Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26205636-20150320044244

Rewatching some of the old episodes in light of recent events, made me realize that gem powered devices may all harbor non-corrupted sentient gems. It seems obvious but the Crystal gems refer to think that gems that inhabit these objects simply are simply sources of power. The episode "Steven the Sword Fighter" shows that once a gem is defeated, they need time to recover, if that recovering gem is placed in an object that could gain magical properties. Lets start with the obvious episode"Mirror gem", Pearl refers to the Mirror as simply a magical device that shows the user everything, it has seen in its past. Pearl seems to lack the knowledge on how the mirror works exactly since they found the mirror at the Galaxy Warp. The Crystal gems also don't believe that the mirror is actually able to talk with him then react in utter horror at the realization that the gem is capable of communication. Lapis could have been trapped in the mirror for thousands of years prior to being found by the Crystal gems since Pearl knew that it would allow Steven to view thousands years of Gem history. Even though the gems are shocked, Lapis seemed to believe that they knew she was trapped against her will and did nothing to help her. This may be a revelation of ignorance or callousness on the part of the other benevolent Crystal gems, or a wholy cultural gem belief that the gems imprisoned in these objects did something to deserve it. As long lived and potentially immortal, there are very limited ways to punish gems that break the laws either they can be shattered (which still leaves them partially semi capable of reformation) or imprisonment in magical objects.

Two more episodes that illrustrate this are "Frybo", "Serious Steven" and "Horror Club"

In "Frybo (the second most disturbing episode of this series)", Pearl is looking for a lost shard that can be used to make "semi-sentient drones". They were originally obediant to their commanders but "over developed inside their suits and turned on their commanders" leading to "many many deaths". This sounds like a prison riot or more likely a slave rebellion. It may also be evidence that once the gemstones are damaged, the gem inside regains some of its sentience( just like Lapis Lazuli who needed time to be able to communicate with Steven better). These gem shards may also have been used by Rose in her rebellion using The Armor of the Fallen from her secret armory in "Rose's Scabbard"

Last one, I will reference is "Serious Steven", the gem (who may or may not be White Diamond) at the center of and powering the pyramid maze (possibly an ancient gem ship based on the similar layout) displays joy at being freed from the maze similar to Lapis Lazuli.

 