50. An old friend

--- Tell me again, what did you say ?

Jasper is kneeling in front of August, putting one hand on his heart and holding his hand with the other.

--- I want to serve you, my lord.

--- Okay ,okay, stop. Why would you do that ?

--- You said...

--- I know what I said !

--- Then you should understand the reason.

--- Good. Let's look at it from the other side - August scratches his head and thinks for a while.

--- Do you know that you can't protect me forever ?

--- What do you mean, my lord ?

--- We humans, on average, live about 100 years. What will you do after my death ?

--- I don't care how long your species lives. We can come up with something and lengthen your life.

--- I see that it's useless to argue with you, isn't it ?

--- That's right, my lord.

--- How do you even know the pronunciation of "my lord" ?

--- While they were cured, I got acquainted with the history of this planet.

--- Good. I understood. - Augustus put his other hand on Jasper's palm. She looked up and saw the seriousness on his face.

--- I, Augustus, accept you, Jasper, as my servant. Your life is mine, everything you have is mine.

--- Yes, my Lord.

" Now I have a servant. I'm beginning to understand why they say that fate is a strange woman. "

--- Good. We're going back.

--- Yes, my Lord.

--- Let's get this straight. Don't call me that in front of everyone, only when we're alone.

--- I understand, my Lord.

They used the Warp and ended up at home. To their surprise, it was already morning, and they were leaving at pitch-black night.

--- The time passed quickly.

--- August ! - suddenly, Pearl appeared in front of August and hung on to him.

--- Where have you been ?! We were looking for you ?! With you... - only now did Pearl notice the presence of Jasper

--- You ! - she stepped out of August's embrace and moved him behind her back

--- What did you do to him ?

--- Pffff.

--- You !

--- Pearl calm down - August hugged her from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder.

--- Jasper didn't do anything to me. We were just talking.

--- Did they talk ? And about what ?

--- This will remain between us. Where is everyone else ?

--- Amethyst and Garnet, let's go look for you. and Stephen has been walking around since the morning. - after her words, the Warp activated behind them and Garnet and Amethyst appeared.

--- We have searched everything, there are simply no traces of August and Jasper. Hello August. We don't know where to look for them...August ! - Amethyst quickly noticed him

--- Yo

--- Where have you been ? - Garnet came up to him and put her hand on his shoulder

--- I was with Jasper. We just talked, nothing special.

--- Hmmm

--- Guys ! You have no idea where I was and what I saw ! - Stephen ran into the house, in his hands he had a bubble with a strange stone in his hand. The stone was unusual, it had the shape of a funnel and shimmered with different colors.

--- Stephen. Where did you get this stone ?

--- I found it inside the lion's mane. Let's free him !

--- Stephen, no ! - but it was already too late. Stephen's bubble burst, and the gem began to take physical shape.

The gem has fully formed. She looked like a huge, blue-skinned woman. The stone was right in her chest, her curls were like a rainbow.

She was very strangely dressed. She had pants, shoes, but on her body, except for an apron, she had nothing, we can say that she was completely naked.

--- Wow ! Where am I ? - she opened her eyes. Her eyes also shimmered like a rainbow. She was scanning the surroundings and noticed them.

--- Pearl ? Garnet ? - meanwhile, Pearl and Garnet were barely holding back tears, Pearl even covered her lips with her hands.

--- Bismuth ! - Pearl quickly jumped up to her and "Bismuth" caught her in her arms.

--- Wow ! Are you accurate, my Pearl ? Whose Pearl is this?! Whose are you ?

--- Nobody

--- You are definitely my Pearl ! Hey, Garnet, how are you ?

--- Uh, guys. Who is she ? - Amethyst

--- Let me introduce you. This is Bismuth. One of the first crystal gems.

--- Ah, the recruits ! Let's see who we have here ! - Bismuth came up to them and began to examine them

--- Oh, Amethyst, you are always needed. A. I don't believe my eyes, human ! - she came close to August and began to examine him all over

--- Not every person can fight on a par with gems, if you are here, then you have enough strength. And the last one, you... - when she looked at Jasper, she stopped and fell silent.

--- YOU ! - Bismuth's hands lit up and turned into huge hammers. She hit them there. where Jasper was standing, but she quickly dodged.

--- What are you doing here ?!

--- None of your business, hard worker.

--- Bismuth, do you know Jasper ?

--- Of course ! How can I not know my best enemy ! We've crossed arms with her so many times, I can't count it.

--- And mostly, I won for you.

--- Yes of course! The last time we met, I was in the lead.

--- In your dreams.

--- Ho-ho, do you want to try my fist ?

--- Well, try it.

Jasper and Bismuth stood opposite each other, the atmosphere between them was heated to the limit. Just a little more and they would have started fighting.

--- Bismuth, that's enough. At the moment, Jasper is on our side. I'm more interested in where you've been ? We thought you were captured or were...split.

--- Split ? Me ?! Let them dream on !

--- Of course, get lost further.

--- Do you want to wipe the floor ?

--- Will you be strong enough ?

--- That's enough. Jasper, Bismuth. Bismuth, what's the last thing you remember ?

--- Mmmmmm - Bismuth sat down and scratched her head

--- I remember showing a new weapon to Rose, after which my memory ends. I don't remember anything. The main thing now is this: what is happening on the front line ? What are our losses ?

--- Bismuth..... the war is over.

--- What ?! Who won ?

--- Nobody.

---....

--- Let me show you and tell you.

For the next hour, all the gems brought Bismuth up to speed. They showed them ruins, battlefields, preserved records. From each place and news, Bismuth's face became darker and darker.

--- Everyone lost. There are no winners or losers. What happened to Rose ? I didn't see her.

--- I think I'll explain it. - Steven walked over to Bismuth and picked up the T-shirt.

--- Rose Quartz, gave her stone to me. I have some of her powers. for example, a shield, treatment, levitation, but I have no memories.

--- How so. Was it all in vain ? - Bismuth sat down on the spot and covered her face with her hands.

--- Bismuth, it's not all bad news. The HomeWorld wants to strike a second time.

--- What ?!

--- As we know, the Diamonds know about our existence, and at any moment they will be able to fly here.

--- To hell with it, I'll give up the Earth ! - she stood up abruptly

--- It's time to get back to work. We are going to the forge.

Everyone went for Bismuth. Using the Warp, she found herself in some kind of volcano. The temperature here was unbearable.

--- In this war, I was not only a fighter, I was a creator !

The Bismuth stone lit up and a passage opened in the wall.

--- Weapons, armor, shields ! All this was done here in the forge !

She turned her hand into a hammer and hit the bulging pillar. The whole forge lit up, lava poured out of the walls. Bismuth crossed her arms and looked at them all.

--- Now I'm back on the horse, I'll make such a weapon that the whole HomeWorld will be afraid of us. Welcome to the forge, the home of all the weapons of the crystal resistance.