They started using the star emblem to differentiate themselves. Rose Quartz called them the Crystal Gems, and told them that from here on out they would all wear a star upon their bodies. While they were no longer Diamond Gems, now they could openly look the Homeworld in the eye and say "fuck you" with much more ease. Humans would see their stars and would be more inclined to not fear them, whereas they would still recognize those with the diamond as a threat.

The distant useless field suddenly became less useless.

An alarm was sound, and in panic Gems donned physical armor made of special metals and prepared for the worst. The enemy was apparently approaching on foot, carrying flags and swords. "They're coming over the hills of the field!" said the frightened messenger who had beamed in.

Platoons had to file out quick into their single warp pad, squeezing all who could fit in single trips. Rose Quartz and a number of soldiers she personally commanded stayed behind, in case the warp pad was compromised and their enemies found their base.

Pearl stood at their front. She was the second in command; she was Rose Quartz's knight. If anybody wanted to get to her, they had to get through Pearl.

A big green Gem was at the front of the enemies troops. She had long forest green hair that swiveled to a side, and dark grassy bands in her skin. A sharp, four point gem was embedded horizontally in her neck. She seemed smug, and Pearl stared her down.

"We've come to talk." said the Gem.

"Does one typically talk with their sword?" asked Pearl, sneering.

The green Gem, who was obviously Jade, looked back at her glaring squadron. She shrugged. "That depends." The Jade looked her up and down. "You've changed your emblem." she observed. The members in her force who held Homeworld flags seemed to hold them a little higher.

Pearl stuck her nose up. "We are the Crystal Gems! Protectors of Earth and human-kind, soldiers of Rose Quartz! We no longer serve the Diamonds, leave this planet!"

The platoons behind her cheered wildly, calling out threats to the invading Gems before them.

Ruby held fast to Sapphire's hand. Their fists were lifted in the air, invisible among the larger of them. They screamed out with their peers, glowing with pride for Rose Quartz and the planet they protected. It was coming. They could feel the tenseness- could feel the the muscles in Pearl's body on a hair trigger, ready to summon her spear and order attack.

Jade's shoulders and arms were slightly lifted, fists clenched. She harrumphed. "That warp pad- it leads to Rose Quartz, doesn't it?"

A finger pressed the trigger. Pearl lifted her hands, and suddenly she was pointing her spear across the grass plain towards Jade.

"ATTACK!" Screamed Jade. "Take the warp pad!"

Many Gems fused, while others shot off toward one another. The rebel Gems hadn't expected a full out battle that day, yet here they were in armor, protecting themselves from barrages of arrows, beams of yellow energy, and raised swords.

They were Garnet now- practiced enough with their fusion to stay stable and strong. Sapphire was full of calculation and precision, Ruby more or less translated that calculation into physical displays.

Her fists were both her shield and her weapon. She raised a hand and caught an arm length arrow, snapping it in half with wrath.

Gems both smaller and bigger than her were brought down to their knees in the wild grass of the boisterous field. From behind she was struck in the leg, and with fierce panic she kicked the monstrous Gem in the chest, sending them flying back into someone else. Her leg stung from the gash, and she wondered how much more physical damage she could take before they were forced to untie themselves.

By the end of it the enemy retreated. Jade was on the verge of falling into her own gemstone, and much of her small army had been taken down or grievously injured. Their flags torn and tattered, she screamed for them to gather and fall back. The Crystal Gems were too strong. They went back the way they came. Pearl had to yell at some Gems to not follow. The warp pad was safe.

The Crystal Gems who fought off the invading Diamond worshipers had got their first real taste of the war. Some were in a mental frenzy. What did you expect? would hiss their comrades. They would shake their head, fear in their eyes, and say something close to I don't know, I really just don't. Not this.

Rose Quartz soothed them with her voice and tears. Her puffy eyes streamed warmth and gave health to the injured and cracked. When Sapphire came to her and held out her hands, displaying little purple shards in her blue palms, Rose's tears became all out sobs, but her cries could not revive the shattered gemstone. Pearl clung to her. This was death.

"This will be only the beginning," sighed the pink behemoth, wiping her eyes. "they only came to gauge our numbers and power. That is why their forces were small. But there will be more, and they come ready next time."

Sapphire stood close to her along with other sympathetic and sad Gems. Ruby kept further away, lamenting silently.

"Little one," said Rose, crouching down to Sapphire. She took her small hands in her own big ones, enclosing them and sliding the shards she held delicately away from her. "after this you've seen, how will you still fight?"

Sapphire blinked beneath her fringe, looking into Rose's distant orbs. She was put off by someone of such high stature focusing their attention onto her. The blue Gem opened her mouth to speak, but closed it then looked back at Ruby. Ruby's face was serious, staring back at Sapphire with wide, far away eyes.

Rose stood up, cradling the broken pieces. She turned to Pearl who was looking down, still at her side. "How many were lost?"

Pearl lifted her head. "Six."

Rose placed a hand where her heart would be, letting out another sigh. The Gems standing about her murmured or were otherwise quietly listening.

Their leader set the broken, lifeless stones of their six fallen comrades to rest. They held a ceremony on a wind swept hill near the beach, burying the stones in the shallow earth. The commanders of those who had died were almost too stoic, and Rose knew that was because they were holding themselves back.

"I guess this is what we signed up for." worried Sapphire, standing limply beside Ruby. Ruby had been quiet through the first of the ceremony. Her expression would occasionally turn sour, as if she would cry. It always returned back to an empty stare. One would think Ruby had retreated into her gem if they couldn't see her in front of them, she was so quiet.

There were flowers at their feet where a Gem has been placed into the ground. Rose had grew them, letting the colors match the colors of the buried stone. They marked the graves and gave new life to something devastating. Sapphire looked over at Ruby as Rose spoke to her followers, setting the final Gem into their grave. A ruby'd hand came up and removed the water from the red Gem's face. She was trying so hard to be a tough solider. Sapphire reached across and held her hand, getting a glance from Ruby. She finally began to cry, stifling the sound of her sniveling so as not to cause a ruckus.

The cave had more rooms now. Gems burrowed into it and connected them with the warp pad or with simple doors. They served as armories, as calm places for meditation, and for training. Rose had her light canons, more armor was produced, swords were shaped, protective flora was grown- the place was getting closer to a fortress. Their main warp pad in the central chamber could go to more places, too. Scouting teams were deployed often to find areas of geographical advantage. They would sometimes come limping back with word of coming into contact with Homeworld Gems. Even so, their numbers increased by the day.

The Kindergarten was in full swing and new aggressive Gems were being made constantly. Young Gems were cultured by superiors. They were shaped out of their young minds into something useful, as Gems that came from the Earth were disorderly and rowdy. Rose knew that many of those they would later fight and destroy would be newly born Gems, barely able to control their powers. It hurt her heart, and often Pearl would break her strict persona to comfort her.

They trained everyday, but it was currently a time of rest for those off duty. Many Gems needed recuperation, as self care and serene environments were important to both moral and mental health. The sun lazed heavily in the blue sky, clouds drifting aimlessly above the massive sea. The waves rolled in and out, in and out, pushing and pulling the little grains of sand.

Ruby walked up behind Sapphire and tried to scare her. She jolted, but then suck out her tongue. "I just pretended to be scared, I knew you were behind me!"

The red Gem sat down beside her and smiled. "You acted pretty scared to me!"

She shook her head and turned her gaze back to the water. Her legs stuck out straight so the wash lapped her heels and left indention in the sand when it pulled back. Her loose, thin top ruffled with the wind, but her tight shorts clung to her. She leaned her head upon her shoulder. "This beach was where we first spoke. Right here, in this spot."

Ruby blushed and rubbed the gem embedded in her hand. "O-oh. Really?"

"Mhm!" pipped Sapphire with a nod. "I asked you if you thought my dress matched the sea, but then you walked away." When Ruby didn't say anything she went on. "What did you think?"

Disquieted, Ruby made unintelligent noises and shrugged a few times. "I'unno." she tried, but it was obvious she was just skirting around what she thought.

The other beside her giggled, leaning slightly away but now turned more toward her. "Come on, tell me!" she giggled more when Ruby tried to stammer something but tripped on her words. "You're so cute, Ruby."

Fists clenched and back straight, Ruby's face burned."D-don't say that!" she squeaked. Ruby lifted her legs to her chest and hid. "Ithouyohlohkedbeutful."

"Hm? I can't hear you, lift up your head." Sapphire smirked, trying to wiggle her fingers in to physically coax her face back out.

Ruby complied, crossing her arms and turning her head so Sapphire couldn't see her. "I said you were really pretty!" she almost yelled, embarrassed.

Sapphire looped their arms together, letting herself press against Ruby's side. She watched as Ruby visibly slumped, as if melting. "I know." said the blue Gem cleverly.

Ruby was more calm now, and found herself subconsciously staring. Without thinking she gave a sweet kiss to Sapphire's forehead, causing Sapphire to press closer and Ruby to sequel out an apology. The blue Gem laced their hands together and smiled, so Ruby kissed her again.

They kept close, hands brushing and messing up each other's hair, until they had to return to the real world.