"Rose Quartz is undeniably an incredible, masterful, and intelligent leader. Her strategies are brilliant and her fighting is of a caliber most of us will never reach. But she is only one Gem and she is not our mother. She cannot hold our hands through the entirety of this war. While she fights on one front the rest of us have to operate just as efficiently, carefully, and strategically across all others. Else we risk everything we stand for and everyone who chose to stand with us."
—General Tourmaline addressing the commanding generals of the Crystal Gems
Prologue
"Where are our reinforcements? They should be here by now!"
"It doesn't matter! We cannot lose this sector!"
Pyrite raised her gladius so that she stopped an ax from being brought down and slicing her in two. The large, purple Homeworld Gem snarled at her opponent as she launched another vicious strike. Pyrite parried with her gladius. She lunged forward to hit her attacker but the Gem quickly evaded. A fist made contact with Pyrite's jaw, staggering her, and causing her to stumble back a few steps.
A wave of panic overwhelmed the Gem. Within the brief seconds of her getting hit and recovering so many things could happen. A blade could be shoved through her body and her gem crushed. She could be knocked unconscious and taken prisoner, only to be publically executed later for rebelling.
Pyrite regained her footing and prepared to defend against her attacker's next strike. It never came. A brown gem with short hair pierced through the Homeworld Gem with her scimitar causing her to explode into dust and a purple gem to fall into the thick mud.
"Pyrite!" Axinite ran over to meet her friend. "Where's Commander Aventurine?"
"No idea!" Pyrite pushed Axinite to the side so that she could block another Homeworld Gem. The entire Cerulean Brigade was in disarray at the moment. Their lines had been broken, most commanding officers could not organize their soldiers, and thousands of Homeworld and Crystal Gems were mixed together; fighting for survival.
The two small Gems stayed together, hoping that it would help them get out of this alive. They could not get two steps before having to fight another enemy. It was a struggle having to do so. These Homeworld Gems were different than any who they fought before. They had no fear like the others and did not hesitate to shred lash out at their target without remorse.
Even though it was two against one, Pyrite and Axinite were having trouble against one Gem. The two stood on opposite sides of the Amethyst with their weapons ready. Their opponent had two cutlasses in hand and wore black armor like all the other Homeworld Gems around her. The Crystal Gems attacked at the same time. Both of them were knocked away and the Homeworld Gem turned onto Pyrite first.
The Crystal Gem parried over and over and over again while she backed away. Axinite lunged forward with her sword but did not hit her target. The Homeworld sidestepped and struck at Axinite, grazing her arm. Her gauntlet negated any harm but was torn apart in the process.
With the Homeworld Gem focused on Axinite, Pyrite took the opportunity to land a blow. She charged forward but did not get the opportunity. The enemy Gem spun and clashed blades with Pyrite. It sliced at her with its second sword, catching the Crystal Gem in the side.
Pyrite's right hand clutched her side as she stumbled backwards. The ruthless Amethyst ran at her weakened prey that raised her sword in defense. The might of the Amethyst's attacks rendered her actions useless. Another blow, this time across Pyrite's right arm.
Axinite thrusted her sword at the Homeworld Gem so that she turned away from Pyrite. A vain attempt as Axinite could not possibly hold her own. The two danced about, slicing at each other but never hitting. Axinite was small and agile on her feet. Her opponent was taller yet just as quick.
The small Crystal Gem made another attempt to catch her opponent. She missed and the Gem slammed both her swords down onto the blade of the scimitar. Its blade snapped under the power. Axinite was defenseless. Pyrite screamed as the Homeworld Gem dug both her swords into Axinite's body.
A round gemstone fell to the ground. Pyrite clamored to her feet while pulling her gladius from her gem once more. Her endeavor to save her friend and claim her gem was useless. The Homeworld Gem had not been touched and at this point was toying with her next victim.
Streams of tears ran down Pyrite's face as she struck out again and again. Every attack was easily blocked. The Homeworld warrior did not even need to move from where it stood. The frail Pyrite could feel her body giving up on her. The damage she sustained was taking its toll. Within a moment or two she would retreat back into the gem on her torso to recover. If that happened she would surely perish from existence at the hands of the enemy.
One last strive was all that could be mustered. Pyrite raised her gladius. Still clutching her side she charged ahead. Through some miracle or perhaps just luck her sword cut through the Homeworld Gem's body. Relief, joy, and temporary bliss washed over the young Crystal Gem. Then, nothing.
Reality set in as she realized that she was not the one to slay the monster. In front of Pyrite stood a Gem with long hair that seemed to be made of red and orange flames. Her eyes shimmered like embers in the night and stared into Pyrite's.
Pyrite fell to her knees. Not a sound came from her and not a thought rested in her mind. She merely looked up at the woman before her in all her magnificence and horror.
The woman offered one of her many hands to Pyrite who hesitantly took it. She lifted Pyrite onto her feet and looked around her. Multiple Homeworld Gems circled them. The woman picked Axinite's gem from the mud and laid it in Pyrite's hands. She kept the girl behind her as she readied herself to fight.
A massive rectangular buster blade emerged from the seemingly illuminate orange gem that ran the length of the woman's spine. She lifted it with ease and let the tip of the blade sink slightly into the ground. The Homeworld Gems rushed the lone Crystal Gem who did not show any sign of worry. She grasped the hilt of her monstrous sword with two of her four hands and swept it in front of her.
Two of the enemy Amethysts raised their swords to protect themselves but the titanic blade slid through their defenses and gems with ease. One of the Gems thought she could hit the Fusion as her back was turned but she recovered from her swing with incredible speed. The Amethyst leaped into the air only to be stricken from existence. The Fusion was quick with her weapon despite its weight. Her power and dexterity were a godlike combination.
Not one of the Homeworld Gems touched the Gem Fusion. Her speed was unmatchable and her strength unfathomable. Dozens of Homeworld Gems challenged the Crystal Gem. Dozens now ceased to be.
Pyrite cradled Axinite's gem in her hands as she watched the Fusion elegantly dance about the battlefield. She was amazed by all that she saw. Every move, every action, all of it seemed so rehearsed and coordinated. Like she had done this all before. Seeing her like this was a wondrous thing… it was also horrifying. The Gems destroyed by the Fusion were not just broken into shards or incapacitated. Their gems were turned to dust.
The sounds of explosions and a sudden uproar of commotion gained Pyrite's attention. Around her the Homeworld Gems were scrambling to handle new Gem Fusions all across the battlefield. There were dozens of these much more powerful Gems and more were on their way. From over the horizon a light blue banner raced towards the battle with an army of Crystal Gems behind it.
The Homeworld Gems did their best to reform their lines but could not correctly do so with the Fusions still wreaking havoc from within. Soon this new force— General Tourmaline's brigade collided with the Homeworld Gems. Tourmaline's soldiers crushed their enemies with extreme proficiency and ease. Without their ranks, the Homeworld Gems could not think to stand against such a powerful force.
After the battle Pyrite walked about the desolated field. Weapons, shields, and armor were strewn about. Tourmaline's brigade was gathering up the enemy survivors who had surrendered. Some were still attempting to fight but to no avail. Any that dared to attack one of the Gem Fusions was immediately shattered.
Not many of the Gems from Pyrite's brigade remained. It was heartbreaking how many there were left. At the start of the battle there were three-thousand Crystal Gems in the Fortitude Brigade. So far they had only counted less than a tenth of that number.
The unnamed Gem Fusion was not far from Pyrite. She kept her weapon at her side as she stood silently in what was now a mass grave. During the battle this Fusion enticed every bit of Pyrite's attention. The way she moved and fought was like a polished performance by that of a master. Every step, every swing of her sword, every attack was fluid and graceful and just simply stunning.
This Fusion did not move for a long time. Pyrite worried about her but did not dare approach. No one checked on her. Everyone went about their business without a single glance in her direction. Pyrite clung to Axinite's gem as she shakily inched toward her. The small, golden Gem reached out her hand.
The large warrior spun on her heel and passed Pyrite, whispering under her breath, "… It had to be done…"