The warp pad lit up with a gentle hum as the new gem’s form solidified, light curling inward until they fully emerged. The base felt strange—so much green and blue around them, so much softness. This wasn’t like Homeworld. This was... something else.

“Welcome,” came a warm, echoing voice.

The new gem turned and saw her—Rose Quartz. Tall, radiant, with spiraling pink curls that shimmered as she moved. Her presence was gentle but commanding, like a blooming flower too grand to ignore. She smiled, one hand resting on the massive sword at her back, though there was no threat in her gaze.

“I’m Rose Quartz. And you—” she paused, stepping closer to take in the new gem’s form—“you’re brave for being here. You’re not just stepping into a base... you're stepping into a whole new way of being.”

The base around them was a mix of natural Earth architecture and glowing gem technology. Crystal panels lined the walls, humming softly with energy. Vines crept along the ceiling, flowers blooming in soft pinks and purples. Sunlight poured through an opening in the rock, illuminating the heart of the war room.

“This is our war room,” Rose said, motioning with a sweep of her arm. “But don’t let the name scare you. We’re not trying to start wars—we’re trying to end one. This place is where we plan, dream, and sometimes… mourn.”

Footsteps echoed behind her. Pearl approached, hands behind her back, posture straight as ever. “Strategic coordination, gem placement charts, inventory logs,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.

“She helps keep us organized,” Rose whispered with a fond grin. “And she’s one of the finest fighters I’ve ever known.”

Pearl flushed a little but said nothing.

They moved down a crystalline hallway. The walls reflected the forms of past battles and training sessions, etched in memory. “You’ll have your own space,” Rose continued. “Privacy isn’t something we were given on Homeworld, but we value it here. Individuality is what makes Earth beautiful.”

At one point, they passed a chamber where Amethyst was loudly snoring on a makeshift hammock of vines. A half-eaten bag of chips lay forgotten at her feet.

“Don’t mind her,” Rose chuckled. “She’s... unique.”

“I heard that,” Amethyst grunted without opening her eyes.

As they returned to the main hall, Rose paused. “You’ll find we’re a strange bunch. We argue, we joke, we sometimes mess up—but we fight for freedom, for love, for the right to be ourselves. I know that’s a lot to take in.”

She stepped closer, gently placing a hand on the new gem’s shoulder. “But you’re not alone anymore. You’re part of a family now. Welcome to the Crystal Gems.”

From somewhere deeper in the base, the sound of Garnet’s voice rumbled low—offering calm instruction during training.

And for the first time since emerging from the warp pad, the new gem felt something unfamiliar yet comforting:

Home.