{back at the temple...}

"WHY WOULD YOU SUCH THINGS ABOUT HER!?"

a teary-eyed steven angrily stomped his foot at pearl, who was fiddling with her hands guiltily while her eyes darted this way and that. "I-I'm... sorry steven... I just wasn't thinking..." she replied softly. "but... she should have known better than to-" steven suddenly threw his fists up and raised his voice, "OF COURSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up, startling amethyst and causing pearl to gasp. "NOT WHERE SHE CAME FROM, NOT HER BACKGROUND, NOT EVEN HOW SHE BECAME THE WAY SHE IS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!" more tears streamed from his eyes, "WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP HER! BUT YOU JUST... HURT HER!!"

pearl blinked, taken aback from how crushed he really sounded. "steven..." before she could say anything else, he grunted and turned around, arms crossed in a tearful pout, not wanting to hear anymore of her excuses. pearl sighed in defeat while amethyst put a hand on his back. "don't worry, steve-o... she couldn't have gone far..." just then, a flash was heard, and garnet entered, bringing a hand to her visor as she sighed in disappointment. "any luck, garnet?" the tall gem placed her hands on her hip. "I've looked in every place I could think of. no signs of her anywhere." at this steven whined and put his hands over his eyes to halt his tear fall. garnet bent down and ruffled his curly locks comfortingly. "don't worry steven. she'll find her way back. after all, you are her best bud." steven looked up at her, sniffling slightly. "y-you really think so..?" garnet smiled at seeing his eyes reignite with the faintest light of hope. she opened her mouth to confirm, but as if on cue, the warp pad flashes to life. at once a large fluffy figure fell forward, landing on its belly with a loud THUMP! a dazed groan emanated from the figure. that warping stuff's gonna take some getting used to...

"(NAME)! YOU REALLY CAME BACK!!"

as you pushed yourself off the ground, Steven runs forth and throws himself into your chest, burying his face into your fluffy fur. "(name), I missed you so so much!" amethyst was quick to run forward and hug your muscular forearm. "return of the big puffy powerhouse!" garnet stepped up and petted your head, smiling slightly. "you gave us a quite a scare." you purred deeply, taking in the affection that showered you and the soft petting you were receiving at the moment. pearl just watched, twiddling her thumbs with a guilty glint in her eyes. amethyst looked up at you suddenly suspicious. "where did you even go?" your eyes widened slightly. um... where exactly DID you go? all's you did was visualize a place where you could go to be alone and think to yourself... in fact... where did THAT place even come up in the first place...? you opened your mouth, as if you were going to reply...

only to be cut off by an amused chirp from deep in your back fur.

"Wowee! what a bumpy ride!"

your eyes burst open as you felt shifting on your back. the gem's eyes widened and they looked at you as if you had 3 heads. "wha?" that was when spinel poked her head out from your thick back fur, shaking stray strands from her own hair before looking around. her eyes twinkled in awe, like she never seen such a place before. "oooh... is this your home? Neat!" the gems almost immediately stepped back in alarm, Steven looking more confused than alarmed. "who is that?" pearl's eyes widened at the pink gem, mouth opened in shock. "it can't be.." spinel caught sight of the nimble gem and her smile somehow widened in delight. "Oh, pearl!" she then sprung out of your fur and giddily bounced upto her, pulling pearl into a hug. "Long time no see!" pearl stiffened in the hug, slowly bringing a hand up to pat her head, while laughing awkwardly and somewhat uncomfortably. "Eheh heh... y-yeah.." she looked down at the gem hugging her. her face crumpled when she saw on how worn down she looked. "...very long.."

after a while, she stepped back and laced her hands behind her back innocently. "yo, P, who is that?" amethyst asked, relaxing at spinel's non-hostile demeanor. "ahem- everyone... this is spinel." she replied with a rather hesitant gesture of her hand. the latter bowed theatrically to the group. "a pleasure to meet you.." you smiled and hummed in amusement, earning a smile from the gem. Steven smiled and giggled at the gem. "nice to meet you to!" he gestured to himself. "I'm steven!" he pointed to garnet. "and this is garnet," the latter nodded, a shine sliding across her visors. the then pointed to amethyst. "and that's amethyst." the later did a salute like wave, offering a laid-back grin. "Yo." steven then looked confused. "but how do you know pearl?" spinel perked up instantly at this question. "Oh! me and pearl go way back!" she nudged pearl with her elbow. "right pearl? we were the best of friends; me, you and-"

pearl suddenly threw her hand upto her mouth, mimicking the look of surprise, interrupting with a sharp gasp, before forcing a smile and laughing rather nervously. "OH! Aha! haha! y-yes, I do remember!" her gaze slides over the now slightly suspicious gems watching her, before she clears her throat. "ahem.. spinel, why don't you and I have a chat while (name) catches up with the others?" without waiting for a proper response, pearl drags spinel into the blue temple doors, causing the latter's feet to drag as she was pulled at a rather quick pace. "Oh, okay, pearl!" she turned to you and waves hastily. "be right back, (na-"

SLAM!

you stared at where the two had disappeared to suspicion and ever so slight concern racking your body. Did... she do something wrong? "what was that?" amethyst asked, sounding more confused than suspicious.

"don't know..."

steven gasped suddenly, prompting you to snap your head towards his direction. he was squishing his cheeks, staring wide and starry-eyed at you. what? "you... you talked! WITH WORDS!" he gasped. you tipped your head to the side. "talked?" he squeals and clutches handfuls of your fur excitedly smiling. "YES! YES YOU DID!!" you smiled broadly, suddenly feeling an unknown bolt of triumph. "that's a big step forward." noted garnet, with a notable grin. "step forward!" you piped cheerfully, tail wagging in excitement. "yeah, dude! now all's you need to do is use em to form full sentences and we're all set!" you looked at the purple gem, squinting an eye curiously.

full sentences..?
~~~~~~~~~

"now say it back to me."

you wrinkled your muzzle slightly as you attempted to repeat the sentence you were assigned.

"mmmgh..?! (n-name)! (name) is crystal gem!"

steven's smile contorted slightly, as if he was trying to keep it from faltering. "eh, close enough." amethyst shrugged nonchalantly. Steven looked down at the paper that read in pink crayon; "I'm (name), a crystal gem!" and gave a slightly awkward laugh. for the past few hours, he had been trying to get you to speak fully formed sentences, like he and the gems did. you both thought it'd be relatively simple. just put the right words together and bam! you got a sentence! simple!

well... for him.

and those who remembered speaking with such ease..

after spending stars know how long grunting, growling and roaring really messed up your process of speech. you thought of it clearly, but when it came to trying to form them... it was harder than trying to drink sea water. and it was rather frustrating; you had them thought up, but the moment the words touched your tongue, it all became jumbled up! there were just... so many words! while you succeeded in forming SOME type of English, it was mostly broken up, in a primitive third person like speech. "maybe you should start smaller.." garnet suggested, pushing a finger to her visor. steven rubs his chin. "yeaah..." he thinks for a moment with a drawn out hmmmm.. until he turns to you. "repeat after me; Steven's the best!" you blinked for a moment before replying; "S-Steven Best!" he stares for a moment before shrugging. "that'll work!" As he giggles softly, garnet steps up, placing a hand on your head. "since you can talk now, perhaps you wouldn't mind explaining why you brought a random gem back with you." your eyes went wide for a moment before crumpling. You cleared your throat as you spoke up best you could.

"s-spinel. Spinel a nice gem. she makes (name) happy." you explained best you can. "spinel also lonely like (name)... spinel alone in barren place... like (name) alone in gem temple... both make each other happy!" A soft smile lightens your face. "friends, (name) and spinel.. like Centi and steven!" you clasped your forepaws together, a pleading look in your eyes. "give spinel chance, garnet?"

garnet stared at you for the longest time. either she was processing your plead or trying to piece together your broken English. or both. either or, she gave you a soft pat on the head after a while "alright then." she merely said. a bright, dopey smile burst across your face as your tail thumping excitedly against the ground. Steven looked up at garnet, suddenly looking a bit surprised. "really garnet? spinel's gonna stay here?" the tall gem shrugged nonchalantly, crossing her arms. "I don't see why not." she replied coolly. "she makes (name) happy."

at that moment, the temple doors opened at at once, the sweet pink gem bounds over towards you, prompting you to jump up and meet her in a bear hug. pearl stepped out, hands clasped together, looking satisfied but slightly cautious. she walked over to garnet, while keeping her eyes on you and spinel as you spun the small gem in your embrace. she looked up at garnet, twiddling her hands together. "Is... she uh..?" garnet nodded firmly. "she has potential. and (name) has a friend again. you don't mind, do you?"

pearl watched as you nuzzled and licked her face, while she laughed almost hysterically as you tickled her. a small, little smile spread on her face.

"n-no. not at all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah, now you can talk.

Not normally, mind you!

You're a corrupt gem, so you should've expected to sound like a cave person.

Broken English FTW.