Hello, it's L here, I welcome all new readers to this story, thank you for taking time out of your certainly busy schedule. For those who are rereading Emerald's Battle, I'm sure you've noticed something is different; EVERYTHING IS EDITED! That is right my friends, I am going through each and every chapter and polishing the story, of which is very dear to my heart because it was my very first fanfiction. I am working over continuity errors, gramatical mistakes as much as I can, and overall just smoothing over the numerous edges.

As for those of you who are new, welcome, this is the story of Emerald Quartz Sageson. I feel the need to explain a few things about this as to not cause confusion or strife. Emerald's story takes a different path than the actual show, the three most prominent being the addition of Male preset gems, a plot that differs in certain areas, and differing character interatctions.

I'm sorry if this is a little aggrivating, but I implore you to look past that and try to give me a fair chance. Go ahead and read the story, worst case scenario you wasted a couple moment from your life. Best case scenario, you get some reading material.

Either way you look at it, I hope you've had fun.

I'm forced out of my dreams, the following screams of terror sounding loud throughout the cloth enclosure; I have been plagued by nightmares since I arrived on Earth all those years ago. They all end the same exact way, through a grove of my favorite trees I walk, tailing a feline creature with much effort as to not lose it.

It occasionally looks back and speaks in the voice of my mother's, warning me about something. But, every time I got close to it, an ocean would surround me, clogging my lungs. The world would darken, all light was gone, except for a name emblazoned with fire: Lapis.

"Sweety are you ok? Was it the same dream?" My screams must have attracted the attention of my betrothed, Pearl.

I nod my head, "Yeah, the same one..."

She smiles, aware that these nightmares have frightened me many times before, "Well, I've consulted with Garnet about your nightmare and she didn't see anything too bad. So I wouldn't worry about it too much."

I smile to keep up appearances, but Pearl saw through it and embraces me, "Don't worry Emerald, once this war is over we can finally find peace."

I am slow to act, but I do return the gesture, "Right, we've made it this far haven't we. Only a few more months, I'm positive Rose has a plan."

'I can't wait till this war is over.'I think as she leaves.

I should explain everything, shouldn't I?

Alright, so my name is Emerald, I have an actual name but I'd prefer to keep it under wraps; I'll at least say I'm supposedly named after my godfather, never knew him, I got the impression Mother was never really too fond of him and I couldn't exactly ask my father about him for reasons I'll get into later...

Anywho, I am of a humanoid species that draw energy from the crystals we are born with, we are naturally just called Gems by most. As a civilization, we have invaded planets for places to both settle and make into areas that make more of us. These breeding grounds were affectionately dubbed, 'Kindergartens.'

To the average Gem, it was the best and only way to create new gems without making one of the parent gems give up its physical form. But, if one was smart, if they were perceptive, they could see past the so called benefits.

Many of us began to see how the Kindergartens were wrecking each planet. How with every Kindergarten built, the rate at which the planet's flora and fauna died off, my race has committed numerous genocidal acts through our actions.

At first, there were very few rebels, barely enough to call themselves a cell. I won't lie, I had been ignorant of the truth behind the Rebel's actions, but when I was exiled to Earth for shattering an 'innocent,' gem I began to see how infected my people had become.

I had turned for the worst, I had been forced to leave both my sister behind and my entire clan... I had seen better days; there wasn't a single day I didn't have a hangover from the spirits provided to me through the various pubs.

Luckily somebody had found me, noticed my talents, and took pity on me. Her name was Rose Quartz, one of Pink Diamond's pet projects. She had shown me the error of the Earth's Kindergarten.

She needed somebody to sabotage one of the drills, it didn't take much to convince me at the time. It's easy to do things that end lethally when you have nothing left to lose.

I had arrived under the guise of a starlit cloak; I shifted my physical form into the form of a native rodent, assuming the guards wouldn't care about some lowly rat. I then used an upturned rock to sneak into the main plaza of the Kindergarten.

I hear footsteps and run for a crack in the canyon wall. A two-person patrol stops in front of my vision, I hear somebody speak. "I'm telling you Pearl, there is always something using this area to sneak in. I bet it's that mouse too!"

The second voice sounds serious, "Oh yes, the mouse you refer to every rotation. I swear Onyx, you have to be the most paranoid gem in existence, and I've had to serve under Agates!"

I hear a voice again, it must be Onyx, "Ri-i-ight because I'm the one who can't let others thoughts mess with my own."

I wait for them to leave, and for extra assurance, I wait for what I guess to be half an hour.

I reach a very rough-hewn staircase and climb it to the top of the canyon, using this time the form of a native feline, I believe it was referred to as a lynx, so I can have better vision, not too many lights here in the Kindergarten.

I eventually find a group of newly delivered Gem Seeders, 'I'm sure they won't care much about a few dysfunctional Seeders.'

I finish reprogramming the seeder when I feel eyes upon me. "Halt, I command under the Diamond Authority for you to explain yourself." I turn to see the Pearl, but it was the Onyx who had caught me.

I didn't think I was staring at the Pearl, but when she blushed I realized I was lingering... I must've looked like a creep.

She shook her head, "For Meteor's sake..."

She swung her sword and, in one fluid motion, sliced her compatriot into their gem, well that's not something you see every day. The Pearl then bubbled the Onyx, did she have a harvesting room?

She pinched the bridge of her nose,"What are you waiting for you fool, get moving. Rose is waiting outside of the northwest checkpoint!"

I couldn't think of any other response than, "I like your gem... bye!"

My face became heated as I used my power over earth and stone to travel through the canyon, 'I am a such a friggin idiot!'

I emerged miles away from the northwest checkpoint at the designated meeting place, Rose and her Pearl were waiting for me; I avoided all eye contact. Rose clapped me on the back, knocking me a bit off balance, "See Pearl, I told you he was worth it."

I tried to regain my balance but decided to stay on the ground when Pearl said, "I still don't think he's that good. I had to save his photonic skin after all."

From my vantage point in the dirt, I heard Rose laugh, "Oh Pearl, he's just a bit rusty is all."

Back to the present...

I eventually get out of my cot, days ago we had gotten warning of a Homeworld legion marching to our position so if I stayed asleep I still wouldn't have good dreams.

I'm greeted with the smiling faces of my soldiers, I smile and beat my arm on the upper right part of my chest to display our equality. They all enthusiastically respond with thumps in the same areas as I did, though I can tell they are trying hard not to freak out, this war has left scars on all of us.

I meet up with Rose and Pearl and Pearl tells me the plan while Rose stares at me with worry. I feel she too felt that destiny was planning something, this battle will claim many, that much I can tell.

Anyway, the plan was to have my battalion as the guardians of the bay. As most of my warriors were of the Emerald clan, my clan.

Let me explain that too: after Pink Diamond's shattering the war was official, and when my clan had heard there was one of their own, one with much prowess, they had immediately headed here to assist the rebellion.

Anyway the reason for my clan being stationed there was because of our terra-kinetic prowess, the ability to use the earth and stone as a weapon; every Emerald is immediately created with it and is immediately able to master it.

The reason we were needed to guard the bay was in case the Homeworld tried to use it's planetary Navy to gain access to the beach. It made sense, they loyalists couldn't rely on the interstellar Navy. Save for a few colony ships, all interstellar vehicles had been destroyed during the first skirmishes.

After Rose gives a speech to rally the troops I decide I should move my soldiers into our position. Pearl tries to convince me to let her join my troops, seems even she knew this battle would be serious.

I look to Garnet, a fusion of a longtime friend, Sapphire, and her Fusion Partner, Ruby, for support

"Pearl," she grips Pearl's shoulder, "We have to get the troops ready. Come on."

Pearl doesn't leave without a fight, I have to step in and restrain her arms to calm her.

"Pearl I love you. If Mother Moonstone requires us to be apart for this final battle, then let us honor her wish."

I frown and stare at Garnet, "If anything happens to me. Keep Pearl from exacting revenge. Or, Father Meteor forbid, shattering herself."

Garnet grabs Pearl with one hand and solemnly nods, and as they leave I'm left with the realization that in the span of the entire the rebellion, save for the very early battles, this is the only time I will have fought without Pearl by my side…

I gather my legates and send them into their designed areas. All of my soldiers pound their gems, we are all siblings in heart, all siblings till death and even after.

All is still, but that calm is broken by a faint breeze. "I feel destiny has moved its pawn one step closer to its checkmate..." I whisper to myself.

A soldier yells, his words confirm my fears, "Sir, forty-seven thousand transport skiffs have appeared over the horizon!"

"Can you see the commanding officer?" I call back.

"Sir, it's a Lazulite!"

I curse for the first time in my life, the words feeling strange on my tongue. Now I know why my dream always ended with the word Lapis, it has to be her, but that would be impossible. She was... no, I must stay focused on the task at hand

I can only pray Pearl is far enough to not feel my death. As the ships get closer I start to chant the ancient gem war chant, "The foes knock upon our door. Ready to seize our lives."

Voices join in the chorus, "But Father Meteor shines upon the fair. And casts light upon the wicked."

The first boarding party hits the beach, forces move up to fight back. "They may take me down but my gem will burn their evil through the core."

Archer from the skiffs take them out, I can't even afford a second to grieve them, "Soldiers, gather arms, to war! Burn the Loyalist Plague! Do not allow a single one to pass this shore!"

I run to the front of my forces, prepared to lead the rush. As I do I feel as if the Earth is on my side, I soon realize my body is covered in a complete suit of stone, that was a new trick.

The first waves of skiffs land, and coincidentally the first wave of soldiers are destroyed.

The second wave of skiffs shove the first wave out of the way, I look to my archers and see that they aren't using their normal summoned arrows, these ones were designed by human hand and improved by a green flame. In that brief second, I remember the nights me and Pearl stayed up for a solid year designing a fire that never burns out.

A second, that was all the time it took for some lucky Loyalist to pierce my chest. In that moment my life flashes through my eyes; my first date with Pearl, my first training session with Rose, and all the life I had with the crystal gems, even scenes from Homeworld resonate… thought I repressed them.

However, all of these memories make me realize something, I can't die yet.

I watch from the dirt below as my soldiers are being torn apart, I claw at the ground until I manage myself off of it, "Fall back, retreat to the cliff!" They leave me, but all I see are the wave of enemies left. Line after line of the Diamond's minions.

It is at this moment I know I will never see my Lovely Pearl again.

After my soldiers reach the highlands I raise both of my arms, releasing a primal roar from the stress it puts on me to break the ground between the rocky beach and the highlands.

Now it just me and the enemy, one last rush, one last battle, one last time...

I move through their ranks like a hellspawn, shattering without discrimination. But, I can only do so much, for every seventy or so destroyed gems I am generously gifted with twelve wounds.

As I fall down to my knees once more I can see that each soldier is wondering why my physical form has not been destroyed, only if they knew of my power, they would have surely thought to send stronger soldiers.

But, even with my secret power, I can only sustain so many wounds. A circle is cleared around my kneeling figure as everyone notices I am bleeding, "Bloody damn is he a human?"

I chuckle, they aren't too far off, "N-nope, guess again cretins."

Fear begins to cover their face, "He's a Sage!"

"'Bout time y-you realized who you were dealing with." I take a look back and find my soldiers have created a bridge to me, they're too far away to save me though.

I inhale deeply and stand up, a declaration in mind, "You may have won against me you wicked devils, but allow me one final action, I will bury you all into the Earth you so desperately covet!

I hear a voice that has given me so much happiness for my duration amongst the rebellion, "Emerald, no!" Though it's too late, they're too late... I'm already losing vision…

'Ugh, my head... wait... where am I?' I grasp around to feel sand, to feel water.

I'm alive?

I'm alive!

It takes several moments of rejoice before I notice a kid next to me. He looks to be around twelve years of age and a human at best. But he feels very familiar.

I kneel by him and laugh, "Oh did I scare you, I am really sorry. My name is Emerald. I was and still am the Senior Advisor to Rose Quartz, leader of the Crystal Gem Rebellion! Can you point me to the Beached Temple?"

He begins to say something but is immediately interrupted by a voice, one that makes my heart skip a beat, "Steven who is that?"

So the boy's name is Steven, "He calls himself Emerald! He says he knew Mom, Pearl do you know him?!"

I freeze... did he say Pearl?

I turn to find I'm already at the Temple, but how?

The question is forgotten when my eyes stop upon a lone figure standing on top of an outcrop of some house, I almost want to cry, "Pearl, my great treasure, is that really you?"

She jumps and lands in front of me, she stretches a hand out as if to touch me but quickly retracts it certainly believing that if she touched me she would find me to be an illusion "Is it really you Emerald?"

I smirk, "Well, is there some other Emerald you had to save from being discovered in a Seeder Sabotage?"

She covers her mouth, but I can still see the smile through her finger, "It is you... it really is!"

I grab and pull her into a hug, "I'm home..."

She shook her head, "Not yet you're not, come on Steven, Emerald and I have a lot to catch up on."