This was another one of those chapters I've really been looking forward to. So I hope you guys enjoy it!

I've been doing quite a bit this week, I wrote an Omake for Connieswap this week in which Earth recieves some unexpected visitors... maybe perhaps two from this very series! If you haven't read Connieswap I definitely recommend it. Anyway if you like this chapter I'd love to hear from you either in the comments or through an ask on the tumblr!

enjoy the chapter!

Domina had landed the Styx thousands of time, but none filled her with such dread as this landing.

There was the obvious acknowledgement that she hadn't parted with any of the Crystal Gems on good terms the last time they met. There was the memory of Pearl's betrayed expression moments before she sent her away. There was the worry that this time Lapis would be encouraged to smack the Styx out of the atmosphere, especially if Garnet had seen who all was on board this ship.

Nothing though, quite explained the lurch in her stomach, the chill that ran up her spine when she saw the aerial view of Beach City below.

Domina let the autopilot land the Styx, for the first time in 4,000 years. The moment it was set she turned away from the screen and stared at the floor in an attempt to get the whole of reality to stop spinning.

"Do you actually have a plan?" Yellow Diamond asked.

"Yes, talk to them." She said. There was a long pause where the only sound was the engines backing off as the Styx slowed in it's decent.

"...and?" Yellow diamond prompted.

"That's all I've got." Domina gave her fellow diamond a strained smile. "I'm kind of making it up as I go along if you hadn't noticed." Yellow diamond pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Of course you are." She muttered. The Ship came to a rest, Domina stood, straightened her jacket, and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Just.. wait here for a moment," She said. Outside the ship she could see the Gems waiting with Steven, They looked apprehensive, or downright hostile in the case of the only, particularly colorful, Pearl. Yellow diamond rolled her eyes and crossed her arms but didn't follow Domina as she exited the ship.

The moment she set foot on the sand the smell of earth hit Domina. During the meetings she had with Steven she got glimpses and hints of the life of the planet, the growth that seemed to permeate all facets of the planet. But it was nothing compared to what she felt now. Domina stopped at the place where the ship met the sand and paused, two hours of time to think and she still hadn't quite come up with the right words. Thankfully Steven was there to save her.

"You're hurt! What happened?!" He said rushing over to her.

"I fell, It's fine it'll heal." Domina said.

"Well I can-"

"Steven please don't lick my arm."

"Right ok," Steven said, He glanced at the ship behind her then back at the gems and then back at her. "So uh what's going on?" Domina hesitated and then looked at Garnet.

"Bring them out Domina." The Fusion said folding her arms. Domina nodded.

"Just.. don't panic, we're not here to fight." Domina said. She stepped back onto the ship and gestured for the group to emerge.

Blue Pearl emerged first, followed by a streak of yellow headed straight for the Renegade Pearl.

"You idiot!" She shouted swinging wildly at the other Pearl. The Renegade ducked.

"Yellow I-"

"You absolute clod!" Yellow Pearl swung again, this punch low where Pearl caught it.

"Yellow really-"

"If it wasn't bad enough that you had to run off with that star's cursed quartz," Yellow Pearl swung for a third time with her free hand, it was also caught by Pearl.

"Yellow honestly you-"

"You had to leave the three of us to deal with your mess!" Yellow Pearl yanked her hands back and glared flaming daggers at the renegade pearl.

"Good to see you too Yellow." Renegade Pearl said with a roll of her eyes. Towards the other end of the group Domina could see slow terror begin to manifest on Peridot 5XG's face as she placed the Pearl.

"Ahem." Yellow Diamond said giving her Pearl a disapproving look. Yellow Pearl tensed. And so did everyone else as they noticed the Diamond who had emerged. Peridot shrieked and dove behind Garnet. A watery fist emerged from the ocean in time with Lapis's own. Amethyst and the Renegade Pearl drew their weapons. Yellow Diamond scoffed and rolled her eyes but Domina could feel a faint electricity in the air next to her.

"Uh... Hi Yellow Diamond." Steven said staring at the other Diamond with equal parts nervousness, terror and confusion.

"Rose Qu-" Yellow Diamond began before she was cut off by Domina's elbow to where her ribs would be. "Er.. Steven?"

"Why would you bring her here." Lapis Lazuli asked. The watery fist was looking more threatening.

"As she said we're not here to fight, Lazuli." Yellow Diamond said. Domina could feel her hair starting to stand on end.

"Then why are you here." Lapis said. Domina swore the oceanic appendage was getting larger. Even so she stepped forward, putting herself between Lapis and Yellow Diamond.

"Blue Diamond's seized control of homeworld." Domina said. "Only reason we even made it out was because Blue Pearl poofed her."

"You did!?" the Renegade Pearl said eyes darting to look at the demure form of Blue Pearl who was still standing off to the side away from both groups.

"I did." She said softly.

"Aww yeah!"Amethyst cheered.

"It was the second coolest thing I've ever seen a Pearl do." Domina said with a grin only to receive a look from Yellow Diamond. "Anyway... neither of us have been able get in contact with the inner planets or any district head," the renegade pearl frowned. "I did manage to get a hold of the head of the fleet and...they're." Domina hesitated the full weight of Mossy's shouted message finally hitting her now in this moment of relative peace. "They're over run."

There was a pause as the words processed with the rest of the gems.

"Well you're safe here!" Steven gesture wildly. "I mean I'm sure it's fine if you stay." He turned and looked back at Garnet. The fusion adjusted her glasses slightly.

"We will have a lot to discuss." She said. "But yes. You can stay."

"Thank you." Domina uneasily looked at the group again. "So um.. where's...Where's Pink?"


When she was first made she remembered being scared. Like all gems Pink Pearl knew her purpose the first time she took her physical form. She was to serve Pink Diamond, to do anything her diamond asked and if she failed she would be shattered.

It was the highest level a Pearl could ever hope to attain. And it wasn't one Pink Pearl had asked for.

"Pearl, sing for me."

"Pearl, I'm bored."

"Pearl, really all this rebel nonsense is exhausting, dance for me."

When Pink Diamond was shattered, she hadn't asked to be transferred to White Diamonds service. She hadn't asked to be saddled with caring for a human, or to end up serving the first Diamond-Human hybrid. Despite how enjoyable those last two tasks had been they hadn't been what she would have picked for herself if she had had her choice.

"Pearl, bring me the reports from Moss Agate."

"Pearl, you will be responsible for the human's well being."

"Pearl, serve this child as you did me. Better in fact."

The first time she had actually made a choice, the first time she had made a decision for a direction to take for her own life was the decision she made with Jet and Blue in the caverns beneath Homeworld. And she could have backed out of the rebellion at any time. But she stayed and it was so refreshing to have made a choice, a dangerous one yes but a choice nonetheless.

"We're not talking about charging at one of the palanquins, or sabotaging kindergartens Pink."

"Yellow say's your diamond has been miserable since she got here, this could be a way to free her from all this."

"We both know that the system is bad for every gem involved in it. Help us take it down."

Domina's existence had put her in the position to join the new rebellion. Her misery on homeworld had catalyzed her initial decision. But Pearl's desires to make her own decisions for once in her life, that's what kept her part of it all.

In the end, did it really mattered all that much? She was right back where she started. Pink Pearl sat still just outside the ruined palanquin, legs drawn up to her chest. Her memories of this place specifically were clouded in static but it was nice. The ground was soft. The flowers smelled sweet when mixed with the mountain air. A faint breeze blew around her. A good place to be alone with your thoughts.

"Puhl! Up!"

"Pearl! Pearl! Look what I can do!"

"Pearl, You're the best."

"Pearl?" Domina's very real voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Pink Pearl shot to her feet and turned to see Domina with a pink cast around her arm. Her eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles around them and her hair... had she cut it with a sword? Again?

"My...my" Pink said, the words catching in her throat. Was Domina her diamond anymore? She had sent her away, had dismissed her. Domina stumbled forward and looked down at Pearl unsure, as if she had been the one that had messed up so thoroughly.

"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have-"

"No Domina I hid so much from-"

"No no it's ok.. Really I understand I-" Domina's face crumpled and she threw her arms around Pearl burying her face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry..I'm so sorry." Pearl felt her eyes water as she hugged Domina close.

"Me too."

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