Before we start, Italics means that the character is thinking something. This is an alternative way that the events of 'Battle of Heart and Mind' would have taken place.
Disclaimer: Steven Universe belongs to Rebecca Sugar and Cartoon Network, not me. Please enjoy! Warning, there are some gruesome scenes ahead!
Chapter 2 - Confrontation
Pearl's point of view.
White Diamond looked down at Steven. Her puppets (gems that were being mind controlled by her) mimicked her. An emotionless grin spread across her face. "Oh Starlight, what are you doing crawling in here? You want your legs back? You want your planet back? Surely you can understand why I can't let you leave. Look at what you did to yourself last time. White Diamond said mockingly.
Despite my body telling me to run, I stood still and put a stern look on my face. I still shivered as she was focusing on Steven. What kind of punishment was she thinking of for us? Will Steven be okay? What is she going to do to the rest of us? My thoughts started to consume me. "White Diamond" Steven announced loudly. My thoughts zoomed back to the present as a looked down at our young leader. He may not be the official leader of the Crystal Gems but he has what it takes. I thought to myself as Steven continued. "My name is Steven Universe, I am here to…" White Pearl landed in front of Steven and blocks the path that made him stop and look up at her.
I started to tense up. My hands scrunched into fists without me telling them to. I stood there wide-eyed. I heard Steven scream as he darted out of the way of the emotionless Pearl that had just landed before him. "My my, we have been causing quite a scene haven't we?" White Diamond's voice echoed through her puppets. I gritted my teeth together while staring arrogantly at the colourless gems.
Steven started to quake with fear or was it anger? "What have you done to them? They're…" He got cut off by White Diamond shushing him and putting her finger up to her lips. Her puppets mimicked her. The harsh noise echoed around the white room. She slowly moved her hand away from her lips and her puppets followed her. A shiver flowed through my body when I remembered how many times she had mind controlled me before I was given to Pink Diamond. The harsh sound ended and a scream seemed to echo around the room despite the fact that no one screamed. Fear was starting to take over my body. She is just playing tricks with you. No one screamed. You have to be there for Steven! Those words echoed quietly in my mind.
"Poor Yellow, her impurities absorb all the blue in her light, she is so strong!" White Diamond whispered loudly as she stroked her shoulder (which cause Yellow Diamond to stroke her own shoulder). "But so weak when it comes to Blue." White diamond grinned evilly. "Ah and Blue." She continued while placing her hand under her neck for Blue diamond to copy. "Her injuries soak up all of the warmth in her spectrum, she thinks she needs you Pink" White continued. Steven curled his hand into a fist when White called him Pink diamond. "As for me." White said ignorantly "I am sure I don't need you." She whispered loudly. She emphasized the word 'need' which probably meant she was hinting at something that she was going to bring up later in the 'conversation'.
"After all, I am every colour of the light, but you are a part of me…" White paused before continuing. "The part I always have to repress." She grinned and closed her eyes for a brief moment. Steven stared at her. I knew he was very confused. "What?" He asked.
"Dude, what is she even talking about? This is nonsense!" Amethyst announced as she walked over to Steven and place her hand on his shoulder. It was a brief sign of support for Steven.
"Oh! Hello there." White Diamond spoke clearly to Amethyst. Sweat started to form on my forehead. She is going to take her anger out on us or on Steven or Steven and myself. Either of those is extremely bad. I worried to myself. "Your new friends are so funny!" White diamond said as she spoke to Steven again. A maniacal grin spread across her face as she looked down at Steven. She let out an emotionless chuckle.
Steven's point of view.
I forced myself to gulp as I looked up at White Diamond. Beads of sweat ran down my head and soaked my shirt. I was shaking so bad, I tried desperately to calm down but to no avail. "I think you have been a bad influence on them Pink." White looked at me straight in the eyes. "You and your Pearl I mean." I could feel Pearl go stiff behind me. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently to show that we would both be okay. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see a blue blush on Pearl's cheeks.
Garnet placed one of her hands on my alternative shoulder to Amethyst. My friends have my back. I thought to myself. "How… Cute" White taunted. Her smile grew wider and made me feel even more uncomfortable. White diamond forced her other puppets into their white bubbles and they disappeared through the glowing floor. She broke her pose and stood up straight. Her translucent eyes seemed to pierce through my gem. My breath hitched as worry tried to consume my mind. A tear ran down my cheek. I started to shake but despite my fears, I had to keep strong for the other gems. All I could feel was fear in the other gems' auras. "We will be okay," I whispered to them.
"Oh, I doubt that Starlight." White Diamond laughed. "Not a single member of the Crystal gems will be 'okay' soon. Some may be shattered. Who knows what the future may hold." She then looked down at Garnet. "Some of us may if they did not become defective and dependant on a useless Ruby." She laughed. I could hear Garnet growl from behind me.
Garnet's point of view.
Keep it together. Ruby stop you are not helping, calm down. Sapphire warned as Ruby argued back at her. She called me 'useless'! How can I 'calm down'? Ruby ranted.
We are here for Steven, remember? Sapphire scolded Ruby.
Sapphire, use your future vision, we need to make sure that we can avoid any casualties. Ruby started to worry.
Sapphire paused. Garnet started to focus and the possible futures started to flash through their minds.
"Keep together everyone, don't let her separate us," I whispered urgently to the gems around me. My lips quivered as I said this.
My hand rested on Steven's shoulder. Ruby's gem started to let out a comforting warmth as it started to glow slightly. My three eyes glared at White Diamond behind my visor. White Diamond laughed evilly. "Is the Sapphire in that fusion trying to get a grip onto the future?" She teased. "Don't make me laugh you useless gem fusion. You have no purpose due to your dependence on one another. It hinders efficiency when gems rely on each other. They no longer have anything to offer Homeworld. Even if they use to be effective gems, it won't matter because they instantly become defective the moment they fuse." She taunted; her smile becoming larger by the moment.
Steven's point of view.
My curly hair rested on my skin as I stared up at White Diamond. Anger was bubbling below the surface like a volcano ready to erupt. The only comforting things were the gems who were reassuring me by resting their hands on my shoulder and Pearl (whose hand was still in my hand). I narrowed my eyes as I looked straight into her glowing White eyes. Wait a minute, her eyes were not glowing a minute ago. I thought as the realisation hit me like a sword piercing through my stomach. "Guys!" I warned.
"Now then." White Diamond said as she raised her hand; the back of her hand faced us as it rose high above us. "Let's get down to business, shall we?" She asked rhetorically.
"Dodge!" I screamed but it was too late. Her giant hand slammed into my body. Garnet and Amethyst dodged but Pearl clung onto my hand tighter as we were flung through the air. I braced for impact as we slammed into the smooth cold white floor.
Pain started to spread through my body. Small pieces of the floor were stuck into my back. A dark red liquid oozed out of my wounds. I let out a short blood-curdling scream. My breathing intensified and groans escaped my mouth. Someone placed their hands on my shoulders. I tried to focus as black specs danced before my eyes. My vision cleared slightly and I started to blink rapidly. "Everything aches and hurts…" I whispered weakly
"Steven, use your healing spit on yourself, quickly." A familiar voice ordered. She seemed very scared due to the stuttering in her voice. I licked my hand and placed it on my arm. A tingling sensation rippled through my body as my eyesight returned to me.
Pearl was in front of me and looked really stressed. She had tear marks down her face and her hair looked messy. She slowly relieved the pressure that her hands were putting on my shoulders. She loudly exhaled. She swiftly got up and put her hand out to help me up. I slowly placed my hand on hers and she gently pulled me up. She withdrew her hand once I got up. "Here," I said calmly as I licked my hand and placed it on her gem. Her body started to sparkle. Her tear marks faded away and her hair went back into it's perfect hairstyle. All of her scratches and bruises from her fall vanished. A blush spread across her cheeks as she looked at me trustingly.
Then, she turned her head and her eyes narrowed. She glared at a presence in front of us. I followed her gaze and realised we were at White Diamond's feet as I saw the Giant Diamond before in front of us. "Now then…" She said as a podium started to rise from beneath our feet. "We have separated the defective gems from the useful ones. Despite the useful ones being defective in the mind, we can move past that." She stared at us as the podium stopped. We were now at eye level with White Diamond. She narrowed her eyes at me "With some help from my powers and teachings of course." She threatened as her gem started to glow extremely brightly. "Let us… Begin!"
