Post by Spinel on Feb 13, 2021 8:29:44 GMT
A beam of bright light shot itself from the white warp pad at the base of the mountain, illuminating the area around it before dissipating and leaving the figure of a purple gem in its wake. Spinel stepped off the pad and onto the sand surrounding it and looked up the long path he was to take. The temple was so far that from this distance he could only see its silhouette piercing the veil of the clouds, illuminated by the rising sun. Orange and yellow light beamed across the mountains so perfectly that anyone would stop to admire the beauty of the area, if their mind weren't as occupied as Spinel's was. As he began to walk down the path leading to the spire, he couldn't keep his thoughts on the last several months at bay.
With the disappearance of Csarite, Spinel had lost one of the few people he had connected to since... Forever, he supposed. He had met gems before, felt kinship with them, but he had never truly bonded with any of them. Csarite was different than most others he had ever met. Even if he was viewing her from a rose-tinted perspective caused by his beliefs regarding the corruption, he wouldn't know nor care. She was the first gem he cared for in a long time, no matter how short they had known each other, and when she disappeared Spinel was determined not to lose her. He would do everything he could to find her. After months of going on the most difficult wild goose chase of his life, his search led him to an isolated desert. Erosion from the sand would have washed away any evidence of Csarite's path, but Spinel convinced himself that there was still a chance he could find where she went. Against all reason he searched the desert, losing all track of time. He searched for any clues on where she went, to no avail. After a while, reason finally caught up with him, and he realized there was simply nothing he could do to find her here. He had done everything he could, wasting more time wouldn't help anyone. Csarite knew where Spinel lived, and he figured that if they were to meet again, it would have to be her that finds him.
Content in the knowledge that he had done everything he could, both reasonably and unreasonably, Spinel returned to his cave in the Kindergarten. Entering the lip of the cave, a small and previously dormant cuboid sitting upon the large rock in the center of his home began glowing at the presence of Spinel. As he approached, a small pink holograph began flashing, displaying the symbol of an inverted triangle. A voice would begin to play.
"Spinel Facet-F66 Cut-3RT, it is good seeing you again. Do you remember me? I welcomed you to the facility. I'd like to talk again, and welcome you to something else. Meet me at the Sky Temple, tomorrow noon after activating this message, and I will give you all the answers you've been looking for."
As the message ended, the cuboid would stop displaying the holographic symbol and shut off. Spinel continued to stare where the holographic image played in shock. Memories flooded his mind, memories older than any others he had. Pink walls, gems confined to cells, their faces distorted and shattered. A note... A strange, constant note... Spinel snapped out of this trance and began to ponder. The last time he had referred to himself by his facet and cut was so long ago that it might as well be ancient history, in fact it probably was ancient history by now. Someone from his past so distant that he couldn't remember them was trying to contact him. The message seemed honest enough, the voice that sounded more and more familiar the more he thought of it spoke in a warm tone, but there was another message that they had sent, deliberately or not, with the first.
'They've been watching me, and they know where I live.'
Spinel was hesitant, but whoever sent this message had him wrapped around their finger, he knew that. They probably knew that, too. This message sparked Spinel's earliest, most fractured memories. He couldn't refuse the invitation. Gathering his thoughts, he did his very best to plan for every contingency. He thought of the layout of the Sky Temple and formed combat and escape strategies in case it was a trap, he thought of questions to ask, he thought of lies to tell. In the end, however, he felt he was going to be woefully unprepared for whatever happens. When the sun rose on the Sky Temple, Spinel stepped on the warp pad. He wanted to be early, he wanted to beat them there, to have some sort of edge on them, but he doubted if this would work. With a deep breath, Spinel activated the warp pad, and a beam of light enveloped him.
As he approached the Sky Temple, Spinel would look to the sun. It was a few hours before noon, early like Spinel had wanted. He jumped across the small floating islands and cautiously walked up the stairs to the small domed building at the top, looking around to see if anyone was there. While he wasn't sure that he was totally alone, he couldn't see anyone, so he wandered to the center of the room and stood, waiting. Unfortunately, he hadn't caught anyone earlier than expected, but he still might have some advantage on whoever shows up, he might surprise them in some way. His mind raced, but he didn't let his guard down. He would see this through.
With the disappearance of Csarite, Spinel had lost one of the few people he had connected to since... Forever, he supposed. He had met gems before, felt kinship with them, but he had never truly bonded with any of them. Csarite was different than most others he had ever met. Even if he was viewing her from a rose-tinted perspective caused by his beliefs regarding the corruption, he wouldn't know nor care. She was the first gem he cared for in a long time, no matter how short they had known each other, and when she disappeared Spinel was determined not to lose her. He would do everything he could to find her. After months of going on the most difficult wild goose chase of his life, his search led him to an isolated desert. Erosion from the sand would have washed away any evidence of Csarite's path, but Spinel convinced himself that there was still a chance he could find where she went. Against all reason he searched the desert, losing all track of time. He searched for any clues on where she went, to no avail. After a while, reason finally caught up with him, and he realized there was simply nothing he could do to find her here. He had done everything he could, wasting more time wouldn't help anyone. Csarite knew where Spinel lived, and he figured that if they were to meet again, it would have to be her that finds him.
Content in the knowledge that he had done everything he could, both reasonably and unreasonably, Spinel returned to his cave in the Kindergarten. Entering the lip of the cave, a small and previously dormant cuboid sitting upon the large rock in the center of his home began glowing at the presence of Spinel. As he approached, a small pink holograph began flashing, displaying the symbol of an inverted triangle. A voice would begin to play.
"Spinel Facet-F66 Cut-3RT, it is good seeing you again. Do you remember me? I welcomed you to the facility. I'd like to talk again, and welcome you to something else. Meet me at the Sky Temple, tomorrow noon after activating this message, and I will give you all the answers you've been looking for."
As the message ended, the cuboid would stop displaying the holographic symbol and shut off. Spinel continued to stare where the holographic image played in shock. Memories flooded his mind, memories older than any others he had. Pink walls, gems confined to cells, their faces distorted and shattered. A note... A strange, constant note... Spinel snapped out of this trance and began to ponder. The last time he had referred to himself by his facet and cut was so long ago that it might as well be ancient history, in fact it probably was ancient history by now. Someone from his past so distant that he couldn't remember them was trying to contact him. The message seemed honest enough, the voice that sounded more and more familiar the more he thought of it spoke in a warm tone, but there was another message that they had sent, deliberately or not, with the first.
'They've been watching me, and they know where I live.'
Spinel was hesitant, but whoever sent this message had him wrapped around their finger, he knew that. They probably knew that, too. This message sparked Spinel's earliest, most fractured memories. He couldn't refuse the invitation. Gathering his thoughts, he did his very best to plan for every contingency. He thought of the layout of the Sky Temple and formed combat and escape strategies in case it was a trap, he thought of questions to ask, he thought of lies to tell. In the end, however, he felt he was going to be woefully unprepared for whatever happens. When the sun rose on the Sky Temple, Spinel stepped on the warp pad. He wanted to be early, he wanted to beat them there, to have some sort of edge on them, but he doubted if this would work. With a deep breath, Spinel activated the warp pad, and a beam of light enveloped him.
As he approached the Sky Temple, Spinel would look to the sun. It was a few hours before noon, early like Spinel had wanted. He jumped across the small floating islands and cautiously walked up the stairs to the small domed building at the top, looking around to see if anyone was there. While he wasn't sure that he was totally alone, he couldn't see anyone, so he wandered to the center of the room and stood, waiting. Unfortunately, he hadn't caught anyone earlier than expected, but he still might have some advantage on whoever shows up, he might surprise them in some way. His mind raced, but he didn't let his guard down. He would see this through.