The day started out like any other on this planet. The kindergarten gems could be heard even over the battlefields, crying out into existence. I could not believe that we had been here for so long, fighting for this little piece of rock. Barely significant, but significant to her. She is the only reason I was still there, sacrificing myself for her time and time again. I needed her to be okay. She was my light, my star. My Rose.

As I saw the sun rising over the horizon, I started walking inside the tent that I had been guarding, as another gem, (Garnet I think her name was?) was walking towards the tent to start her shift. Rose was entertaining human allies with tales of her interstellar journeys, and I do not think I have ever heard someone sound so fascinated about old gem tech. Yet again, these humans were very primitive. A big human with long hair on his face and a crown constructed of gold was chuckling at something that Rose had just muttered about another human sitting at the end of the table.

"Rose Quartz, I do believe you are the most magnificent woman I have ever met!" he exclaimed. Possibly the biggest understatement of the century. He was getting too close to her, and I could tell that she was uncomfortable. I knew that the man had a lot of wine last night, which incapacitated humans for some odd reason.

"Why, thank you!" said Rose, politely standing up and backing away from the table. "But I must be leaving now because… uh…" She locked eyes with me. "I must strategize with my loyal confidant Pearl!" She took my arm and quickly walked outside of the tent, practically dragging me with her. She nodded towards the gem guarding the entrance, and the gem nodded back. We walked towards a tree near the top of the hill we were residing in. Rose sat down, her back against the tree.

"Sorry about that, Pearl. That man was getting too personal for my liking."

"Not a problem at all. I completely understand."

"Humans are so funny, though. Just a few sips of fermented grapes and they act completely ridiculous. It's so cute!"

"Mmhm." I sat down next to her, burying my head in my knees.

She looked out into the distance. We could still hear cries from the kindergarten. "They seem to be stronger every time a new batch comes out." she said.

"I know. They're too big to beat with brute force. But what we have, to put it in human terms, is brains."

"It worries me to be this far away from the temple. What if it gets ambushed?"

"It won't. We left back hundreds of Crystal Gems to protect it."

"I know… but what if it isn't enough? What if they die?"

"They won't, Rose. Have faith, your plans always work in the end."

"But what if this one doesn't, Pearl? We've been losing nearly every battle lately. I can't stand death being on my hands, on either side of this battle!"

Rose had insisted on bubbling all of the gems that we had fought instead of smashing them like Homeworld did to us. She blathered on about maintaining a moral code and being "higher" than homeworld standards. The thing about me is, I can't see that point of view. Either side, I was still programmed to fight like a Homeworld gem. Which meant to kill, and kill many. No matter how many times I tried to see her point of view, it never worked.

I had to kill Homeworld Gems.