Okay, thanks go to TennisCat, QChronicles and Guest for their reviews.I don't have too much else to say so...

Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe.


"Matrix! Stop!" Rose Quartz demanded, blocking another one of Matrix's spears. Tiger grinned as she watched.

"Good, he truly remembers what side he's on." She said, crossing her arms as Matrix stabbed at Rose once again, his eyes wide. His right eye, the only actual eye, was blood red.

"It would seem that Cats Eye was exactly what Matrix needed to snap him out of that Earth loving faze." The shaded gem said. Her voice was soft yet strong, and although her figure was shaded, the glowing yellow diamond where her belly button would be was visible.

"Yes, it appears so..." Tiger watched, transfixed on Matrix's fighting. No mere gem usually stood a change against Rose Quartz.

Matrix roared, blocking Rose's sword with his spear snarling. "Matrix, this isn't you!" Rose pleaded.

Or perhaps she was just holding back.

"Remember Thea? What would she think of you now, Matrix?!" Rose tried so hard to get through to the Tiger Eyed gem.

"Don't talk about her!" Matrix demanded, jumping to the sky and throwing his spear at Rose. She quickly blocked, But Matrix shot to the ground, pulling another spear from his eye as he landed, stabbing into the ground.

Rose attempted to jump back, but her dress was caught on Matrix's spear. Matrix pulled another spear from his eye as the pink gem stumbled.

Matrix forced his spear forward, shooting past Rose's shield and towards her gem.

A bubbled suddenly appeared around the rebelling gem, hitting Matrix and throwing him away, making him land on his back on the ground, mud splattering as lightning crackled across the sky, the clouds threatening to rain.

Rose pulled her sword to the sky, kicking the spear down. "I'm sorry, Matrix." She brought the blade to his neck, her eyes narrowing, though tears built up in them.

"Stop!" The blonde human demanded, running through the mud towards them.

The red faded from Matrix's eyes, and he looked to her. "Thea..?" He had told her to stay away. He had told her she'd get hurt.

If only she'd listened...

"Don't hurt him!" It almost looked as though Thea would try to tackle Rose, when suddenly she stopped.

As she had been about to lunge, a pearly white spear had shot through her back, coming out of her abdomen.

"Nobody touches Rose..." Pearl said, her eyes white in the heat of battle.

Thea turned slowly, looking at her with wide eyes. "P... Pearl..."

Pearl's eyes widened as well, Thea beginning to fall.

Matrix shot up, pushing past Rose's sword as she ran forward, jumping and catching Thea.

Lightning struck behind them, and Matrix looked at the human he'd come to love with wide eyes.

She was smiling. Why the hell was she smiling?!

"I... I snapped you out of it..." Thea laughed, though blood came as she did. She bopped Matrix on the nose with a weak hand before her arm fell back to the ground.

"T-Thea... You never should've... It should have been me..." Matrix was shaking as Thea laughed, reaching up to press her lips to his one last time.

"You live forever Matrix... You can do a lot more with your life than I can do with mine... I'm glad I could have been of use..." Thea's eyes closed, and Matrix's widened.

Pearl, Rose, Garnet, and Amethyst had backed away in horror. The very battle around them seemed to have stopped.

Matrix only shook his head, water falling from his eyes onto Thea's face.


Matrix pulled a double edged spear from his eye, his right eye turning red with a single, Tiger-Like slit for a pupil.

If she were to see me now...

Matrix shot forward, clashing spears with Pearl. He jumped back as Amethyst's whip flew by were he had been a moment ago. Matrix landed behind Amethyst, who turned around as fast as she could, swinging her whip.

Matrix ducked under it, and it came back around, wrapping around the short gem before Matrix shot up, slamming one foot into Amethyst's face, throwing her back.

What would she think?

Pearl shot at him, their spears colliding once again. The two jumped back, throwing their spears at the other.

Matrix jumped into the air as the spears collided, exploding back into nothing as they did so.

Matrix landed in front of Pearl, throwing a punch that she blocked with her forearm. She attempted to sweep his legs out, but he jumped back, landing on his hands and kicking at Pearl, who matrix-style ducked under it.

Matrix spun on his hands, sending more kicks at her. She blocked another with her forearm, but Matrix spun once again, jumping up and kicking her directly in the chest.

As she flew back he grabbed her foot, spinning in air and slamming her into the dirt face first, landing on his feet and pulling another double edged spear from his eye, raising it into the air as if to stab Pearl.

Just before he did, however, Amethyst jumped at him once again, aiming to land on his back and throw him off. Matrix grinned, thrusting the spear back and slamming the other edge into Amethyst's gut.

Lightning flashed behind them, and the same scene played in his head from the last fight. But back then, Amethyst had actually landed. Matrix's grin widened as he brought the short gem into the air, slamming her body into the ground on Pearl!

The two groaned in pain as Matrix rose his spear into the air, his grip on it tightening to the point of white knuckles.

What am I doing?

Matrix seemed to stop.

What have I done with the gift Thea gave me?

Matrix sighed, throwing his spear to the side.

I'm fighting along side the one's that tried to exterminate her species...

"Matrix, what are you doing?" Peridot had to ask.

And for what? Vengeance? Is that it? Is that all I've thought about? I never tried to change the world... I never tried to stop Yellow Diamond...

"We're going..." Matrix turned from the nearly unconscious gems. Amethyst still hadn't retreated into her gem, but Matrix's spear hadn't gone all the way through her.

"Wait, what?" Peridot shot up in surprise. "But you could kill the both of them right now!"

"That's not what I'm supposed to do..."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm supposed to-"

"PERIDOT! MATRIX!"

Garnet rose over the ledge glaring at the two. Steven was on her back.

"Oh, good. I wanted to see you two." Matrix said. He was unarmed.

Garnet set Steven down before suddenly shooting forward, ramming her fist into his cheek and sending him flying across the land, smacking into the mud and sliding across it.

Matrix groaned, sitting up slowly. He looked to see that Garnet had grabbed Peridot by the collar of her shirt and was holding her in the air.

"You... What you did to those helpless gems!" She almost sounded like Ruby.

Garnet pulled back one fist to punch Peridot off of the ledge, but quickly had to reach out, catching Matrix's spear.

She threw the spear to the side, dropping Peridot off the edge!

"Peridot!" Matrix exclaimed in shock, but was relieved to see her floating up on her finger-copter.

That didn't sound right.

"I'm alright, but we need to get out of here!" Peridot flew high into the air. "I'm gonna need you to jump!" She called down, and Matrix nodded, running towards the edge to jump.

Garnet suddenly appeared before him, slamming her fist into his chest as he ran into it, snarling as he was thrown back once again, bouncing and skidding in the mud, lightning striking again.

Rain continued to pour as Garnet and Matrix stood, staring one another down. Lightning flashed, and an image flashed before Matrix's eyes.

It showed the two facing off like now but in a darker, greyish shade. All they heard was the sound of pouring rain. Behind them in both times were an unconscious Pearl and Amethyst.

"Well here we are again." Matrix said, pulling a spear from his eye.

"What you did... What you damn Homeworld gems did to them!" Garnet's fists clenched hard, her teeth gritting.

"That abomination... I never thought that was their aim, Garnet..." Matrix shook his head. "I'm sorry..."

"SORRY WON'T BRING THEM BACK!" Garnet shot forward as lightning struck again.

"SORRY WON'T BRING HER BACK!" Matrix shot forward at the fusion.

Matrix ducked under the fist, sending a kick up into the fusion's abdomen. Garnet shot into the air from the force of the kick, but spun, not caring as she took a diving position, flying down towards Matrix.

Peridot watched them fight, floating in the air, not noticing the lightning. She was almost mesmerized by the intense battle.

"PERIDOT! Look out!" Steven suddenly yelled from the ground.

"What is he-" Peridot looked up, seeing the sky crackling with lightning just above her. "... Oh."

In the next instant Peridot was alight with electricity, unable to yell from the pain. Steven watched in horror as her burnt body fell towards the ground. She returned to her gem, which had managed to remain unscathed.

Steven caught the gem, eyes wide. It was hot, and he had to try not to drop it in the mud.

Matrix jumped up at Garnet, holding his spear to his side as Garnet held her fist forward. Steven watched in shock as the two smashed into one another, a shock wave causing the rain to blow away from them for a moment.

There was a moment where everything paused, before the two suddenly shot away from each other, both of them slamming into the ground and creating craters.

The two shot from the craters instantly, rushing at each other. Both of their weapons were gone.

They collided at the center distance between their craters. Matrix threw a punch as Garnet did, their fists colliding and creating another smaller shock wave.

Matrix jumped up, kicking as Garnet blocked with both forearms, throwing her arms up and making Matrix spiral back.

Matrix landed on his feet, and Garnet jumped forward, pulling a fist back. Matrix dodged the punch, ducking under it and spinning around Garnet.

Garnet didn't expect Matrix to dodge, and she slid forward in the mud. As Matrix jumped forward, he pulled his fist back, slamming it into Garnet's abdomen.

Matrix began running, Garnet on his fist as he did so. He suddenly came to a stop, and Garnet flew forward, slamming into the same wall of rock Pearl slammed into so many years ago.

Garnet fell to her knees, but snarled, standing once again and wiping blood from her lip. She smirked, wiping blood from her lip.

"Go Garnet!" Steven cheered. He wouldn't have cheered had they been using weapons, but right now it was just a brawl.

Garnet jumped at Matrix, slamming her fist into the ground before him before jumping up, kicking at Matrix, who blocked by making an X with his arms, wincing as he slid back.

Matrix dodged past the next kick, sending the side of his arm to slam into the side of Garnet's head.

Garnet caught his arm, pulling Matrix into the air and aiming to slam him into the ground. Matrix quickly placed his feet on both sides of Garnet's head, grabbing hard as he pulled his spear out, stabbing it into the ground and using it to pull Garnet back, slamming her into the mud.

Matrix panted as Garnet suddenly grabbed his leg, pulling him down and jumping on top of him, pulling her fists back and slamming them into his face.

Matrix pulled back his fists as well, doing the same. This went on for about five minutes, the two rolling for who would be on top, beating each other as much as they could without actually doing any terminal damage.

After awhile, the two pulled themselves to their feet, panting and glaring at one another. Garnet's shade's were cracked and broken, showing one of her eyes.

Matrix's face was swollen, blood running from his lip and bent nose.

Suddenly they both fell, and they laid panting in the mud. As the rain began to slow, Garnet began to glow.

"Uh oh..." Garnet managed to sat through her swollen throat before bursting apart.

"Huh..?" Matrix sat up, seeing the red and blue gem that made Garnet sitting before him. He smirked. "Well, I haven't seen you two in awhile." Matrix smirked, and Ruby and Sapphire backed slowly away from him.

"Relax..." Matrix said, panting. His blood still dripped from his face. "I'm in no condition to try to kill you two... And honestly, I really don't feel like it..."

Matrix fell back in the mud, his body aching. "What do you mean 'You don't feel like it'?" Ruby questioned, standing so Matrix could see her face from the ground.

"I didn't want to fight you guys in the first place... I had a bit of a realization when I was about to kill Amethyst and Pearl. But then you attacked me so..." Matrix shrugged, but then his eyes widened.

"Yep. Hurts to move. I'm just gonna ask you guys to not smash me while I uh... Yeah." Without another word, Matrix's body was gone, and a circular, orange gem with a black stripe lay in the mud.

Ruby looked at the gem before raising her foot, snarling. Sapphire stopped her. "But Sapphire-"

"No... From what I can see, things will go badly if we do this now." Sapphire said, her hair covering where her eyes should be.

Ruby sighed. "... Fine."

"Ruby! Sapphire!" Steven ran up to the two. They smiled.

"Oh, Steven. It's been awhile." Sapphire said.

"Last time we saw you was on Peridot's ship, right?" Ruby said before his eyes widened. "Peridot! Where is she?!"

"Uh..." Steven slowly held up Peridot's gem, and the usually fused pair's eyes widened.

"How did you..." Ruby began.

"Oh... I see... She was struck by lightning." Sapphire said.

"Lightning? Oh, right." Ruby nodded. "I remember."

"What are you guys talking about?" Steven arched a brow at the two.

"Well, as Garnet, we saw what would happen if Peridot took flight. That's why we focused entirely on Matrix while putting Peridot in a situation in which she had to fly."

"Whoa..." Steven said, shocked. "Well, whatever the case, we should probably get everyone back to the temple."

Steven picked up Matrix's gem, and Ruby arched a brow at him. "Are we really letting him take those two back home..?"

"Yes." Sapphire said, picking up Pearl in her arms bridal style. "Trust me, it's for the best."

"I don't like not being fused... It means that you get to do that annoying 'I've seen what happens and we need to do this' thing." Ruby said, throwing Amethyst over her shoulder.

Sapphire giggled lightly, looking over the edge. "But it's fun."

"Lets just get to the warp pad..." Ruby said, looking annoyed for a moment before shrugging it off.


"That... Hurt..." Peridot said, floating in the green abyss that was her gem.

"I can't believe I actually got struck by lightning... Matrix will always mock me for this..." Peridot rolled her eyes, groaning.

"Speaking of which... What's going on out there?" Peridot arched a brow as a screen appeared before her. It showed the face of something- no, someone, carrying her.

"The Steven..." Peridot muttered, before looking to the side of the screen. Next to her gem was an orange one with one black stripe.

A bit of panic crept into Peridot. "They defeated Matrix?! Oh no... Where are they taking us..?! I have to reform my body and quick..!"


"We're only a few hours away." Emerald said, glancing back at the others. "Everybody ready?" He smirked, and all of the others smirked, or in Moonstone and Sunstone's case grinned, in response.

"But of course." Moonstone and Sunstone said in unison.

"I've been waiting to see what these Crystal Gems can really do..." Amazonite spoke.

"And I'm sure Matrix will be willing to help me exterminate those filthy Crystal Gems." Tiger's smirk widened into a grin.

"Good to know." Emerald spun back around in his chair. "Maybe Peri will be grateful for once."

"Don't count on it." Amazonite spoke slowly as per usual.


Steven sat on his bed, looking at the two gems that sat in blankets on the counter. Ruby and Sapphire had been waiting for too long to fuse back together, and it was clearly beginning to get to them.

Pearl and Amethyst were lying passed out on the couch, wrapped in blankets as well.

Steven noticed that Sapphire was staring out the window at the sky. "Uh... Something wrong?"

"... We need to get everyone up within the next three hours." She said.

"What?" Ruby stood from her place on the kitchen counter. "Why?"

Sapphire shook her head. "Something big is coming."

"Something very, very big."


Okay, that's the chapter. Please favorite, follow, and review. In the next chapter, it all goes down. Er, starts to.

XWolf26, out