Last time on Steven Universe: Retaliation. Yellow Diamond invaded Earth, and tried to attack the Crystal Gems. A new unknown fusion came in the mix and fought alongside Yellow Diamond. The attack ended in failure and forced the Diamond to retreat. How will the Crystal Gems prepare for the oncoming war? Who will fight and who will run? Find out now.
The Gems sat at the dinner table, discussing what to do about the recent attack. "I propose we get the human military involved, train them and improve their weapons to help us." Topaz threw out.
"No, they'd help us but what about after? They have wars of their own to worry about." Zircon said.
"Why don't we-" Steven begun but was cut off by Garnet.
"We have to provide a full frontal assault! Albeit I'm not the tactician here, but if we hit them all with our maximum force, we'll be sure to win!"
"They have anti-fusion tech. They tested prototypes back when I was being experimented on." Zircon shot out.
Garnet sat back down and cursed under her breath, and looked over to Amethyst who hopped up.
"Why don't we just leave? Not like these people care about us."
Pearl threw her fist at the table and snapped at Amethyst "Because we swore to defend them! From any harm! It's our duty as we live on their planet!"
Pearl sat back down and put her head in her hands.
"Guys.." Steven mumbled as the arguing began to get louder and louder.
"Guys..." Steven repeated, his hands squeezed his head to stop the noise, then he snapped. "Everyone shut up!"
And like that, he had everyone's attention.
"Why don't we find a way to heal the corrupted gems we have. Then convince them to help us." Steven explained, panting from the recent shout.
Murmurs spread around the table, and Zircon stopped in his tracks. "Y'know, that could work. We come with strength in numbers. They may have a technological advantage, but they may not have a manpower advantage. But how do you propose we do this Stevo?"
"Well... Let me show you.." He mumbled as he got up and walked to the door. A pink streak lined it and it opened, revealing a red figure sitting on the couch asleep.
"This is one of the corrupted gems that I took from the room downstairs. Trial and error led to this. Apatite. That's his name." Steven explained.
"Speaking of Apatite, I've got one right now." Amethyst said, turning around and marching to the kitchen.
"Care to elaborate, Steven?" Pearl asked in wonder, if Rose couldn't heal the corrupted, then how can Steven?
"Well, I tried the spit so many times and after each failure, I broke. I found that the healing tears and spit mixed can cure corruption. I don't know the science behind it, but... That's what happened."
"Interesting." Zircon murmured. He walked to the sleeping gem, and he flipped the couch. The red gem jumped up and landed, he wore a scholars robe, his right hand had a gold glove that only wrapped around his middle fingers.
"Who are you? Steven, what's going on?!" Apatite said. The gem on his right shoulder began to glow as he pulled out a Morning-star.
"Calm down Apatite. These are my friends." Steven explained.
Apatite took a few breaths, then dematerialized the morning-star.
"Who did you serve with?" Zircon asked.
"What?"
"The Gems or did you side with Homeworld?" He asked again.
"I was a Homeworld agent, sent from Red Diamond's council." He said.
Pearls eyes shot open, and she turned to Garnet.
"Did he just say, Red Diamond?" Garnet whispered.
"He just did."
"Wait, Red Diamond?" Zircon spit out. "You're telling me, there's more Diamonds other than Green, White, Blue, Yellow, and Pink?"
"Y-Yes. D-Didn't you know?" Apatite asked, confused as to why they didn't know about Red Diamond.
"And these Diamonds, do they have as much control as the Great Diamond Authority?"
"No, they tend to remain under the shadows. Hidden from the peering eyes of Homeworld." He replied.
"So that means..."
"They were right.." Pearl added.
Zircon turned around and left the room, Pearl following close behind. "Garnet... Handle it 'til I get back." Zircon asked, Garnet nodded and she walked in the room.
"You've been saved. By the Crystal Gems." Garnet announced.
Zircon walked out the house, and stood on the deck. He placed his hands on the railing and stared at the sand below. "So all I've fought for... For nothing?" He pondered.
"No, not for nothing. For us." Pearl said, sitting on the railing next to him. "You have to understand, there was no way for us to know this."
"If we did, we could have shut down the entire operation like that. The public would have turned against Peridot, and this entire war would have never happened!" Zircon shouted shattering the railing beneath his clenched fist.
Pearl put her hand on Zircons cheek and turned his head to look at her.
"If the war never happened, things would be better yes. But we would have never met. I would still be under orders from my diamond." Pearl explained. "I'm not happy the war happened, but I am happy that I met you because of it."
Zircon put his hands on her thighs and pulled her in. His lips met hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They pulled away, and they leaned against eachother for a moment. "I wish this fighting would just stop. All the problems would just, go away." Pearl said, her head leaned against Zircons chest.
"I do too." Zircon said softly, placing his lips on Pearls forehead. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"I love you." Pearl said, looking up at Zircon and smiling.
"I love you too." Zircon said, he lifted her up and embraced her.
Pearl began to giggle "Zircon, what am I going to do with you." She said as she pulled away smiling.
"Only the future can tell." Zircon said with a smile.
The door opened, and Zircon turned his head.
"You may want to hear this.." Steven said.
"There is an entire league of Diamonds. Reds, Blues, Golds, Oranges. Any color you can think of. All of this to test a lethal weapon." Apatite explained.
"What kind of weapon?" Lapis asked.
"Okay, this is how it would work. A diamond of each color would Fuse. Something rare and untold about the Diamonds, I know, but all together they would create Black Diamond. This Diamond has the power to Corrupt, shatter with a snap of her fingers, even create gems. There was a rumor, at the end of the war. That the Corruption Light wasn't the Diamond Authority. But Black Diamond herself."
"So... If I'm adding this up correctly. During the war, the Diamonds created a weapon. No rather, fused a weapon, that can create and destroy Gems?" Topaz asked.
"That's the basic. The project was called Project Dark. But it was mostly known as-"
"Project Matter." Zircon cut in.
He received a few looks, of shock, of confusion, and surprise.
"Well. Yes." Apatite said.
"What was the result of the Project?" Steven asked.
"Now that's where things get good. From what I heard before I was corrupted, the project was scrapped. Too many casualties. But I do have to ask, Zircon." Apatite continued. "How do you know about the project?"
"It's how I came into existence. This Project took a dead gem, and a live gem and put them together. I was experiment Z-329-H. It was to form the perfect weapon. And out of that they sent me into infantry, and here I am." Zircon explained. "The experiment killed many of my brethren."
Pearl sighed and leaned against Zircons shoulder.
"So, how do we beat an unbeatable weapon." Lapis mumbled as she leaned against the wall.
"The only way you can. Fight fire with fire." Apatite stated. "Only a diamond can truly destroy another diamond."
"Okay. This will need to be thought over. All of our options are laid before us. And we need to decide." Garnet demanded. "We need to decide by the end of today."
Everyone agreed, and went their separate ways. Apatite stood, but was stopped by Zircon's hand on his shoulder.
"Walk with me." Zircon said, and just like that, they were outside.
"How did you get here, and how did you get corrupted." Zircon questioned.
"Like I said, I was sent by Red Diamond. My task was to gather test subjects. And I got attacked. By a potential test subject." Apatite told Zircon.
"Sounds like they're aiming to cure corruption too. Are you with us?" Zircon turned to the red gem.
"Well, you cured me. How could I repay you other than helping the people that didn't abandon me."
"M'kay." Zircon mumbled.
Zircon motioned his head towards the temple, and Apatite walked in. Steven walked out past him, and met up with Zircon.
"So what do you think?" Steven asked.
"I think that he's full of it. I don't trust him for a second, but we have to. He's the only intel we have." Zircon sighed.
"So how are we going to find Diamonds to join us." Steven pondered.
"I don't know man." Zircon said as he looked up at the sky. "Sometimes... I wish that the Diamonds never even had the thought, to do any of this. Let alone let Peridot become president of Homeworld. But I like to think. There are other gems on Homeworld, who agree with our motives and feel oppressed. I don't doubt we can get them to turn to our side and force our way to victory."
"We got this Z." Steven said as he patted Zircons back and walked back in the house.
"I sure hope so."
So, it looks like the Crystal Gems have more on their hands than they bargained for. Can they succeed in this mission? Or will they falter? Find out on the next chapter of Steven Universe: Retaliation! Please leave a review, favorite, and follow for more!