A/N: Hey guys Spartan889 reporting in! Its been awhile since I made a fic. Well, I kinda recently got hooked in Houseki No Kuni franchise. And boy, was it a blast reading the manga and watching the anime.
Have to say, gotta love Phos a lot in the series and manga.
So after watching the anime, I decided to pop to read some fanfics but was disturbed by the serious lack of crossovers with the franchise and sci-fi anime in general. That was when an idea came up to me. This story was born.
Also, I do not own Halo and Houseki No Kuni. They belong to their respective owners and producers.
Now with that out of the way, I hope you guys truly enjoy this idea which I may cultivate it further. Please fav, follow and comment!
See ya! Spartan889 out!
P.S: It's been two to three years since I last wrote a fanfic, so constructive criticism is welcomed.
P.S.S: This takes place after EP4 and halfway through EP5 in the anime.
Prologue: Homecoming
11, December, 2552...
Installation 00 "The Ark", Replacement Halo Ring,
Cliff faces near the control room...
BAM!
'One down...fifty more to go...'
Up the cliffs near to the control room entrance was a Spartan II. In cladding of the Mjolnir VI armor, Though it was peppermint in color, metal plating, and the skinsuit hugging the Spartan feminine form. Inscribed on the right side of her breastplate were three digits '151' written in white bold.
The Spartan was in a prone position, an SRS-99D-S2 in hand. Her target, the hordes of Flood combat forms roaming the small empty snowfield before her. Pulling the trigger, the Anti Material Rifle roars, echoing across the snow valley, dispensing another 14.5x114mm APFSDS round, nailing an infected Shanghelli combat form.
'two down...forty-nine more...' She mentally counted, keeping track of the attacking flood combat forms and two individuals fighting their way through the endless horde of rotting flesh both alien and human alike. Master Chief John-117, humanity's greatest soldier and beside him, the Covenant Separatist leader. The Arbiter.
She kept track of the two individuals, plowing through the rotting obstacles with little difficulty, yet it didn't deter her one bit from providing constant sniper overwatch. Again, she finds another target. An infected human form carrying a Rocket Launcher.
BAM!
The flood form hits the ground, its upper torso separated from its legs.
She spots another target, already aiming the barrel of the sniper at the combat form, ready to pull the trigger. Before she could take it out, the combat form was engulfed by a bright ruby-red beam. Leaving behind a pair of burnt rotting legs.
She turns her helmet head to her right. Next to her was no other than the legendary cigar-chomping mother of all badasses. Sgt Avery Johnson. And in his hands was his mighty M6 Galilean Nonlinear Rifle. Ignoring the legendary marine in all his glory, the Spartan continues her sniper overwatch.
"We got you covered Chief, don't stop." She radioed over, a short glance to the top right of her Heads-Up-Display revealed that her sniper had only three shots left. Frowning, she looks through the scope again, this time picking her targets carefully. Noting the flying forms of local Sentinels dealing with the other forms did little to dwindle their numbers.
Spotting a Stalker pure form about to initiate a transformation, the Spartan instantly takes aim, her super-human reflexes kicking into high gear, pulling the trigger of her weapon, she lets loose two 14.5x114mm rounds.
Both rounds spin through the air, closing the distance and made it to their target's head, ripping through its flesh with ease killing it.
Though the counter was now telling her that she has one shot left in the rifle. 'Time to go I guess' She thought, standing back up to her full height. Being approximate 7'0ft tall thanks to her Mjolnir armor.
"I'm moving out. Cover me." With that, she becomes a blur, sprinting to the end of the cliff, she leaps forward to the top of the tower. Where the entrance to the Halo Ring's control is.
Dodging bullets, plasma, and bone blades from hitting him, John-117 was on the constant move, his MA5C Assault Rifle was tucked in his arms, barrel flashing wildly sending short bursts of 7.62x51mm Full Metal Jacket rounds flying into rotting flesh.
The legendary Spartan-II ducks under a deadly swing from an infected brute and respond to the attacking flood form with a roundhouse kick, sending the infected host plummeting off the pyramid edge.
But with one gone, two more replace the loss, John leaps back. Dodging their bone claws, the barrel of his trusty MA5C lighting up, riddling the flood forms in front with bullet holes.
Scanning his HUD, the veteran notes he was slowly running low on ammo. Magnetically holstering his rifle to his back, the legendary Spartan-II switches to his spare, a Type-1 Energy Sword. Giving a slight squeeze to it, the familiar twin blades of the fearsome weapons springs to life crackling with superconductive plasma energy.
He swings the blade to his right, bisecting a leaping combat form in half, destroying the spore within it while the two halves land unceremoniously on the ground rolling. He leans back, a clawed limb missing his armor by inches leaving the offending infected open.
Taking the opportunity, he dashes forwards stabbing the flood form and twist his body cleaving the flood in half. A green beam of death smacks into the core of a charging infected brute from behind putting it down permanently.
The Spartan returns a silent thanks to the Arbiter before twisting his body to his right as a pair of claw-club limbs lands at where he was once standing. Again, John jumps back to avoid another serious blow from the Flood Tank pure form.
Gaining some distance from the Tank, the pure form still focuses on him despite several beams hitting its back.
Chief prepares to face the Tank, energy sword raised to strike. That was until a familiar peppermint blur rams into its back sending both rolling on the ground towards him. John side steps getting out the way of the rolling pair.
The Tank was now lying on its back with the peppermint Spartan II on top, the barrel of her SRS-99 stab into its mouth. Without hesitation, she pulls the trigger.
A loud bang echoes, the dispense bullet ripping through the skull of the Tank killing it.
"Phyllos." Chief noted, giving her a nod to thank her.
The Spartan in question named Phyllos, simply gives him a cheerful wave, before skipping over to him. "Thought you boys need some help cleaning up this place."
An infected Elite tried to sneak up, only for it to suddenly thrown off the pyramid as Phyllos was a blur and grabbing its combat harness and tossing it off the edge. She looks back at John still speaking with a cheerful tone. "Shall we?"
The Master Cheif nods, running past her and slice through another infected combat host. Phyllos was behind him dual wielding M7 Caseless SMGs.
Together, the two were a maelstrom of death and destruction, each of their movements was fluid and in sync, reading each other body language to communicate with each other. They fought in tandem as any flood combat form that tries to get up close ended up either smash by a brutal kick, punch, backhanded, riddled with holes, thrown off the tower and sliced.
The Arbiter was similar, armed with a pair of Energy Swords, he was a tornado of death, dodging left and right slicing his opponents into bits and pieces.
Within minutes, the entire floor was riddled with death, corpses of the infected were now just a pile of broken flesh and bones on the ground while the pure forms were now indistinguishable from one another.
In the middle of the carnage stood Arbiter, John-117, and Phyllos-151. Their armor coated is viscera and rotten juices. Phos brought up her hand looking over the brown mess stuck to her arm.
"I'm very sure technicians are going to have a field day trying to clean this all up." She commented, shaking off bits and pieces of rotten flesh stuck onto her gauntlet.
A loud thud caught the trio attention, turning to see Johnson running over to the gate.
"Open up! Coast is clear!" Johnson stated. Yet the quartet still kept their guard up. Waiting for anything that wants to reveal itself.
On cue, the door starts to open up, followed by Cortana's voice through the comms.
"Not for long." She warned. "I'm tracking additional dispersal pods. They'll be hitting any minute."
Heeding her warning, the four started moving into the facility. The door behind starts to close and locks. Together, they navigated through the pristine hallways towards the installation ring's control room.
Soon, the quartet manages to locate the Ring's control room. Phos couldn't help but stare at the massive spherical room in awe, taking in every single detail of the room.
She snaps out of her awe, hearing the distant chilling roar, she and the others turn back, weapons raised. Luckily for them, the door closes up and locks itself.
Arbiter takes up front, moving up with his Carbine at the ready.
"Yank me chief." Cortana said through the comms. John did just that, his left hand reaching out to the back of his helmet plucking out an AI storage chip containing Cortana.
"I'm not losing her too." Johnson stated. John understood what he meant, trusting him, he tosses Cortana's chip to the Marine. The marine catches it and gives a second to look at the chip before moving towards the control room.
Yet, despite the door locked in front of them, keeping the flood out. The peppermint Spartan couldn't help but feel wary. Her gut was telling her something bad is coming and it worried her.
"John..." She said, speaking to her brother-in-arms through a private comms channel getting his attention. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"What kind?" He responded through the private channel.
"A gut-feeling kind." She replied. Keeping both her M7s at the ready. The Chief tense. The two could remember the wise words of Mendez to always trust their gut feeling.
The feeling got worse by the seconds.
"AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
The scream of Sgt Johnson caught her by surprise. The two Spartans twist back to see the Johnson collapse on the ground smoking. It didn't take long for the two to figure out that the Monitor was responsible.
John dropped his rifle and charge towards the Monitor, Phyllos was behind him, M7s raised and firing 5x27mm rounds peppering the Monitor which did little damage to the forerunner alloy given her distance until the two firearms went dry.
In a span of a few seconds, the two closed half the distance between them and the Monitor. But 343 Guilty Spark was now facing them, glowing blood-red, the now traitor AI sends a beam of energy nailing John in the chest sending the 2-ton supersoldier flying backward hitting the ground on his back.
The beam stops for a moment and instantly returns hitting Phyllos in the chest like John. She gritted her teeth and grunted in pain. Despite the Mjolnir VI advance energy shielding and a thick layer of Titanium Alloy that was coated in a reflective coating to disperse heat, Phos could feel the intense burning sensation around her chest area from the beam.
She lands on her back, dazed from the powerful beam attack. Her ears registered the pained grunt of the Arbiter and the doors behind her closing and locking itself shut. She slowly raises her chest up to see John slowly getting back up and pacing forward, only to get hit by a short burst to the same area bringing him down to his knees.
It angered her. She slowly gets up. Wincing at the pain, ignoring whatever nonsense the traitorous Forerunner AI was spouting all about. Her left-hand reaches to her chest and draws out her 10-inch serrated blade knife. She bends forward, muscles tensed, she shot forwards to the monitor.
"Get away from him!" She roared out in rage, shooting her combat knife forward. Unfortunately, she misses the AI by a mere centimeter as it floats backward.
Before she could react, both her and John were sent flying back by an invisible force making the two armored super soldiers sprawled out on the glass floor.
The two recovered and quickly got back up on their two feet. She unholsters her pair of M6G Magnums, tossing one to John who catches it with ease.
With the safety off, Phyllos shot forward, becoming a peppermint blur. She points her M6G Magnum firing it continuously at the Monitor which only made small dents to the AI spherical chassis.
343 responded in kind with his Sentinel Beam forcing the peppermint Spartan to roll to her right and gets sent flying back by the same gravitational push force the Monitor emitted leaving her wide open.
"I take no pleasure at what must be done." 343 hostility stated. His mono eye charging up another beam. But several rounds pinged off his chassis. The Monitor switches his attention to John.
Seeing 343 distracted by John. Phos fishes out a Covenant Plasma Grenade. Arming it with a press of a button, the grenade whines loudly and glows. She throws it right at the AI, only for it to be thrown back at her by the same gravity push force.
She leaps back, avoiding the ensuing plasma explosion.
Unamused by the two Spartan efforts, he floats towards them speaking in the same hostile tone. "You do not deserve this ring! "
"I have kept it safe! It belongs to me!" Pushing the two Spartan back slowly to the door, his mono-eye charging to finish them.
"Not for long."
Right after a Ruby beam impacts the rogue AI from the back sending him flying down to the room uncontrollably.
"Johnson!" Phyllos cried out. Rushing towards the down man. Soon by his side in a matter of seconds along with John too.
The first thing Johnson did was offering them his Spartan Laser. "Kick...his ass..." He said weakly before collapsing.
"Phyllos," Getting the peppermint's attention. "look after him."
Phyllos only nodded, resting Johnson's head on her armored lap while John takes up the Spartan Laser.
"Make him pay John" She spoke softly.
Hearing the hate and anger in her tone, John silently nods. Hefting the million credit weapon over his shoulder.
Up ahead, the Monitor returns with a vengeance. Though he was slightly damaged by the Nonlinear laser. Chief didn't waste time as he broke into a sprint, charging the Spartan Laser.
"Stop now before one of us gets hurt." Spark warned John.
The Spartan-II didn't care what the Forerunner AI said, his words no longer hold weight and he will see to it that the traitor is no more. With the weapon fully charged, it releases a ruby red beam hitting the rogue, damaging him furthermore.
"Accept your legacy..." He fires another beam at John. But John was faster, already running circles around the Monitor making it challenging for the ancient AI to keep track off.
Another charged beam hits the Monitor damaging him even more to the brink of destruction.
The Monitor tried to speak, only for a garbled voice to come out as the final beam from John's Spartan Laser hits the AI resulting a core meltdown where 343 Guilty Spark was undergoing a total system failure, and his core overloading causing him to glow brightly and whine loudly for a few seconds and explodes.
Ending the existence of the now rampant AI.
Chief then notice the M6 Grindell battery was now empty. Seeing it now useless, he drops it on the ground and heads back to Phos and Johnson.
Arriving at the two of them, he sees Phyllos with her MK V styled helmet resting on the ground revealing her face Johnson.
She had snow pale white skin like all other Spartans but the most prominent of her facial features were her turquoise hair being natural in color, layers of short tufts of hair, some reaching to her shoulders. Her eyebrows and eyes were of the same turquoise color giving her a rather unique look. Altogether, she was beautiful.
But, a look of sorrow was written on her face. He could even see the distress in her eyes.
"Stay with me, Johnson!"
Sensing John's approach, Phyllos looks up to him, her eyes slightly glossy, tears threatening to break the dam. Spartans rarely cry but Phyllos was by far one of the more emotional of the Spartan IIs.
Crouching before the down Marine, he lays his right hand on Johnson's shoulder. "I'm getting you out of here."
The man coughed in pain, his face contorts, struggling to breathe for a moment. "N-No. No, you're not." He grabs hold of Chief's hand with his left. "D-Don't l-lose her. Don't ever lose her."
Coughing out a goblet of blood. "Send me out….with a bang…" His body slowly went limp, eyes closing for good, his hand slid off from Chief's leaving Cortana's chip in the Spartan's hand. He looks turns his attention to Phyllos, seeing how clearly distress she was. Tears threatening to break.
Spartans never cry. John knows this. Every Spartan II knows this. But this was one of those rare moments to see their closest brother or sister in arms drove few to do so. Phos was one of those few. For twenty-seven years, twenty-seven long years, she had been forced to endure the loss of all her close comrades, family, and friends.
The armored man cupped the distress Spartan's cheek, Phyllos look back up at him with misty eyes. Chief shook his head and so the dams broke.
Phyllos grabs and held onto his left forearm like a lifeline. Years of pent-up sorrow flowing out of her eyes in forms of tears cascading down her cheeks. Sobbing silently for a few seconds more. Finish with letting her tears and sorrow out, she gives Chief a nod of silent thanks for the emotional comfort he has given.
The two slowly let go of each other, Phyllos being the first to loosen her grip and lets go of John's arm allowing the armored man move to the control panel finishing this war once and for all. But the turquoise Spartan remains rooted on her spot. Slowly laying the deceased sergeant on the ground, whispering a final farewell to him. She wraps her hand around Johnson's dog tags, with a small tug, the tags easily came off.
Keeping the tag in one of her chest pouches, she then picks up her Mk V styled helmet off the floor. Donning the helmet on with a slight hiss of pressurized air sealing the helmet on tight.
Suddenly the massive spherical room glows brightly, she shifts her head to bear witness a massive pillar of light made of pure energy racing up to the ceiling of the room. Awed at the sheer power originating from the room center. Distracted by the sight before her, John calls her name out resulting her attention and to spot a piece of the ceiling detached from the sphere ceiling, prompting the peppermint Spartan to run towards the now open and only entrance.
In mid-run, Phyllos nearly lost her balance as a large piece from the ceiling came crashing down on the right side tilting a part of the platform to its right. Shortly after that impact, parts of the ceiling start to collapse down towards the Spartans. Fortunately for them, they were faster.
With a big leap, the two Spartans landed with a small roll forwards, narrowly escaping from falling as the platform behind them collapse under the sheer weight and impact of the debris landing on top of it. The door immediately closes, locking it behind them permanently.
Thel approaches the two, Chief's MA5C in the Separatist leader's hand, the Shangheili offers it to the green Spartan.
Seeing hs rifle offered back, John accepts it, taking it back feeling the familiar grip of the assault rifle before standing back up to his full height.
"I'am sorry Spartans." Thel offered his condolences to the pair knowing what has happened to the human sergeant. "But come."
With his Covenant Carbine in hand, he takes point leading the two super soldiers through the hallway.
Distant moans of Flood infected host could be heard alerting the trio of the obstacles ahead. Prepared as they come around a corner. The first wave reveals itself as a small swarm of Flood spores crawling their way towards them. John steps forward, his rifle aimed at the swarm. Not too long, the barrel of the MA5C roars to life, mowing down the opposition with total ease.
The second wave arrives. A trio of infected Sangheili armed with bone claws and Type-25 Directed Energy Rifles bared towards the trio. Seeing the trio, the Flood infected hosts were on the offensive, their plasma rifles spouting plumes of plasma fire.
Though they didn't get too far as the lead infected finds an armored boot to the chest where the spore is located, caving the chest open and sent the rotting body hitting a Forerunner alloy wall. Bones snapped and rotting organs bursts as a result of the kick.
The other two had little time to react or do anything, as a series of flying armored fist hit impacted the second resulting in the spore inhabiting inside to burst like a balloon, rupturing the rotting body organs and snapping every single bone in its rotting body. The third was grabbed on and judo flip to the ground, shattering the spine of the host body due to the impact. Soon a series of armored fist pummelled the body leaving nothing but a pile mushed meat.
In the middle stood Phyllos in all her might, the third wave arrives as a mix of both infected and charging Spores.
Picking up a Plasma rifle off the floor, the trio aimed their weapons and lit the hallway towards the exit with plasma, irradiated beams, and slugs. Leaving nothing but death in their wake.
Exiting the tower, it was Pandora as both Sentinels and Flood forms were too busy focusing on each other. But the main problem, there was no way out until Thel spots a new sloped path of melted snow leading up to the cliffs next to the Control Room tower.
"Even in death, your sergeant guides us."
"The Dawn..." Cortana's voice cuts in through the comms. Realizing something important. "Of course, the frigate! We still have a chance"
At the same time, Phyllos mentally berated herself for forgetting that piece of important information, recalling how she got here with Johnson via the UNSC Frigate.
The trio run beside the snowy cliff edges, their weapons firing upon both infected and ancient AI machines.
"Find a doorway in the cliffs Chief. The Dawn is on the other side."
"Follow me!" Phyllos called out, sprinting down the path. "I know where it is. There's a Warthog nearby!"
Arbiter and Chief didn't say anything, following the peppermint Spartan from behind. Finding the doorway in the cliffs, the same exact one she and Johnson came out from.
Entering the doorway, Phyllos, John, and Arbiter were greeted with a furious CQC between Flood infected hosts and Forerunner Sentinels. The trio soon makes quick work on the two sides, Phos and Arbiter handling the Sentinels with their plasma weaponry while John dealt with the Flood with accurate shots to the exposed Spores in the host's bodies.
Within minutes, the hallway was cleared allowing the group to move on to a corridor leading to the other side. But in their path stood three Flood Spore Carriers in a single line.
Their solution. The three filled the hallway with plasma fire and bullets, ripping through the first carrier then the second and later third. The Flood spores stored inside the carriers had little time to maneuver around and use the numerical advantage as the concentrated firepower popped them like balloons, leaving only small tatters of their bodies.
They sprinted across the corridor wasting no time. Turning to left-hand corner and up the forward slope, they encounter another small swarm of Spores wanting to infect them. But they didn't make it too far as John's MA5C made short work of them.
With the corridor cleared of any flood, up ahead, the trio sighted the form of an M12 Warthog sitting there waiting for them to use.
"There's our ride!" Doubling her speed, Phyllos was the first to reach the Warthog, jumping and sliding across the hood of the LRV. Already at the driver's side, she hops into the seat and hits the engine switch.
Instantly, the floodlights of the Warthog light up followed by the mechanical roar of its hydrogen combustion engine. By the time the Warthog activates, John and Thel had already arrived. Her fellow Spartan brother jumping into the passenger seat while the Shangheili operates the M41 LAAG.
Without the need to be told, she hits the gas sending the Warthog speeding down the dirt road and onto the Forerunner metal panel field.
"Floor it!" Cortana shouted through Phyllos helmet. "Right into the hangar!"
Phyllos didn't need to be told twice, switching to the highest gear, she pushes the Warthog to the limit. The speedometer just borders to the max while alarms in the vehicle's dashboard blared red and flash warnings.
Reaching to the edge of the jump, the Warthog was sent sailing through the air at high speeds, closing the distance between it and the hangar before tilting forward due to the Spartans weight up front. The vehicle hits the Hangar's grilled floor like a hammer before tumbling away, tossing its occupants off it and dragging itself upside down slowly coming into crawl into a pile of crates.
The occupants of the Warthog were scattered close by, already recovering from the rough landing before looking at each other. Suddenly, there was a shift in gravity resulting the frigate to tilt to its right.
All of the unsecured cargo in the hangar starts to shift one side of the hangar. Arbiter running from a moving Scorpion Tank to avoid being crushed by the 66-ton vehicle by jumping over a pile of large crates saving him from the heavily armored vehicle, while John on the other hand quickly climbs over the shifting Warthog, landing on his two feet. Looking at Arbiter, he nods his head towards the Elite telling him to go. A silent message that the Elite understood.
Meanwhile, Phyllos was avoiding crates trying to hit her and makes a dash to a console where John was heading too. The two quickly arrive the console, Chief plucking the AI core chip from the back of his helmet and inserts Cortana into the console, granting the AI access to the ship's entire system.
Her avatar appears before the two. "Hang on."
Seconds after, the Dawn engines roar to life generating massive amounts of thrust, careening the warship up and moving, bypassing the stratosphere.
Phos and John could feel the G-force of the ship leaving the Halo ring's atmosphere and into space.
Everything that was at one side of the hangar was now sent flying out of Dawn's hangar, while the two Spartan's hold on to the console with a steel grip.
But the gravity around them was getting light, making the pair float up a bit.
As they entered space, John tries to move up a bit. Seeing the danger, Phyllos who was at the back of the console shouts out a warning a little too late as Chief got sideswiped by a flying Warthog that Phyllos drove.
"John!"
"John!"
Without a second thought, the turquoise Spartan quickly grabs hold of his left arm with lightning-fast reaction with her right and held on to him tightly.
"Look out!"
Hearing Cortana's words, Phyllos, ducks her head down along with Chief only for the only Scorpion Tank in the hangar to go flying above them just missing the two by mere inches and out into the void of space.
Slowly but surely, Phyllos pulls John back to the console to the point where he manages to grab hold of the side handlebar of the Console and pulls himself back to it later rising to his full height, looking towards Cortana's holographic figure.
Plucking out the AI chip from the console, Chief pulls himself forward to the other end of the console along with Phyllos, not caring of the shining light of the Halo Ring from behind.
Sitting back down, their backs resting against the console, Chief inserts Cortana back into his helmet, Phyllos was at his left side leaning against him.
"If we don't make it."
"We'll make it." John voice cuts in.
"It's has been an honor serving with you, John"
"Wake me up if we do make it that is..." Phos having dropped into the conversation, resting her helmet head against John's armored shoulder. Wanting to take a small nap.
After twenty-seven long years of non-stop fighting, the duo for once in a long time of their military career found the single moment where they can rest easy knowing that their mission was complete.
And with that, their vision was blinded by a bright flash of light.
Location: Unknown
Date: Unknown
It was already night time, twins moons shining proudly above the small crescent island with a blanket of glistening stars high above the night sky. Together it was a beautiful sight to behold to anyone watching the night sky.
Unfortunately. The same can't be said to the local inhabitants of the small island. During this time, it was their only time of safety of the day from their enemies.
The Lunarians. Also known as the Moon people. Ironically, they don't seem to appear around the night despite their given name. Hence they only show themselves during the day. All but one wished that wasn't the case for her situation.
Standing at the edge of a jagged cliff, the tip of the hill pointing upwards to the large moon in the sky as if reaching out to it stood a single Gem. Her long blood red hair glistening under the shining moonlight with drops of mercury passively floating around her reflecting the moonshine towards her lighting her stunning beauty for all to see, yet a look of longing was written on her face.
Cinnabar kept staring at the massive planet before her. Her look of longing soon contorts into one of melancholy. Today was special to one to her and her only. It was the anniversary day of the supposed capture of the youngest of them all; Phosphophyllite. Forty years passed since her disappearance from her journey to the ocean. The gems spend several weeks trying to find the turquoise gem but with little to no success. And with a heavy heart, Sensei had to call off the search. Sorrow and regret etched on to his face.
It was hard for everyone since that day, but most moved on with their lives shortly after, continuing their daily duties while some took longer, the worst being Diamond.
Those Forty years felt lengthy to Cinnabar, and she could still remember the day where the peppermint Gem made her a promise as if it was yesterday.
"Then I'll find you a job that's way more fun than night patrols! A job only you can do! For sure! Just you watch! Just don't say that you'll go to the moon!"
Every night, she can still hear that phrase playing in her head like a broken record. The conviction in Phos voice, her tone, and how she said it to her with such passion and concern.
Ever since then, she felt a strange sense of happiness hearing those words from the younger gem. Even now, that weird feeling still remains afresh whenever she thinks of the turquoise gem. But with that came tears of sorrow trails down her cheeks. Tears made from her own liquid poison that flows through her body.
It made confused to why she had such strange feelings towards the gem. And that was a question that remained unanswered for so long. And it all started when Rutile broke the news to her.
(Forty years ago...)
"Rutile." The Crimson Gem greeted the medic. The slight disdain of being visited was apparent in her tone.
She leans against the jagged walls of the cave the two were in. Her eyes studying the doctor's body posture and facial expression. Cinnabar could tell that the gem visiting her was showing signs of apparent distress.
Distressed by what exactly? Those were Cinnabar's thoughts. But right now, she wasn't in the mood for an idle chat. And so, she speaks first.
"Out with it, Rutile," Glaring hard at the doctor. "why are you here? I can tell this is no ordinary health visit."
Rutile hesitated for a moment, not sure how to break the news to her, plus the impassive stare Cinnabar was giving off wasn't helping her one bit. Her mouth opens, struggling to find the right words to say.
"I-I b-bring s-some news regarding recent developments."
"Just get straight to the point Rutile." The crimson gem's cutting her off impassively. Already annoyed. "Do not waste my time with talk." Was her harsh reply.
Rutile didn't shot back anything negative, already knowing Cinnabar's attitude towards other Gems. But she did what Cinnabar asked.
"Phosphophyllite is gone." Was her answer. The doctor looking away from Cinnabar, but with a small glance, she could still see the impassive look on the Crimson Gem's face.
'What?' Cinnabar felt a silent crack in the center of her chest.
"What do you mean?" She asked, her impassive face still there. Yet she felt actual concern and worry for the young gem but didn't show it.
"Sensei regretfully called off the search for them. We can safely say that Phosphophyllite is either swept away by the ocean currents or taken away by the Lunarians. All we manage to find were a pair of shell pieces containing Agate and a small fragment belonging to Phosphophyllite's leg"
Despite hearing the news, Cinnabar's face remained stony, not even showing any reaction or concern for the missing gem. It unnerved Rutile a bit.
Sure Phosphophyllite may have caused a lot of trouble back then, but Rutile genuinely did care for the young gem. It disturbed her how Cinnabar didn't even show a single ounce of emotion or concern as if nothing bad ever happened.
"Is that all?" Was the reply from Cinnabar.
"Yes."
"I see then," Facing away from Rutile "I must prepare for my daily night patrol."
"Very well." Not saying another word, Rutile left the cave leaving the gloomy Gem all alone in the cave again.
A few minutes passed since Rutile left her, her well-crafted mask instantly shatters apart. Her legs lost their strength forcing her down to her knees, eyes wide in shock while hairline cracks start to form around her cheeks followed by mercury leaking out from those cracks and the corner of her eyes.
She felt an emotion she hasn't experience for a long time...sorrow and agonizing sadness within her. She didn't know why she felt this way, she tried to reign in control of her emotions yet she couldn't.
Her mercury tears didn't stop and continued, her right hand covering her mouth as she choked back a sob.
For the first time in a thousand years since then, she cried. She cried out of sorrow. Mourning for the turquoise gem until the full moon rises high in the sky.
She wipes her tears, soon reigning control over her emotions. Cinnabar stares up at the moon one more time.
"Time to get back to work." Muttering to herself softly.
Scaling down the grassy hill. She stares off in a distance, watching the ocean waves crashing into the peaceful shoreline.
Minutes passed with her walking alongside the beach, droplets of mercury floated around her casually, occasionally dripping, creating small puddles of the same onto the soft grass patch behind her.
Like every night, nothing happened. No Lunarians, no Gems spending the night outside. Nothing. Her only companion was the silence around her and the shining moonlight.
Crack!
Cinnabar immediately stopped in place, hearing the distinct crack of the gem shatter. She slowly takes a step back, looking down to find out what she just stepped on. With one step backward, she finds small shattered fragments of a crystal shard. It softly glowed a familiar turquoise in color.
Picking up a piece of the fragments off the sandy ground, studying it with sharp eyes. Cinnabar was a hundred percent sure that this belongs to a Gem.
The question is, who?
That weren't any Gems of the fragment color shading and given its hardness. Only Gem she knew of had the same color as the shard and hardness were either taken away or swept away by the ocean current.
Unless.
Her eyes scan the sandy beach, letting the radiate moonlight help her pinpoint other similar shards within the sandy shores. And to her fortune, she could spot several glistening pieces hidden within the sand. Forming a small trail.
She followed, picking up every shard she finds. The pieces soon increase and size and less in quantity, Cinnabar black overshirt was off and re-purposed as a bag to carry all of the shards she could find hidden in the sand.
Until now.
Cinnabar dropped the makeshift bag onto the soft sand, her eyes widen in shock and surprise. Her mind trying to make sense of her find.
Before her, was the form of a Gem she instantly recognizes.
"Phosphophyllite?" Was the first thing Cinnabar uttered.
On the sand, partially submerged in both seawater and sand was the Gem who went missing for forty years was now laying on her back butt naked. The Gem was in a total mess, her skin powder gone, allowing the crystalline body to gleam turquoise beneath the glistening moonlight.
Her two legs were no stubs, showing the crystal, her forearm was in tatters, pieces lay in shatters, while hairline cracks littered all over her gem-like body.
Cinnabar was mind was trying to figure how the missing Gem got here. Her emotions, on the other hand, went wild. Happiness, relief, concern and that weird feeling flooded her mind.
The night was still young, meaning Rutile and the others should still be awake. Not wasting time, she was already at Phos side, picking up pieces of her body and placing them into her makeshift bag. She paused.
Noticing three beads of silverish minuscule balls made of an unknown material. One had what seems to be a small silver cross, the second being some sort of miniature animal she never saw before and was wearing a scarf, and the last being a pair of what seem to be metal tags with an unknown language and a symbol of a strange bird.
She wondered where Phos ended up but didn't care about it as she had much more important matters to deal with.
Already finish picking up whatever fragments of Phos body she could find, she ties the makeshift bag securing its contents. With that done, she places the bag on top of the turquoise Gem's belly and lifts the unconscious gem bridal style.
The crimson soon sets her destination. The School.
Location: School, Rutile's medical hall
Time: Unknown
"There." Finish shelving a fully replenish jar into the top shelf, the medic looks down from the top of the ladder, seeing another two gems present in the same room. "Euclase. Jade. Everything checks out good. We won't be needing a resupply any time soon."
"Good. Winter is just a few months out, should be enough to last Antarc for the coming winter." The Emerald Gem replied, signaling to Euclase, her partner striking off something important in the clipboard she was holding in her hands.
"What about the powder?"
"Ah yes. We still got more left in storage, so we shouldn't too much on that." Rutile answered the silver-blue Gem, sliding down the ladder and with an audible clack of her heels hitting the concrete floor. Wiping the dust off her lab coat, Rutile turns to Jade and Euclase.
"Anything on the list?" She asks. "Everything here checks out."
"Well," Looking through her clipboard. "Well, we still need to check on how much wood we have left, plus materials for our swords and uniforms, Obsidian notified me that they started production of a new series of swords for us to use."
"I see." Resting her chin on her fingers, a part of her was curious as to what kind of sword the obsidian colored Gem was working on. But the sound of a clipboard hitting the floor snapped out of her line of thought.
Her vision was greeted with the shocked look of Jade and Euclase. That left her confused to their reaction. Seeing them staring her opposite direction, Rutile turns to find out what were the two looking at that cause them to be in such a state.
Her answer left her speechless.
Up ahead was Cinnabar being present in the School grounds which was a rare sight, but the biggest surprise was the Gem in her arms, someone thought to be gone for forty years. A gem presumed captured or lost at sea was now in the hands of Cinnabar.
The doctor quickly recovers, trying to believe what she was seeing and soon finds the voice to ask. "I-It's that?"
"Phosphophyllite. Yes." Was the Crimson Gem answer.
Her face showed no sign of deceit or lies. And the fact of seeing Phos in her current state was enough to send the doctor into a flurry of activity.
"Quickly! Set them on the table." Rutile quickly ordered the crimson gem and in the process snapped Euclase and Jade out of it. Climbing up the ladder, she grabs hold of a jar containing glue.
Cinnabar did just that, setting down the unconscious gem down on the table and placing the makeshift bag on another but a smaller table with all the doctor's tools was present.
Rutile was back, this time with a jar in hand containing a glue to help piece back every fragment into Phos fractured body.
"Where did you find them?" The doctor questions.
"At the beach near the cave." Was Cinnabar's answer to the medic.
Rutile begins her work on Phos, removing the necklaces around the injured's neck with her scissors not caring about their outward appearance. Cinnabar kept quiet, leaning against a random wall while watching the doctor do her work.
At the corner of her vision, she could hear Jade whispered something to Euclase.
"After forty years. Forty years we thought Phosphophyllite was taken from us..."
"And now, their back. Just in front of us."
"What are this things?" Euclase pointed out, holding the three necklaces with her hand. Her face contorts to a curious one. "They're not Lunarian design."
The real question is, where did Phosphophyllite they thought gone for forty years ended up during those years? That question that remained in the room occupants minds throughout the entire night.