Beach city… beautiful, pacific, full with energy, and populated by about 24 or so people. Long ago I lived here with my friends and family. Now, I decided to return after been away for some years. It’s like nothing has changed… at least in appearance because I know there’s someone missing there. Someone I’ll never see again, but that also because of that, there’s a new little person I’d like to meet.
The morning sun shone as the sand in the beach sparkled having the five figures standing there. The youngest one, Steven, listened carefully at how Pearl explained the way of the word once more. Having found both his mother’s sword and scabbard, and being able to use the shield created by his own gem, Steven was on training to be a swordsman.
“Remember Steven, foot work is important” noted Pearl as she created a sentient figure resembling her.
“I know” nodded the chubby kid ready with sword and shield.
The clone attacked gently as Steven defended. He had previously fought that thing once when it accidentally destroyed Pearl’s physical body. Of course, that first round was pure warming up. The real thing would come after. And so, Steven defeated the clone easily passing to the second stage where it moved faster and was more aggressive.
“Oh gosh I hope he’s ok with that pace” said Pearl thoughtful as she analyzed Steven’s performance.
“Pff! He’ll be fine! You worry too much” replied Amethyst “GO STEVEN!!”
“It’s easy for you to say that! You’re not the one doing this!” panted the boy dodging a slash of the mechanical moving clone.
“He’d better start attacking or he’ll get tired” said Garnet looking at Steven dodge again and again “Move on to the offensive Steven!”
The three gems continued rooting for the boy who tried to do his best until he finally managed to defeat the clone. Pearl made it disappear and clapped at him.
“Well done Steven” smiled Pearl “you did great for level 2.”
“Oh man! Just level 2? I thought it was increasing level as I fought back!” whined Steven.
“No, no, it was just level 2.” Stated Pearl “It’s still too soon for you to face level 3. You still have some flaws… umm not that that’s bad” nervously chuckled Pearl “W-we just have to… Steven?”
“Who’s that?” asked the boy looking at the entrance of the beach area where another person was walking towards them.
The three Gems and lion turned around and looked at the mysterious figure walking to them, with a faint smile and waving a hand.
“I-Is that…” started Amethyst with a wide smile and mocking wish written all over her face.
“Yep… it’s Tourmaline” smiled Garnet “And I was thinking I’d never see Tourmaline around here again.”
“Tourmaline?” asked Steven and then he gasped “IS ANOTHER GEM?!”
“Yes Steven” smiled Pearl walking a bit farther to greet the other gem “Tourmaline fought with your mom and us when the other gems tried to take us back to home planet under war crimes for defending earth.”
“Wait… so he knows Lapis? And…” started Steven when Tourmaline was just a few meters away.
“Lapis yes, Jasper, no. Tourmaline was too young and didn’t get to meet Jasper, after all, she’s from Yellow Diamond’s army while we were of Rose’s group.
Steven looked at the new gem getting close and with a smile the red skinned gem saluted the others there. It was waving the hand in a really polite way. Surely Tourmaline was like Pearl.
“It’s been a long time huh?” smiled Tourmaline with a soft quiet voice.
“Yes it has!” said Pearl hugging Tourmaline as they both smiled.
“Wow, you two seem to be good friends!” shouted Steven.
“Oh! Hehe not that much of be best friends or that” said at the same time both gems.
“But we both have one thing in common” smiled Tourmaline.
“We both get really annoyed by Amethyst’s attitude” completed Pearl.
“Hey I’m here y’know?!” roared Amethyst.
“Easy” chuckled Garnet “Tourmaline’s been gone for long, and the first thing you want to do is mocking?”
“Pff… fine!” crossed her arms Amethyst but Tourmaline walked to her and ruffled her hair “HEY!”
“You’ve never changed” smiled Tourmaline and then extended the hand to Garnet. Both shook hands “Garnet, nice to see you again both safe and sound.”
“We had a hard time some weeks before but now we’re together again” nodded Garnet.
“I see, I heard about it” smiled Tourmaline and then looked at Steven “And you must be little Steven, right? Rose’s son.”
“Yes I am!” nodded Steven running to Tourmaline and extending his hand “Pleased to meet you!”
“The pleasure is mine” said Tourmaline shaking Steven’s hand and noticing he was carrying sword and shield, or at least he had left the sword in the sand since the shield had disappeared the instant he extended the hand “Were you been taught how to fight with swords?” Tourmaline turned at Pearl “And you didn’t called for me earlier?”
“W-what you mean by that?” asked Steven but Tourmaline broke the hand shake and summoned a sword from the hand “WOAH!! Your weapon is a sword?!”
“Yes, that’s right” nodded Tourmaline “I was thinking on staying for a season, actually.”
“Great!!! Though it would be a bit weird sharing the house now with four girls, five if you count that Garnet is two” Steven chuckled.
Tourmaline looked at Pearl and the other two who were nervous. So far Steven had only known female looking gems so he was assuming Tourmaline was one too. Pearl got close to him and kneeled placing her hand on Steven’s shoulder.
“Umm… Steven, Tourmaline is NOT a girl.”
“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!” shouted Steven “That means that I’m not the only boy gem?! COOL!”
“It’s more complicated than that Steven” calmly said Garnet.
“Umm... Look Steven, pretty much like the other gems I was ‘born’ with a female looking body” started Tourmaline “But… I never felt comfortable like that. I after all felt more like something different. I didn’t know before I reached Earth but spending time here…”
“Tourmaline changed to a boy!” laughed Amethyst “He’s cool by the way you should see him fighting!”
“Wait… gems can do that?” asked Steven.
“Well… technically speaking yes, since our exterior bodies are just creations from ourselves and we can change them at will” explained Pearl “So, yes, Tourmaline is a boy now and he’s been ever since he took that decision.”
“That’s great!!” smiled Steven “wait… you said you could teach me how to use the sword right?”
“I said they should have called for me to do it” smiled Tourmaline “Maybe a little exhibition would satisfy your curiosity?”
“That’d be awesome” whispered Steven.
“Hehe, ok… Pearl?” smiled Tourmaline.
“Sure” smiled back Pearl.
Steven sat with Garnet, Amethyst and lion as Pearl and Tourmaline took position looking at the other. Pearl summoned a sword and Tourmaline got his ready. Soon, they both were clashing with their swords as Pearl defended and attacked in the same elegant way Tourmaline did. They moved fast, and hit hard making the vibrations in the steel be heard. The sand flew with their movements. Tourmaline was even faster than Steven had imagined. After all, he looked way younger than Pearl and the others, but still, he should be thousands of years old.
Pearl took the chance and kicked Tourmaline while fighting as the red gem dodged with a horizontal spin landing perfectly and using the pommel of the sword to attack. Pearl defended from the attacks and finally both repelled each other and Tourmaline slide on the sand smiling.
“Well that was an impressive warm up” said Tourmaline standing right.
“Warm up?” asked Pearl surprised “W-what you mean by that?”
“Ohhh hehe I see little Tourmaline’s gotten stronger!” laughed Amethyst.
“Well yes, indeed a warm up” smiled Tourmaline and his sword spread into a second one made out of shadow “I developed this little trick that might come in handy”
“D-Dual wielding swordsman?!” gasped Pearl surprised.
“Yes” nodded Tourmaline “We can stop if you want, I’ve never used this in real battle actually.”
“No, is fine, what a better way to start practicing than in a friendly spar?” smiled Pearl looking at the two swords “This will be interesting.”
Tourmaline nodded and ran to Pearl with both swords ready. Meanwhile, pearl summoned her lance and ran towards Tourmaline. Once again both clashed and fought bravely. Steven looked at them mouth opened and eyes widely open too. Surprised not only to have found another Gem but that it was an amazing fighter. The way it moved was really fast and their hits were equally powerful, or at least they sounded powerful. Finally Tourmaline and Pearl got stuck in a powerful impact with Pearl trying to hit and Tourmaline blocking with both swords crossed. The struggle caused them both to lose grip and their weapons flew stabbing the sand and staying there.
“Hahahaha that was fun!” laughed Tourmaline “I’ve never sparred like that in ages!”
“Yes, I admit it, you’ve become stronger Tourmaline” smiled Pearl “Before you could have never defeated me with the lance, now you ended up disarming me.”
“To be fair, my sword also flew away” said Tourmaline as she took both weapons and returned he lance to Pearl.
“Wow! THAT WAS AMAZING!” shouted Steven “Sooo… Tourmaline could you teach me how to use the sword too? Pearl and you will be great teachers together!”
“Well, I guess having someone to help in that wouldn’t hurt” smiled Pearl looking at Tourmaline.
“Sure, I’d help with that… though my room should have moved now hehe, Is ok, I can sleep in the sofa” said Tourmaline.
“YEAH!! Tourmaline is staying! Let the party staaaarted!!” cheered Amethyst as she danced to the house.
“Uugh!” both Tourmaline and Pearl dropped the shoulders and rolled their eyes in disgust.
“Yep… just like in the good ol’ times” chuckled Garnet as they all headed to the home.
Well, some time ago I made my gemsona, so why not writing a little bit about him? Here's a short one shot that would work as the position take of how Tourmaline got to stay with the Gems and Steven.
![[Commission] Shadow VS Frost](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1159/1159832_Dracolicoi_eddy_vs_master_draco_yakuza_garden_noncustom.jpg "[Commission] Shadow VS Frost")
