be a mother…" She mused. "How quaint." It was disturbing to see various gems, some of which she knew personally, be reduced to such a savage state… but it was also fascinating to see, even if briefly, some semblance of normalcy left in their minds.
"That wasn't motherhood, Rose, the Centipeetle was sending out scouts to find enemies to break down and tear apart." Pearl said matter of factly.
"A gem can dream, can't she?" Rose smirked.
"I don't know, I've never slept before, I wouldn't know how the phenomenon works." Pearl stated once again.
She chuckled. "Always so literal." Rose turned to Garnet. "What about you Garnet, any dreams?"
"Most of my dreams end up being future visions going haywire in their own weird way." The permanent fusion responded. "So it's mostly just things that may or may not happen."
"What about when Ruby separates?" Rose asked.
"Funny, you think Ruby would ever sleep away from Sapphire." Garnet smirked. "Plus, we both know what she would dream about away from Sapphire."
"I suppose that would be a dead end." She chuckled. "Any other surprises in store for us today, or are we free to relax?"
"Hm..." Garnet adjusted her glasses. Hard to believe those glasses were prescription and not just for looking cool. "Mayor Dewey is going to announce the world's biggest bowl of ice cream, but it's actually the thirteenth biggest bowl of ice cream."
"Between him and his ancestor, it's amazing that this city has had any stable form of government at all." Pearl scoffed.
"Funland is going to break down again. Nothing serious, but there's a thirty percent chance the ferris wheel will roll into the ocean."
"We'll try and catch it so no one drowns." Well, they couldn't exactly blame it on on humans. If they had roller coasters, why not this?
"Greg Universe is going to leave tomorrow."
"Oh… you wouldn't happen to know what time he's getting up?" Rose asked. Nearly over a decade of not seeing him and the man, unlike many before him, came back, with an air of responsibility… a change in him that Rose couldn't help but find irresistible.
"To say goodbye forever, right?" Pearl asked a bit rudely.
"Pearl, we haven't even done anything together. You could at least wait until he shows interest back to feel jealous." Rose playfully reprimanded her.
"Maybe the fact he hasn't shown any is a sign you shouldn't try." Pearl pointed out. "He might even be, as the humans say, the homosexual."
"Can't be. He has a kid." Rose refuted. "And a wife that passed away."
Garnet looked at her. "...You know this… and you still want to make a move on him?"
"Just because you're a two gem fusion doesn't mean there's more out there." Rose never understood the idea of commitment, or marriage. It was a literal label... A restriction on love. Real love should be free to flourish with everyone around you. Everyone at Burning Man always agreed with her views.
Garnet looked like she was about to respond.. Before pausing. "...No... no... that can't be right… she's not… no…" Garnet took off her glasses… as tears fell out of all three eyes.
"Garnet, what's wrong?" She kneeled down to her long time friend. "Are you in pain? Is your gem cracked?"
"Korea." She said quietly.
Rose paused… that was where... Where… "What... what about Korea?"
"Pink Diamond's palanquin…" She cried. "It's… it's…"
"Garnet, speak up!" Pearl, the ONLY gem that knew her secret, commanded a bit too forcefully.
"It's next to Blue's ship."
No.,. no.,. not now… not now! NOT when her life was finally good! Finally worth living! "Pearl… Pearl, we need monitoring."
"I'll watch it like a hawk." They saluted.
Rose grabbed Garnet in an embrace. "Calm down, Garnet, you don't need to hurt yourself." She rubbed her back. "We'll work it out…"
"It's Blue Diamond it's Blue Diamond I can't handle Blue Diamond being on this planet-" and her usually calm and collected friend split apart.
"She's here, she's here, she's going to be here." Sapphire panicked.
"I'll take her down!" Ruby roared. "Let me at her!"
…Blue… was on earth… she… she… Rose… might need to use… the Breaking Point.