Note: Any references that this story makes aside from the universe that this takes place in belongs to their respective owners and should be as such.
Warning: Language, Violence
Ch.17: Act the Third
"I'm sorry but did you just say Green Pearl?"
"Don't make me repeat it Amethyst!"
"Okay jeez."
Green Pearl, originally Emerald re-adjusted their green silked attire. Even without the armor on Garnet's instincts didn't change. It was as if the armor was insignificant and this was the this Pearl's true strength. Why though? Why does this single gem has the overwhelming presence of a Diamond? Not only that, this presence never manifested in the beginning.
"240,000 years...All that time passed of the Diamond universal conquering and a single pacifist qualmed the rage of the endless storm. Yet they are still human with the flaws passed unto this race."
Green Pearl chuckled to herself while clenching her hands.
"Really makes one wonder of the state of mind the Diamonds, specifically Pink had when she decided to keep this planet alive? YOU were with her as her P-P-P-Pearl. HAAH! What a Pearl you are you mistake."
"Says the FFFFF mistake herself."
"Pearl, you know you can curse as much as you want to right? Bottling it up will just make you blow a gasket."
"I know that Garnet!"
Garnet could barely understand why Pearl was so angry? What kind of relationship did she have with this Green Pearl that is making her like this?
"Enough of this nonsense, we end this now Green!"
Before Pearl could even blink Green Pearl was in front of her. That kind of speed can't be possible for any gem to do.
"What a coincidence. Those were the exact words I was going to say."
"Wh-"
With one swipe of her right arm Green Pearl unleashed a light green thunder wave that headed toward Lapis. She couldn't dodge let alone react in time to even see the wave, her body was engulfed by the enormous burst of thundery static. It took a matter of seconds for it to release her, allowing her body to go limp to the sand below her. But not before her form poofed.
"Lapis! You son of a!"
Pearl thrusted her sword into Green's chest...or so she thought it was going in. The blade stopped just on the surface of their body, not budging to advance despite Pearl's best effort.
As much as Green Pearl wanted to see her nemesis's efforts be wasted more and more the full moon was about to rise and she didn't have that much time to fool around. Although things didn't went accordingly so far with this she can complete it, the Third Act. So with that being said Green Pearl struck her hated Pearl against her gem with a swift elbow, causing her nemesis to poof instantly.
"What do you think you'll gain from this? Emerald, Green Pearl, doesn't matter. What you're doing is madness. You want to take whatever grudge you have out on us, fine but leave the humans out of this."
"Hohohohooh sorry but that was no longer an option. You all cling to this species as if your lives depended on it. I was going to round them all up and hold them hostage. But one of your kind already warned and evacuated them 2 hours ago."
"(Wait, no one was here to warn them at that time...Sheena?)"
"Doesn't matter, my target is you lot and since you drove off the affected gems that puts a slight damper in my plans. So if I have to hunt down every single gem on this planet, so be it. Right now-"
Again Green Pearl suddenly appeared right in front of Garnet and placed two fingers on the center of her chest.
"--I'm going to shatter my 'old friend' and finally conquer this planet. Moving on to the next planet will be no problem in my current state."
Garnet tried to react by jumping back but it was too late. She couldn't even shift her feet as her body was enveloped by the green electricity. This pain...this pain felt similiar to Yellow Diamonds was all Garnet could think about as she poofed.
That was it? This is the threat that Green Pearl expected? With this power there would be no battle that she would lose in. The full moon came out on full display as earlier than expected but at least the shine that illuminated from it was what she needed to finally complete the Third Act.
Slowly picking up our Pearl's gem Green Pearl brought it up to the moonlight, letting the gem glisten in its beauty. With a wicked smile Green Pearl swirled her thumb over the center of the gem.
"Don't think I forgot about you."
Amethyst clicked her tongue as she tried to hit Green Pearl with her whip only for Green to dodge it and unleash another electric wave. It hit her, instantly poofing her body. With no one else to interrupt her Green Pearl proceeded further.
"You will be the catalyst to my rain of universal conquest. Goodbye...my old friend. Act Three...en-"
Suddenly Green Pearl saw a flash that caused her arm to fly off cleanly. The gem Green Pearl was going to shatter floated in midair and zipped away from them.
"Eh? What is this?"
Green Pearl looked below and saw their assailant that caused their arm to fly off. It was Connie, sword in hand ready to strike at her again. But since Green Pearl saw her assailant she was able to dodge the strikes without any issue. While Connie was distracted Green, Peridot managed to grab everyone's gem including Pearl.
"Phew, thank goodness we made it on time. If Connie didn't have that superhuman speed Pearl would've been gone forever."
Peridot was sweating bullets. She didn't actually think that this plan would work or not. Not only that she couldn't believe that Emerald was a Pearl this whole time! She still worries for Connie though especially from earlier.
"That's your gameplan? To fight Emerald by yourself? What a plan with many flaws!"
Moments before Connie and Peridot interfered with Pearl's execution they were stillrunning towards the beach until they both hid underneath the dock.
"I know but I can't just sit here and do jackshit. Hooooh quick question Peri."
"Didn't you hear about the 'many flaws' part?! You guys are really stubbo-"
"Can you accelerate the time needed for a gem to regenerate their bodies?"
That was random. What point did Connie had with asking Peridot that for?
"I mean theoretically my kind of electricity could possibility recharge things that uses photon light and electricity but I've only tested it on a small sized dead battery."
"So can you?"
"B-B-B the amount of electricity that would come out would drain everything that I have, it wouldn't powerful enough for that kind of feat. What if I'm not able to bring them back fast enough and Emerald-"
Connie grabbed Peridot by the shoulders, forcing her to look Connie in the eye.
"Can you do it or not?!"
Peridot never realised how pretty threatening Connie is for a human? Then again she was trained extensively by a gem and joined an elite force of space marines soooo yeah she's intimidating.
"...I..I..Yes I can."
"Good, I'm trusting with this. I'll buy time for you and until Steven gets here."
As much as Peridot wanted to retort she couldn't. All she could do was pray to whatever God humans have that she won't get shattered today.
"(That was a stupid, suicidal plan but at least I got them...doesn't mean it's any less suicidal.)"
As Peridot began concentrating with her electic powers Connie was still trying to get a hit on Green Pearl.
"You are a human yet you can stand your ground against a gem? Maybe I underestimated your kind afterall, but alas."
Suddenly Connie felt a painful jolt throughout the entirety of her arm when Green Pearl jabbed her two fingers into her shoulder, causing her to throw her weapon off to the side involuntarily. Before Connie could scramble to pick it up Green painfully grabbed her by the back of her hair and threw across the sand.
"It's as expected, humans can't catch up by thaaaat much. Think of the reason why I spared your kind?"
"Shut up!"
Connie threw a punch but Green slipped underneath, cupping her hand around Connie's throat. Since she was a gem she lifted Connie off the ground while slowly tightening her grip. The flailing of her feet didn't help with Connie's dire predicament.
"Connie! Rrrgh no as much as I really want to she trusted me to do this so I can't forsake her. Damnit all why the shit isn't Steven here ye- huh?"
"A sad day that your comrade couldn't be here to watch you suffer. It would've been a slow and painful torture, without killing you of course cause taking my anger out on a species that I don't know would be wrong now would it?"
Cocking back their arm Green Pearl's missing hand quickly regenerated while extending out her middle and ring finger, clearly aiming for a precise strike that would very much likely pierce through Connie in any place possible.
"If Steven is truly the savior, call out to him. There's no shame...well since you're ABOUT TO DIE A PAINFUL DEATH then there is going to be a little shame. Will he come? Who knows, let's find out shall we?!"
Just as Green Pearl's finger was closing in to Connie's head she could feel her life flash before her eyes. All her happy moments, her sad moments, Steven changing her life for the better, their arguments, their resolutions, even to the point of their night together.
"St..ack..Steven."
Strangely on cue an explosion range out from afar prompting Green Pearl to stop mere inches from Connie's eye. If Connie wasn't pissing herself before, she is now. Green Pearl turned their head to the left where the cloud of dust formed. From her perspective it was definetely coming from the secret base in that abandoned library no one but her knew about until now.
Releasing her grip from Connie's throat in which she coughed violently Green Pearl squinted her eyes for a few seconds to see if there was going to be something to come out from it. Something did due to the upward pointed shift of the cloud but not even she could see the object that came out.
"Hmm?...(!)"
From behind her Green Pearl felt an immensely powerful presence touching backs against hers.
"Kept you waiting, huh?"
"I never doubted you even for a second."
"Wait you doubted me surviving that?"
"No! I said that I didn't...okay fine I'll admit I had a little doubt but you're okay now so...Ehhhh?"
Connie nervously laughed. She still felt a little sore in the throat however. Noticing this Steven knelt to Connie's level.
"Lift your neck up if you don't mind that is?"
Without delay Connie lifted her head so Steven could have a closer look. As expected he saw a light ringed bruise around the surface of the neck. Chuckling a bit Steven cracked his knuckles.
"A fixable problem."
With that being said Steven leaned his head forward and lightly kissed the wound. A pleasant tingling sensation occured within and in a matter of seconds the wound and discomfort was gone.
"Ill never stop being surprised by tha- Steven, behind you!"
"I know."
From behind Green Pearl tried to swing her arm in a desperate back handed motion at Steven's neck in an attempt to slice his head off until he blocked it with his Dia harden power. In response to the attack Steven jumped up, ramming his back into Green Pearl's face. The force knocked her away from them. Steven got himself up to his feet.
"(Right on schedule.) So you survived that? Impressive feat as a Diamond."
Steven just blankly starred at Green Pearl as she continued her monologue.
"Oh, it seems like you don't recognise me? Well then I'll just get us reacquainted. You know me as E-"
"Okay cut the bullshit okay Emerald."
That was unexpected. Steven seemed to know what Green Pearl was going to say next. Very unexpected indeed.
"Um I was going to say that my real name is-"
"Oh I know that you're really Green Pearl. No surprise there so just move on already."
"...Eh? (Wait...wait, wait, wait what's going on? Where's the shocked look on his face?!)"
This was not according to plan. Though she didn't shatter the other Pearl in front is Steven, which would've made the impact way more effective the plan was still going the way she wanted. As soon as Green Pearl revealed her true self Steven was suppossed to have a look of shock written across his face and then the next scene to open act three would flourish.
Yet for some reason the reaction, the lines, the set stage for the final resolution. They were all teetering off scale of the balance! No, not yet...not yet.
"Just letting you know right now, you can't beat me anymore as you are."
"Excuse me? What makes you think that I can't?!"
"It's just...your body my dude. Don't get me wrong you've gotten stronger and faster (for some reason?). But any gem could feel that the energy in your body can't contain all that uncontrollable power."
Green Pearl cocked an eyebrow. She felt that there was a sign in the way Steven was talking right now. It was then it hit her.
"You're absolutely right Universe. This body alone can't contain all the power I have obtained."
Putting two fingers to the green, smooth, gem on her forehead Green Pearl smirked once again.
"Ciao."
Suddenly a powerful burst of green lightning exploded from Green Pearl's body, her insane laughter echoed as she poofed.
"Holy shit...You did it!"
Connie excitedly hugged Steven tightly from behind. Peridot who was nearby stopped her electricity treatment temporarily due to her surprise and happiness.
"You actually did it you clod. Oh crap the others! Hmm so far so good, I didn't lose as much strength than I expected to. That's a good sign at least."
Now that the excitement was out of Connie's system there was just one more thing that needed to be done.
"Alright Steven, it's time to bubble this sociopath...Steven uh why are you just standing there?"
Connie was right. Steven just stood on the spot with his hands in his jacket pocket, motionless.
"Steven? Is there something wrong?"
"..."
"Steven?...Steven!"
What was going on with Steven all of a sudden? He was not resoonding even when Connie was grabbing his shoulder and shaking him lightly. That's not a good sign for anyone.
"Steven, please talk to me! What's wrong with you? Are you hurt somewhere?"
"...I haven't 'beaten' her yet."
Did Steven say what Connie thought he said?
"Maayybe it's from the electric buzzing in my left ear but I didn't hear what you just said, repeat that?"
"I said I didn't 'beat' her yet."
Welllll shit that wasn't misspoken at all. Steven really did say that crap! Apparently Peridot heard that to.
"Are you fucking braindead?! This isn't the time to be thinking with your fists! Bubble her right now!"
"No Peridot...I'm not leaving until I 'beat' her."
Meanwhile the green pearl gem started to glow while vibrating and shaking along the surface of the sand.
"STOP TALKING LIKE THAT! IF YOU DON'T BUBBLE THAT PSYCHO THIS SHIT, EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED UP TIL IS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN EXCEPT probably TEN TIMES WORSE!"
"Peridot's right. This gem has threatened to harm all of gem kind and got all of us involved in that goal. Luckily everyone that was in town was away so they wouldn't get hurt but you got to stop this Steven and bubble her now!"
Steven turned his head to directly look in Connie's eyes.
"You don't understand, I haven't 'beaten' her yet. Even if I bubble her she won't stop."
"What the hell are you talking about? She poofed herself, so that qualifies as Green Pearl being beaten!"
"Connie, I'm trying to tell you tha- you know what you'll understand soon enough."
"Wait no Steven!"
The pearl rattled bounced a bit until it shot up in the air and floated midflight, The glowing intensifying while crackles of electricity started to manifest more and more frequently as the minutes past.
"Steven, what are you doing, stop her!"
Despite Connie's pleas Steven still just stood his ground. The light began to form the body as expected from the regenerative process. But the body that was being formed appearance wise was different.
On the back of the legs and arms they each emmited a sickening snap as some sharp, thin jagged parts stuck out as if they were quills. The curly hair flowed upward as if there was a wind current and then it instantly hardened, spiking it in the process. Finally the lightish green eyes Green Pearl had turned into a sharper, deeper shade of green and the pupil slowly forming the shape of a vertical rhombus, reformation complete.
The newly reformed Green Pearl floated to the ground, their dainty feet touched the sand below. It was clear to Steven that this Green Pearl felt a whole lot more different than before. She became even more powerful than she was already. There was no way that this strength was obtained through extraordinary means. This strength was an impossibility for any gem especially a Pearl to ever obtain in their millennia.
Peridot was shaking like a leaf, her mouth was hanging open, completely speechless. She was glad that she wasn't alone. Somehow Connie was feeling an overwhelming sense of fear. While Green Pearl smiled once more she slicked back some of the hair that was on her face with her hand.
"Shall we proceed?"
Steven sharply exhaled, activating his aura in preparation.
"Greatly."
End of Ch.17