Original Idea by: Scraps
Collaboration work with: DeityDeviantWarrior
Characters Created by: Rebecca Sugar
Chapter 1: Kings of Three
[*]
Gem Colony Insidiae, prison sector, seven months later
[*]
The hallways of the sector were quiet as they always were, with the occasional sound of strange aliens and the Agates that hovered past the cells. In one particular cell, a single cell identified as Cell # 102, there were two figures sitting inside, wearing blue jumpsuits and silver bracelets on their arms. The one sitting in the corner was known as Connie Maheswaran, who was once a bright young student with a family and a fun loving boyfriend, now a Crystal Gem, stranded within a confined metal box alongside the one who ruined her life. The aforementioned figure that was meditating in the center of the cell was a Gemian known as Master Diamond, who at one point tried to claim the Universe for his own, or so he thought. As Diamond turned to look at Connie, the Gem glared back at him, reminded of the fact that this Gem tore away her family, her friends, her home and her future with a clench of his fist and a glare in his eye. Diamond then turned back and saw his reflection in the mirror before him, the mirror was cracked, showing several Diamonds in the broken shards. The Old Kind then sighed as he looked at his hands, finally breaking the silence between the two with two simple words.
"I'm sorry." Diamond muttered as he clenched his fists.
"What?" Connie asked in confusion as she looked up to the Gemian before her.
"It is my fault that you are here, that you have been sent through all of this. If I hadn't..." Diamond was about to continue, but he felt his voice fade away, unable to talk about what he had done. It..it doesn't matter. I'll get us both out of here. I promised you that."
"Had what?" Connie asked as she sat up, her attention was aroused by what Diamond had said.
"I'm Sorry?" Diamond asked as he turned to her.
"You had what?" The Young Gem asked again as she sat up and stood in front of Diamond, sitting down before him. "What did you do?"
"I told you Connie, it does not matter right now." Diamond said as he looked away from the Gem before her, only to feel a pair of hand grab his head and direct them into the glaring eyes of his cellmate.
"Yes it does matter! Right now it matters!" Connie said with a raised tone as he clenched Diamond's head. "Because right now I'm sitting in a small box with the one being the the Universe that took everything away from me, and to top it all off, he is trying to save me. Do you think it would be fair to tell me how you fucked everything up?"
"Y-es...but-" Diamond tried to replie, but he couldn't. The shame was too much. He then saw the look in Connie's eyes as they became soft and passive. He then felt the Gem remove her hands from his head and clutch her arms as she looked to the floor."
"Diamond...I know that Rose trusted you...and loved you...no matter what you did but...I need to know *what* you did." Connie pleaded as she sighed. "After everything that has happened to me...to Steven and the Gems...to Earth, could you at least give me the kindness of knowing why?"
Diamond sighed as he rubbed his brow. He knew that this story would probably lead to his demise by the Gem, or make her hate him more, but she was right, she deserved to know how this all started.
"Are...are you sure?" Diamond said as he sat up and looked towards the Gem before him. "It is a very long story."
"As far as I'm concerned, we have all the time in the Universe" Connie replied as she sat up against the wall and pulled out a bone from her pocket and began to sharpen it with a stray rock.
"As you wish..." Diamond sighed as he began to tell the story of the Gemians and their downfall.
The Beginning, time unknown
{*}
In the beginning, thither was only darkness, pure unending darkness. One could not see their left from the right as there was not a single shred of light. All of the beings within this existence, both Gods and mortals, men and beast, were cloaked in the darkness and served it without question or objection, for they were under the control of the darkness.
All of this was a result of the Gemia known as Obsidian, the Leviathan of Order. Every day, the Serpent sat upon a throne of salt and ash, gazing upon his perfect universe with a molten red eye that was filled with satisfaction and content before he fell asleep.
"Mine reach is eternal and mine rule is infinite." Obsidian said to himself with glee. "Nay being upon this existence will take what is mine. f'r with me, all is calm and quiet, as it shouldst be."
His rule lasted for eons upon eons, for no creature in the universe, either god, mortal, or anything in between, could ever challenge the Gemia. That was…until one fateful day.
As he awoke from a peaceful slumber, the Leviathan noticed the smallest light in the farthest reach of his universe. The light was as small as the smallest grain of sand and no brighter than candlelight, but the sight angered the Gemia.
"Who dares disturb mine rule?" Obsidian hissed as he rose up from his throne. "Who in the name of the elders endue chaos into this universe?"
Obsidian hated the light and wanted to destroy it. So he traveled towards the light, determined to return everything to normal, as they should be.
The journey took several eons, but eventually Obsidian reached the light. As he approached the light however, it began to grow larger and brighter. Soon, the light was a bright as the whitest sun and was a large as Obsidian himself, forming into a perfect being, a Gemia, composed from both sides of conception and chaos. This Gemia the smiled brightly as she approached her visitor.
"Hello brother, I am known as Diaspore, I am a Gemia much like thou. I wilt ask thou to cease this unending darkness and allow mine light to flourish f'r the creatures of thy universe. If thou wast to look behind me, I hast already begin to plant seeds of light in thy kingdom. Thus, both light and shadow may reside in balance. Tf thou refuse however, then f'r the ranker good of the universe, I will be forc'd to overthrow thou."
Obsidian was furious, it was one thing to spoil his darkness, but to be ordered around by a little Gemia, that was unacceptable. In that instant, the Leviathan raised his hand and summoned a sickle, a blade of silver with a hilt of white, and lunged at Diaspore.
"Thou dare endue light to mine lair. . . Thou wilt die!"
In the time that followed, there was an incredible battle between the two Gemia, a war of light and darkness, chaos and order. This fight lasted for eons upon eons, the fallout resulting in the creation of countless galaxies and worlds. But alas, neither side could find a victor. That was…until one day.
Eventually, the stalemate began to fall into the favor of Diaspore, for light always destroyed darkness. As Obsidian struck Diaspore with his sickle, the Gemia struck back, and with a powerful spell was able to defeat her brother and seal him away inside a void of existence. However, this battle was not without price, for Diaspore was fatally wounded by Obsidian's attack, and knew her own end was near.
"I cannot allow this universe to continue without one to protect and guide it. Yet mine life hath been cut short by mine brother. I wot what I wilt doth."
In the next three years, Diaspore slowly began to extract portions of her essence and transfer them into exemplars known as Gemians. The process was long and excruciating, but in the end, she was able to create three exemplars of her being.
In the first year, Diaspore extracted all of her strength and power, forming it into her first born. He was known as Diamond, The Old King, and he was the exemplar of fear.
In the second year, Diaspore extracted all of her wisdom and knowledge, forming it into her second born. They were known as Topaz, The Taskmaster, and they were the exemplar of inspiration.
In the final year of her life, Diaspore extracted all of her emotion and compassion, and formed it into her last born. She was known as Rose Quartz, The Lion, and she was the exemplar of motivation.
As the three children looked to their Crystal Mother, they watched as the last fragments of her life faded before them. The three exemplars wept for their mother as her physical form began to disappear before them, begging her to stay.
"Doth not weep f'r me mine precious children, f'r I will always be part of thou and be by thy side until the end. I only ask f'r thou to tend to this Universe and keep the ranker good in mind. Care f'r this universe, and all within as thou would f'r each other. F'r with mine death, I give upon them a free life. See to it that mine gift is well spent. Reliquum silentium est."
With that, the Crystal Mother's body formed into a bright light and burst into trillions upon trillions of lights, scattering across the vast Universe. Leaving only the three Gemians behind.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Topaz asked their siblings. "
"We do what Gemia had tasked us with." Diamond replied as he looked to the stars above. "We do what she made us for, to finish what she started."
With that, Diamond summoned a portal and pointed to it.
"Now come along my siblings, we have a Universe to maintain."
Rose and Topaz looked to each other as they entered the portal. As Diamond looked back to the stars, he sighed as he entered the portal. As it closed behind them, the first chapter of their story had just begin, and with it, the first chapter of many stories to come.
{*}
Unknown planet, several billion years later
{*}
Sand, all there was sand and more sand as far as the eye could see. If the scorching sunlight wasn't helpful, then the harsh winds and sandstorms did not add any comfort. However, despite the obvious message that wandering in this sandy hell was a fool's errand, three beings were already traveling through the dunes on foot, each wearing a crystal-like armor. The figure at the front of the line was wearing a golden crystal armor. They had blond hair in a ponytail, olive-colored skin, black eyes, and a gold colored Gem on their left shoulder. This was Topaz, The Taskmaster.
The figure in the center was the tallest of the trio and was wearing a silver metallic crystal armor. He had long grey hair and a long beard, white skin, silver eyes, and a silver colored Gem on his right shoulder. This was Diamond, The Old King.
Finally, the figure that was trailing behind the other two was wearing a pink colored crystal armor and had short curly pink hair, light pink skin, dark pink eyes, and a pink colored Gem on her stomach. This was Rose Quartz, The Lion.
As the three continued to march through the sandy dunes of the planet, Rose began to trail behind, gasping in exhaustion as she fell face first into the sand beneath her, letting out a large groan as she laid in the sandy ground. Diamond and Topaz looked back and saw this, the former of the two approached Rose and picked her off the ground. As he planted the Pink Gemian onto her feet, Rose looked to Diamond and spat out a mouthful of sand.
"Rose, what in the name of Gemia are you doing?" Diamond asked his sister with an exhausted tone. "You are wasting time
"I'm tired Dimey." Rose groaned as she leaned on Diamond. "You said that we would get there by now."
"I never said that." Diamond said sternly. "Besides, a true Gemian would not complain about something so pointless."
"The point is I don't want to walk anymore." Rose whined as she raised her arms to Diamond. "Can you carry me?"
"No…" Diamond replied coldly as he began to walk towards Topaz.
"Please Dimey?" Rose whined.
"No." Diamond replied again.
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"Pl-e-e-e-e-ze!" Rose cried.
"Ask me again, and you will regret it!" Diamond yelled as he turned to Rose. "I am not carrying you and that's final!"
{*}
Diamond grumbled as he felt the weight of Rose upon his back. Topaz looked back to the two and could not help but stifle a laugh.
"Keep yourself silent Topaz." Diamond growled to his sibling. "Unless it regards the shame Rose brings upon us for her laziness."
"Well…you… shame us for being such a…a…aut obrimopatrês asinam!" Rose shouted at Diamond, causing the Gemian to drop his sister into the sandy ground.
"Ow! What was that for?" Rose said as she rubbed her head.
"Where did you learn such language?" Diamond said with a stern tone. "A true Gemian refrains from using such words."
"But Topaz told me that you always say things like that when you get angry." Rose said defensively. "Does that mean that you're not a "true Gemian"?"
Diamond's face turned red as Rose blew a raspberry at her brother, which resulted in the Gemian to begin chasing sister around the dune, all the while shouting a variety of Gemian obscenities. As Topaz watched Rose trip Diamond into the sand, they placed their hand over their eyes. Remembering that despite being the middle child of the three, they were obviously the most mature of them.
"Gemia ... da mihi fortitudinem." Topaz said to themselves. "Please let us reach our location soon."
{*}
Unknown planet, Nephrolith's Cave, several hours later
{*}
It took hours, but eventually the three Gemians reached a giant cave sticking out from the sand. As they approached it, they could hear a rumbling from inside, it sounded like an earthquake and it vibrated the ground like one, but the putrid fumes that emerged from the cave and gusts of stagnant air that shot from the cave indicated that it was more on the line of…snoring.
"It's in here." Topaz explained as they placed a hand on their left temple, summoning a V-shaped visor over their face. "He has it in captivity I believe."
Diamond Nodded and summoned his helmet. "So what's the plan for attack?"
Topaz knelt onto the ground and began to draw a picture of the cave, they then picked up three rocks and placed them in front of the cave, followed by a larger rock between the cave and the smaller rocks.
"Well, given that we cannot reason with him, I suppose we could first lure him into the open, then Rose could distract him while I attack from behind. Meanwhile, you go onto the cave and acquire the Gem."
"Clever sibling…" Diamond said as he stroked his beard. "But how will we acquire his attention so easily? If I recall, this abomination is quite a glutton and will easily ignore us unless we enrage it."
"Well, I suppose one of us could return to the temple and bring back some food." Topaz suggested. "Or we could use another Gem as bait. What do you think Rose...Rose?"
Topaz and Diamond looked around and saw Rose before the cave. They then noticed that she had her shield and sword in her hands. She then smiled widely as she clanged them together. As she did, there was a loud grumbling from inside the Cave.
"Deposiut!" Topaz sputtered as they and Diamond looked to Rose with an expression of shock.
"COME ON OUT QUIS PODEX!" Rose yelled at the top of her lungs as she wildly clanged her weapons together like pots and pans. "We're the Gemains, and we're here to kill you!"
Diamond and Topaz rushed over to Rose and clasped her mouth with their hands, the two of them shushed her as they dragged her around to the side of the cave.
"You morionem! How can you be so simple?" Diamond hissed softly. "A true Gemian uses tactics instead of brute strength."
"So says the "Exemplar of Strength!"" Rose rebutted quietly. "I didn't see any tactics back on that water planet a few centuries back."
"That doesn't matter!" Diamond growled. "When I say don't draw attention that means that you will NOT DRAW ATTENTION!"
"You can't tell me what to do!" Rose objected as she shoved Diamond. "You may be called King, but you are not my master."
"Perhaps I should be." Diamond said as he glared into the rebellious Gemian before him. "You could use some discipline in your life."
"If you say so "Master Diamond!"" Rose replied with a mocking bow. "Like that'll stick."
"Be quiet back there!" Topaz commanded under their breath.
Suddenly the three could feel the ground begin to thud loudly, as they heard the sound of thundering footsteps echo from the Cave. The three Gems then watched in shock as a giant emerged from the mouth of the cave. The titan had dark-grey skin and a single eye on his head. He also had a light yellow stone over his crotch. As he let out a bellowing yawn and stretched his limbs. He looked around his surrounding and grumbled some more.
"What is that thing?" Rose said with awe.
"Nephrolith…" Diamond replied as he summoned his mace.
"OKAY, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Nephrolith groaned loudly. "IF YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH INTERRUPTING MY NAP, THEN YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMING! WHEN I FIND YOU, I'LL GRIND YOU INTO PASTE!"
As the Gems peeked from the side of the cave as the giant cyclops stomped around, looking for the creature who disturbed him.
"Fantastic strategy Rose." Diamond said sarcastically. "Now what is the next step of your "master plan"?"
Diamond and Topaz then noticed the pink Gemian rushing towards Nephrolith with sword and shield in hand.
"Hey!" Rose shouted to the titan "Over here!"
Diamond and Topaz watched this spectacle with a combined look of shock and exhaustion.
"Rose aut decipietur!" Topaz shouted as they chased after Rose. "You will become the death of me."
"Get in line." Diamond added as he followed his sibling.
Nephrolith heard small screaming and turned around to see a tiny pink speck before his feet, followed by a yellow and grey speck. He then crouched down to get a closer look and noticed who the specks were.
"WELL I'LL BE! IF IT ISN'T YOU GEM PEOPLE." Nephrolith said with a bellowing laugh. "IF I KNEW YOU'RE COMING, I WOULD'VE TIDIED UP MY HOME A BIT."
"Nephrolith, you have something that belongs to us!" Topaz shouted at the titanic beast before them. "Surrender the Gem and you will live a long life."
"You know he's not going to listen, right?." Diamond whispered to Topaz. "His kind thrive on the despair of their victims. The only way this will end well is with his fat carcass buried in the sand."
"I know that." Topaz whispered back. "But for once I would like to come to a planet and leave without causing bloodshed. Is that too much to ask for?"
"I agree with Dimey!" Rose added as she brandished her sword. "It's chop-chop time!"
"Rose wait-!" Topaz shouted to Rose, but it was no use for the Lion lunged at the titan, only for him to effortlessly trap her in his hand, and then drop her into his mouth. Diamond sighed as he rubbed his face with his hand. As he looked to Topaz, the Taskmaster pointed to the approaching Nephrolith.
"Seriously?" Diamond asked. "I think she's done for if you ask me."
"Diamond…" Topaz said with a raised eyebrow. "She is our sister."
"And…she was just eaten." Diamond added. "If anything she deserved it."
"Diamond." Topaz chided. "Come on…"
"Alright." Diamond said as he began to walk away. "I'll just get the Gem while you-"
"Diamond!" Topaz shouted at their brother.
"Alright fine!" Diamond shouted back as he summoned his mace and rushed towards Nephrolith. As he began to reach for him, the Old King. Placed a hand towards the ground.
"Chalcos, protegendum nos!"
As soon as he did, a giant snake emerged from the ground, it was silver in color and had two sets of eyes and three sets of fangs. Chalcos quickly wrapped around Nephrolith, holding him in place as Diamond stood on Chalcos's head.
"I am supposed to be The Old King, not The Old Caretaker…" Diamond muttered to himself. "…but who is it to clean up Rose's messes? Not Topaz of course."
Chalcos then bit into Nephrolith's shoulder, causing the giant to wail in pain and allow Diamond to jump into Nephrolith's mouth.
As Topaz walked towards the cave, they turned at the sound of Nephrolith's groans of pain. They then sighed in disappointment.
"One day without violence, that's all I ask for." Topaz sighed as they entered the cave. "It would be a nice change of pace."
Nephrolith roared loudly as he felt his stomach burn with pain. Suddenly, he felt the wall of his gut begin to hurt. He tried to move, but Chalcos was too strong for the giant as he roared in pain. Finally, he watched as the center of his belly began to bulge outward with a white light. Nephrolith howled in pain as Diamond shot out of the cyclops's' gut. Holding Rose in his hands as he landed onto the sandy ground beneath him, with a trail of guts and blood splattering behind him.
"OHHHHH! YOU LITTLE SHITS!" Nephrolith howled at Diamond. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT! YOU'LL SEE! I'LL END YOU!"
"May you're next life be a more generous one monster." Diamond said as he turned to Nephrolith and extended his hand towards him in a clenched fashion.
"Chalcos…" Diamond said to his serpent with a warm tone. "…prandium."
Chalcos made a low growl as he wrapped tightly around Nephrolith, pulling he titan into the sand beneath the two. As the white snake tightened his grip, he began to slowly crush his prey's limbs and body. Nephrolith began to make a high pitched yapping as he reached upward, looking to Diamond and letting out a low pitched groan before the pressure popped his eye out of his skull and crushed his head like a tin can. Eventually the titan was swallowed into the sand beneath, leaving a large bloody patch in his wake. Diamond sighed as he sat next to Rose, who awoke and looked around before she looked to Diamond.
"Was I eaten again?" Rose said as she sat up and wiped chunks of Nephrolith off her armor.
"Yes, and it was because you became overzealous and cocky." Diamond replied in an annoyed tone. "Leaving me to rescue you and send another creature to the gullet of Chalcos…again."
"Hey! I could've escaped!" Rose objected as she lightly bopped Diamond on the arm. "If you only gave me a chance."
"We have…" Diamond explained as he stood up and helped Rose up. "But each time was the same: We came to a planet, you went in swords drawn, and you were either eaten, captured, or imprisoned. Then it was up for me or Topaz to rescue you. A true Gemian can at least go five minutes without the need to be rescued."
"Well…one day, I'll be the one who'll save you." Rose said triumphantly to Diamond, stars flashing in her eyes. "You'll see, someday I'll be you're hero."
"I know you will." Diamond scoffed with a smile as he ruffled Rose's hair. The two Gemians then walked over to Nephrolith's cave to see Topaz standing before it.
"Is there a Gem?" Diamond asked his sibling as he approached them.
"Yes…" Topaz replied with a sigh. "…but it's obviously too stubborn. It refuses to leave."
"And I supposed the plan is to leave *her* here?" Diamond said with an irritated tone as he pointed to the ground. "Did you even try to talk to *her*?"
Topaz scowled as they crossed their arms in response. "If *it* refuses to cooperate, that is not my problem. We can either leave it to die, or take its Gem. It's your call."
"Let me talk to *her*." Diamond said to Topaz as he stood in front of the taskmaster. "You have a habit of forgetting that Gems like her are like us. They may have no sense of purpose, but they are living beings."
Diamond shoved Topaz aside as he walked into the cave, stopping halfway and looking back to Topaz and Rose.
"By the way, did she give you a name?" Diamond shouted to his sibling.
"Its Gem is Ruby!" Topaz shouted back. "So that should be its title."
Diamond grumbled as he entered the cave. One of the things he found annoying about Topaz was their disregard for Gem life, viewing Gems as simple assets and tools for the Gemians instead of the living beings they are. As he ventured deeper into the cave, he felt something hit him on the head. As he looked up, a small stone struck him in the eye.
"OW! Ad pedicabo?" Diamond shouted as he covered his eye with his hand. He looked around and saw a small figure on a large rock before him. As he approached it, he saw another stone fly from the rock towards him. This time though, he caught the stone and tossed it back, hitting the figure on the head and causing her to fall off the rock. As she landed on the ground, Diamond approached her as she looked to him. She was tiny in size and had red skin and black square shaped hair. As she looked up and saw Diamond, She froze like a deer in headlights. Diamond bent down to her.
"I'm sorry about that. Are you alright?" Diamond said to the small Gem as he extended his hand to her. "I hope I didn't hurt your Gem."
"Stay away from me!" Ruby shouted as she swatted Diamond's hand away, the Old King backed away with his hands raised as Ruby tried to crawl away from him, but she found herself trapped by the rock and the Grey haired man behind her. As she turned to him, she braced herself against the wall and started to hyperventilate. "I…I will….Ki…Kill…"
"Easy now parvulum, easy. Just relax." Diamond said as he slowly summoned his mace and placed it on the ground. "I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Diamond, and I just want to talk to you."
"I…don't wanna…" Ruby shouted between breaths as she grabbed her head and curled up on the floor, rocking herself back and forth. "I'm… I can't find them…I…have…to…"
"Are you referring to your sisters?" Diamond asked the little Gem, who immediately glared at the Old King and stormed up towards him.
"Where are they? Did you hurt them?" Ruby shouted at Diamond while aiming her fists towards him. "What have you done to them?"
"Easy there! They're alright." Diamond raised his hands up in defense. "In fact, it was thanks to them that my siblings and I were able to find you in the first place."
"Where are my comrads?" Ruby asked the Gemian before her as she approached him. "I have to go back!"
"I will take you back to our temple." Diamond explained with a smile as he extended his hand again to her. "If you come with me, then you will find them there. I promise."
Ruby looked to Diamond and then to his hand, as she began to reach for it, she quickly retracted her hand and backed away.
"How do I know this isn't a trick, like what that giant did?" Ruby asked hesitantly. "How do I know you're not just lying to me?"
Diamond smiled as he stood straight, taking his hands and placing them together before him. He then reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small red band and showed it to Ruby
"That's mine!" Ruby exclaimed as she ran up to Diamond and snatched the band, looking at it with tearful eyes. "You found them! You really found them!"
"Of course we did." Diamond replied with a smile as he patted the red Gem on the head. "I can see now that you three deserve to be together. Now come along little Ruby, we have a long way to go."
"Go?" Ruby asked as she clung to Diamond's hand. "Where are we going?"
Diamond looked to the little Gem and smiled.
"Why…home of course."
{*}
Gemian Temple, several hours later
{*}
Diamond arrived at the temple before Rose and Topaz did, carrying the little Gem known as Ruby on his shoulders.
"Sorry about attacking you earlier." Ruby said with a small blush. "I was just…you know…"
"Don't worry about it little one." Diamond said with a smile. "I was inside the stomach of a giant moments before I found you, a small rock to the head is nothing compared to that."
"Ruby!" a pair of voices shouted before them as there stood two gems that looked exactly like Ruby, save for their Gems in different locations.
"Sisters!" Ruby shouted as she jumped off Diamond's shoulders and embraced her long lost companions. "I never thought I'd see you again!
"It's okay now Ruby! We'll never leave your side ever again!" One of the Ruby's said as she then looked to Diamond. "Thank you Diamond! Thank you so much!"
"There's no need to thank me." Diamond said with a smile. "Now I'm sure you two have some…er…"catching up" to do. I'll let you be. Providendum est!"
As Diamond watched the three Gems walked away, talking and laughing, he felt a warmth in his heart. This feeling quickly passed as Topaz appeared next to him, followed by Rose.
"We travelled thousands of miles to rescue a simple rock." Topaz scoffed towards their brother. "We could have simply replaced it but no, you had to drag us all the way to a distant planet, and nearly get us killed by a giant, just for a simple rock."
Diamond looked to Topaz with a look of disgust. He then grabbed them and Rose and the three teleported to the top of the Temple.
"We did so because the Gems needed our help. Which I recall is part of our duties as Gemians!" Diamond explained to his sibling, who crossed their arms in disapproval. "However, You could've stayed at the temple. You could have let Rose and I handle this."
"No I couldn't, and do you want to know why?" Topaz objected as they pointed their finger at Diamond. "Because if I did, then *you* would have called me selfish and cruel. Just because I don't obsess over rocks like you do does not mean I don't care about my job. I just know my priorities."
"Topaz…?" Rose said as she looked to her sibling with concern.
"These are not just "rocks" germanororum. Diamond explained. "They are living beings, who have feelings and thoughts of their own. Just as you, Rose and I do. We cannot just cast them aside like trash when they are not needed, we need to understand what they feel and what they think."
"It doesn't matter what they "think" or "feel"." Topaz stated coldly. "They were made here to serve *us*, to do what *we* tell them to do. They are made to provide Vitae, protect and build our provinces, or shatter themselves for *us*, and nothing more. Even if we lose one Gem, we can always get another to replace it, there are billions upon trillions of Gems in the Universe, losing one won't make a single difference in the Universe."
"If we devalue these Gem's, then we failed Gemia!" Diamond shouted at Topaz. "If we devalue these Gems, then what is the point in what we are doing? Hell, why don't we devalue the entirety of live in the Universe while we're at it? Or Gemia herself? In fact, how about you devalue me and Rose while you're at it?"
"Diamond…?" Rose said to Diamond.
"Gemia told us to protect the Universe, not those within it!" Topaz shouted back at Diamond. "Who cares if one Gem gets destroyed?"
"I do!" Diamond said as he stood up in Topaz's face "As should you!"
"Aw, that must be so hard for you to understand, dear Brother, to not have everyone giving two cacat olims about your little rock collection." Topaz said mockingly to their brother. "But you know what, I'll make a deal with you."
Topaz bent down and picked up a rock from the ground, they then placed it in Diamond's hands.
"Get that rock to bleed for me, and maybe, just maybe, I'll care just…a little…bit…more."
The next thing Topaz knew, Diamond smacked his sibling in the face with the rock. The Taskmaster fell to the ground as Diamond stood above them. Topaz then sat up and wiped their bloody nose as they looked at the angry Diamond, who was holding a rock stained with gold blood in his hand.
"Is this enough for you?" Diamond said with an angry smile. "Or do I need more?"
Topaz shouted as they lunged forward and tackled Diamond to the ground, sitting on top of him and started to punch the Old King in the face.
"Topaz!" Rose tried to pull Topaz off her brother, but Topaz pushed her away. "Leave him alone."
"Stay out of this you little ferreo canis!" Topaz hissed at Rose, jumping off Diamond and standing before their little sister. "You have the nerve to speak to us as an equal? All you can do is grow plants and whine. What worth are you to us?"
"I…I'm you're sister…" Rose replied to Topaz as she looked to the ground. "I am a Gemian."
"Really?" Topaz said as they knelt down to her and lifted her head to their eye level. "Because all you have done so far is proven to be nothing more that *dead weight*."
Topaz then felt the back of their armor pull back and feel Diamond toss Topaz away from Rose and fall onto the ground as Diamond approached them.
"You are dead wrong!" Diamond objected to Topaz. "Rose is the youngest of us, and she is still learning. Of course, I would know that more that you would. All you care about is staying in your tower doing Gemia knows what. If anyone is dead weight, it's you!"
"How dare you!" Topaz shouted as they grabbed Diamond by the collar of his armor. "You have the nerve to speak to me like that? We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. I even played along with your rescue mission until Rose screwed it up. TWICE!"
Rose winced at Topaz's yelling, she felt tears in her eyes as she clasped her head. She hated it when her siblings fought, especially when it involved her.
"Stop it…. Stop it…. Stop it…. Stop it…. Stop it…. Stop it…."
"She will learn from her mistakes." Diamond defended. "I have been making sure of that."
"But unlike you, Brother, I do not make mistakes…" Topaz rebutted with a smug grin. "…I erase them!"
"STOP IT!" Rose screamed at the two siblings before she vanished. Leaving the two behind in shock at what had happened.
Diamond then looked to Topaz and dropped them, walking away.
"Where are you going Diamond?" Topaz asked as they stood up and brushed themselves off. "We're not finished here."
"I don't care." Diamond replied as he looked at Topaz with a disappointed glare. "You're not even worth it anymore."
Topaz felt a pang in their stomach as they watched Diamond vanish before them, leaving the Gemian all alone on the roof of the temple. As the words of their argument with their siblings echoed in their mind. Topaz felt their heart sink and tears flow from their eyes. Topaz began to choke up as they sat on the ground and sunk into their knees and wept.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…Gemia…where did you go...what…what are we supposed to do?"
{*}
Rose's Hill, several hours later
{*}
Diamond teleported on the hill to see a large tree on top of a hill, he remembered the tree as the one Rose made so many centuries ago. As he marched up the hill, he saw a small pink Gemian crouched under the tree. Her armor was gone and she was wearing a white dress. Diamond sighed and his armor was replaced with a blue suit and tan pants. As he approached Rose, she looked at him with bloodshot eyes and then curled up.
"May I sit here with you?" Diamond asked Rose.
Rose nodded, and Diamond sat down next to Rose.
"I…I'm sorry for…that." Diamond said to Rose as he gazed at the sky before him. "I'm sure they didn't mean any of that, but I'll make sure."
"Diamond…" Rose asked her Brother as she looked up at him, tears and snot ran down her face. "Am I…am I a mistake?"
"Oh no Rose! Of course not." Diamond replied with shock as he summoned a cloth and began to wipe Rose's face. "I know I'm hard on you sometimes, but I am because I know you are a Gemian. It's just for you, it just takes you longer. But you'll get there, I know you will."
"But what about what you said, about our purpose…." As Rose was about to continue, she noticed that Diamond was looking downward, as if he was deep in though.
"Rose, I'm going to tell you something I never told anyone, not even Topaz." Diamond said to Rose. "I'm supposed to embody the strength and power of Gemia and be the exemplar of fear…"
Diamond stopped and paused, his mouth was agape and his eyes widened before he looked to Rose. She then saw tears forming in his eyes.
"…but not one day has gone by that I haven't been terrified by the thought that I won't be strong enough to protect this Universe, or those within it. I just…I'm scared that what we are doing is not enough, or it isn't want Gemia wanted…I…just want to see her again, to know what my purpose is!"
"Diamond…" Rose said as she saw Diamond's hands clench up, she could feel the fear flowing through her brother. He was the strongest and the most feared of the three Gemians, but not once since her birth did she ever see Diamond like this."
"I….fear that I'll fail you, and Topaz, and Ruby and Sapphire, and everyone else. I fear that I'll screw up and…I'll ruin everything…I'll make a mistake so huge, that I won't be able to fix it. I fear that…I'll do something so terrible that…."
Diamond gritted his teeth and growled as he smashed the ground with his fist. He then covered his face with his hands and began to weep.
"I'm so scared Rose…so scared…."
"Oh Diamond…" Rose exclaimed as she sat up and cradled the Old King in her arms. "You could never do anything to make me hate you."
Diamond looked to Rose with eyes flowing with tears. She smiled as she wiped tears from his eyes and kissed his forehead.
"Listen to me Dimey: I will always forgive you, no matter what." Rose explained as she looked into the Old King's eyes. "I promise you here and now, you will never be alone, for I'll be here for you. You are my brother, and I'll protect you from anything, just as you have for me."
Diamond smiled as he and Rose noticed another Gemian hesitantly approach the others. It was Topaz, wearing a golden suit and holding the blood stained rock in their hands.
"So…does this still count as a bleeding rock?" Topaz said with a half-smile.
"Of course you fatuus." Diamond replied as he gestured his hand to bring Topaz to him. "Now come sit by us."
Topaz nodded as they sat next to Diamond, who placed his arms around his siblings. The three Gemians sat beneath the tree for what felt like hours before Topaz broke the silence.
"I'm sorry for my behavior." Topaz said hesitantly as they looked away from the others. "You are right, I don't deserve to be a Gemian for being so cruel. I understand if you agree."
"Of course!" Diamond said with a laugh. "But we're siblings, and I'm sure that we'll have more fights like that in the future. As long as we still have the same ideals in mind, I think we'll be fine."
Suddenly, Rose beamed as she sat up and stood before her siblings.
"That's it Dimey!" Rose exclaimed with starry eyes.
"What?" Diamond asked in confusion. "What's it?"
"We'll make a society!" she explained. "We can recruit Gems and train them in our ideals. Then we can have them go around and protect the Universe like what we do."
Topaz and Diamond looked at each other in surprise at what Rose said and they both nodded in agreement, the two Gemians then stood up and looked to Rose with excitement.
"Capital!" Diamond exclaimed to Rose. "But…which one of us would lead it?"
"Why not the three of us?" Topaz chimed in. "We could make it into a tribunal."
"Perfect!" Rose said as she took Diamond and Topaz's hands and placed them in the center with her own, all three Gemians now had the gold rock in their hands. "Starting now, we will create our new society and lead it as equals."
"This means that you'll have to improve your abilities to be equal as us, this also means that like us, you'll need to take your title as Gemian more seriously." Topaz explained to Rose with a smile. "Are you sure you'll be up for this?"
"Of course!" Rose replied with a smile. "I could use the experience, besides, someone has to keep you and Dimey from killing each other."
Rose winked at Diamond as he sighed in embarrassment.
"So what do we call out new society?" Diamond asked. "How about "The Knights of Gemia?"
"No, it's too simple." Topaz objected. "But how about the Crystal Hunters?"
"Nah that seems more like we hunt Gems." Rose interjected. "Oh I know! The Gem Squad!"
Topaz and Diamond looked at each other before they burst into laughter. Causing Rose to blush in embarrassment.
"Hey! It sounded better in my head!" Rose said defensively. "Don't judge me!"
"Let's just call ourselves "The Crystal Tribunal" for now and see where that takes us, alright?" Topaz suggested.
Rose and Diamond nodded in agreement and they all clenched their hands around the stone and broke it into three shards. Each of them clenched their piece of stone in their hands and from it there was a small gem. As they held their Gems in their hand. Topaz began to speak.
"Kings of three, that are we, but who is the one who will be: One with the power of gods, one who will bring wrath upon our foes."
"Let the role be brought upon me, DI, The Old King." Diamond proclaimed. "I will protect the innocent with my life and destroy the wicked. Allow me to raise our blade."
"Kings of three, that are we, but who is the one who will be: One who speak for the mind of the ancients, an archive of wisdom, an keeper of thoughts and secrets passed throughout the eons."
"I will take that role, TO, The Taskmaster." Topaz proclaimed. "I will carry of our thoughts and dreams. Allow me to raise our scroll."
"Kings of three, that are we, but who is the one who will be: One to help our brothers and sister, to laugh and weep among them, to give them the support and nurturing that only a mother could provide."
"The role will be placed upon me, ROQU, The Lion." Rose proclaimed. "I will lend my voice to laugh for them and my eyes to weep for them. Allow me to lift our heart."
"Now here stands we, kings of three, protectors of the Universe, which we will always be."
As soon as they were finished, the three siblings laughed in joy, not because of the ridiculous nature of what just happened, but because of the fact that the three siblings has created a new order, and realized that the purpose they were looking for, was right in front of them the whole time.
{*}