Chapter 24:

Alm woke to find his armor covered in a thin layer of snow. The sky was a soothing pink color, the sunrise capturing the distant peaks and mountain spires, but as he attempted to sit up and enjoy the view, a gust forced him back down. He waited for the distant roaring and whistling of the gale to cease, as it swept its way through every opening and chasm like an invisible tongue, before finally pushing himself to his feet.

The air was thin, just as it had been for the past five days, but Alm found it easier to breathe this morning than before. The Rigelian Capital, though long withheld from official maps for strategic purposes, was rumored to be nestled within a valley, the depths of which were comparable to a standard Valentian plain.

Garnet was resting her head against the mountain wall, but Alm could never tell if she were truly sleeping or not. Carocol seemed to be asleep, though he shivered as another gust cut through him. As headstrong as he was, Carocol had never experienced a proper Wyrmstym before. Alm retrieved his armor, dusted the snow off, and covered Carocol with it. He opened his eyes for a brief moment and nodded, which until that point was the most affection Carocol had shown Alm.

It wasn't until he had done this, however, that Alm realized Rose and Pearl were gone. Not wanting to disturb the others, Alm merely sat down where he had been sleeping, believing they had gone to gather food. There was another angry gust, and Alm looked longingly at his armor.

"...it was last night, I swear upon White Diamond's throne…"

Alm wasn't sure if the high-pitched whisper he had just heard was a trick of the wind, but the next sentence he heard convinced him it wasn't so.

"...Garnet, she deserves to know…"

"...can know...and neither can Alm or Carocol…"

The voices were coming from above them. As quietly as he could, he began to scale the mountain wall leading back up to the main road. Once again, the wind proved to be uncooperative, this time blowing from the west and nearly costing him his balance. A thick chunk of stone broke free from the wall, on a collision course with Carocol's head. Whether it was instinct, or merely a lucky move, Alm would never know, but Carocol rolled over on his right side, the rock missing him by the length of a single arrowhead.

Alm finally reached the path, and peered over the edge. A thick layer of snow was covering the ground, making Alm's hands burn. He couldn't hold on like this forever, but something told him that he did not want to be seen.

He recognized Pearl, but the other figure was completely unfamiliar. Perhaps it was the fact that his eyes were at ground level, but this figure towered over Pearl, who was quite tall in her own right. It's hair resembled the head of an elderly flower, held aloft by a slim torso and long, supple legs supported by a matching pair of booties. It looked like one of Celica's childhood dolls had come to life and grown to the height of a dragon.

"I agree, the humans don't need to know who you really are...but Garnet does. She trusts you," Pearl said.

"She would never trust me again if she knew who I really was," the thing said in Rose's voice, and Alm had the strange feeling he was still dreaming. "None of the remaining Crystal Gems would. Someday, when this is all behind us, I'll tell everyone, I can assure you…"

"I'm not saying today, my D-Rose. But soon. We've lost a lot of our friends in this war. For all we know, Bismuth may have met the same fate as Tiger's Eye…"

"Don't say that," the giant said.

"Sorry...But the remaining Crystal Gems need to know who you are, so they'll continue to support you when the war is over."

"But we still don't know when that will be, Pearl. Eventually, yes, Yellow will grow impatient and just let us have this world, even if I was shattered here."

Pearl squeaked loudly at the word 'shattered.'

"Sorry, I meant if Pink was shattered here. I just wish I had more time to prepare for Pink's shattering. That Gilgamesh guy threw a Pebble into our plans."

"Maybe not. Maybe if we can prove Gilgamesh shattered Pink, the Diamonds and their soldiers will leave us alone!"

The giant with Rose's voice shook her head.

"No, the Diamonds would never believe a human could shatter one of their own, no matter how powerful that human might be. I was the last gem spotted near Pink's throne; that's all the Diamonds need."

She stomped the ground, and Alm had to duck as the impact scattered mountain rock in his direction.

"I just want this war to be over. I want to help humans, not fight the Diamonds forever."

The giant sighted, and knelt down before Pearl, putting two giant fingers under the gem's chin.

"I'm sorry Pearl, I just...I hate my normal form."

"But you have to, or your gem would be damaged…"

"I don't care. I want to be Rose"

"My Diam-Rose, you know I'll support anything you do, but we need to think about our kind. Our friends. Bismuth is certainly wandering this continent, alone, scared. She's strong, but that Jasper is stronger than any of us, even you. And if Garnet gets captured, Ruby and Sapphire will be shattered on the spot."

'Rose' placed a hand on Pearl's shoulder as she shivered uncontrollably.

"It's cold here, I'm scared, and I just...I just want to go home…"

"We can't, Pearl. And we made a promise to help Alm see his mission through. We're almost to the final battle. Once this is done, we can find Bismuth. We can reform the Crystal Gems, and take down what remains of the Diamond Authority's forces. My Pearl…"

She lifted Pearl into the air and wrapped her arms around the gem. It was a wonder she didn't crush the gem's lungs.

"It will be okay, I promise…"

The embrace lasted for only a few seconds, before they both began to glow. Alm recalled where he had seen this before, and pulled himself onto the main path to get a clear look. A stray rock was cut loose under Alm's boot, and the blunt sound of it tumbling down the valley echoed off the surrounding mountains. The glowing figures, who had yet to become one, both turned their heads in Alm's direction.

"Alm…." they said simultaneously, before the power of their fusion rebounded and sent them flying away from one another. Rose took the form of the giant for a brief second before reverting to her familiar shape. Pearl was the first to get to her feet, gritting her teeth nervously as Alm stared at the both of them.

The two gems exchanged glances, their mouths trembling and making odd noises.

"I can explain!" Rose began.

"No, I can!" Pearl said louder.

"Pearl, I can tell him," Rose said, but as Pearl opened her mouth Alm simply turned around and began descending back down into the campsite.

By the time Alm returned to the campsite, Carocol had stirred, and handed Alm his suit of armor back with a sheepish expression. Garnet shook her head and got to her feet to greet Alm, but Alm laid down and closed his eyes before she could say anything. Or rather, before he could say anything.

Alm closed his eyes, trying to get to sleep before Rose and Pearl returned, but when he realized it was impossible, decided to feign it instead. It would be a half hour before Pearl and Rose finally returned, and Alm could feel their eyes on him before they too sat down.

The conditions had taken a turn for the worse by the evening. The day had grown warmer, but an overcast sky made the path dark and moody, and a miserable sleet pounded the Crystal Deliverance as they marched towards the capital. Carocol and Garnet were the only ones who seemed in any spirits to continue, while Pearl and Rose hung back behind the party, nervously glancing at Alm when his back was turned to them.

Alm, in turn, glanced nervously in Garnet's direction when her back was turned. Though Garnet seldom looked in his direction when they traveled, he had the feeling that somehow, she knew he was staring at her. He could only hope she couldn't read minds.

Garnet always gave the impression she knew more about the current situation than anyone else, and though it sometimes put him on edge, it was reassuring to know that she was on his side. But now, the roles had been reversed, and Alm knew something Garnet didn't. He wasn't sure what he would tell Garnet, or if he would tell her anything.

Mycen had raised him well. To always tell the truth, even if it was inconvenient. He could remember the day Mycen had taught him that. It had always been Mycen's belief that Alm's focus was better in combat, and so he often shared his philosophies with him as they sparred. On this day, they had spear training, and were practicing in the meadow outside of Ram Village.

"The truth can hurt," he had told Alm that day, before sweeping his leg and pinning him with his training spear. He reached down and helped his grandson to his feet. "For example, you are quite hopeless with the spear."

"Gee, thanks," Alm said. He was 12 at the time, the age boys were the most 'fresh' with their teachers. Alm was no different, but Mycen remained patient with the lad.

"I tell you this because I want you to be a better soldier. To focus on your strengths. I believe we have reached the limits of your expertise with the lance."

"But what if I need to use a spear in battle someday?"

It was a rare sight to see Mycen laughing, but he did at this question, making Alm blush as red as the apples in the orchard surrounding them.

"You forget that I am a specialist with the lance, one of Zofia's best in a past life. Perhaps I was wrong to say 'hopeless,' for you would hold your own against an average brigand or mercenary. But Mila help you if you encounter a spearman quite like myself."

It was true, and Alm's specialty had always been the blade, which was far quicker and less cumbersome than the lance. He had also proven to be a decent shot with a bow.

"Remember Alm," Mycen said, lifting both training spears over his shoulder. "In battle, your life can be cut down in an instant. Your instincts and talent can only get you so far. Life is your most precious resource, and you must have allies who you can trust with it. Allies who do not lie or conceal inconvenient truths. If your partner is poisoned, do you tell them or let them die?"

"Tell them, of course," Alm answered, following Mycen as they walked back towards the village.

"But say the poison has already gotten too far, and their time is borrowed. Would you still tell them, or let them die peacefully, unaware that they are even gone.

Alm was unsure how to answer. He pictured Celica in his arms, sputtering as some unknown toxin poisoned her veins and seized her muscles, her eyes closing as if falling asleep. Perhaps it would be better than if she were to die a sobbing mess.

"You don't know? Perhaps it's true that they would die peacefully, but what if they have a family? Someone they wish to bid farewell too? The trust between soldiers goes beyond the men themselves, but extends to every part of their lives. This, Alm, is the reality of war; you will not serve with mindless minions of a king, but real men and women of principle. And as you put your life and everything you have in their hands, so do they in yours.

"Now, let's get you a sword. Another way of surviving is having the proper weapon…"

Alm had always kept the advice close to his heart, and was always forthcoming with his friends, perhaps a bit too much so at times. Tobin still hadn't forgiven him for ratting him out to his parents about accidentally firing a training arrow into the apothecary, shattering countless bottles of rare potions.

He always told the truth, but why couldn't he do it now? It hadn't been his business when Tobin got in trouble, and this business wasn't his either. Perhaps it was better she didn't know. Then again, how long could Rose maintain the lie? As Pearl had once explained, a gem's power was limited, and expending it by taking new forms, receiving bodily harm, or coping with vast emotions would eventually splinter their gem. No gem, not even a Diamond, was immune to that kind of damage.

So what made Pink Diamond so different?

"W-w-will we reach the capital t-today?" Rose shivered.

"Yes," Alm said, leaving it at that. He couldn't help but resent Rose at this point in time, and the added pressure of keeping her secret when perhaps the most important battle of his life was nearly upon them.

"By nightfall, in fact," Garnet said.

Just as Garnet predictd, night came, and with it came the pitch-black towers of Rigel Castle, barely visible in the limited light. Another ten paces up the hill, and the entire Castle was visible. Two torches had been lit at the castle entrance, bright enough to illuminate most of the surrounding town.

Alm had expected far more from the capital of the mighty Rigel. In fact, it hardly seemed like an improvement over Goldstarch. Hundreds of candlelight windows stared up at them with beady orange eyes. The graystone streets were more like brittle coal, and even from a distance they looked uneven and weak. No villagers paced the streets with their heads buried in discussion, nor did any merchants peddle their goods; instead, legions of soldiers populated the streets like beady black ants, flashing their weapons at anyone who got too close.

The castle itself was as imposing as Alm believed it would be. It was nothing like the sprawling, golden castles of storybooks, but more like a porcupine's back, with spires and towers springing out of the main palace with little regard to dimensions or aesthetic.

"This is impossible! That castle looks impenetrable, and the city guards...we're outmatched," Pearl moaned, her face even more pale than usual. "Are we sure that Gilgamesh guy is here?"

"If Berkut is here, then so is he."

"I don't even want to know how many soldiers are down there, and even if we did make it past that army, we're still no match for Gilgamesh

Alm looked to Carocol, of all people, for support, but even he returned Alm's gaze doubtfully. Perhaps they were right. They had come so far, true, but what kind of leader would he be if he led them to certain slaughter?

He scanned the valley for any hidden passageway, any secret road that would take them around the city to the castle, but his eyes were not trained like that of a smuggler or a thief. And even then, what would greet them when they arrived at the castle? Certainly more soldiers with superior conditioning to the city guard, along with Gilgamesh himself.

"I thought perhaps we could find a way to do this, but now that we're here, I just don't see it. We're impossibly outmatched…."

"That's never stopped us before."

Everyone turned to face Garnet, the fire of the castle's torches reflected in her goggles.

"When I...when we joined the Crystal Gems..." Garnet began, gazing down at the gemstones embedded in her palms, "I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think we stood a chance. We, an unstable fusion, a simple Pearl, a rebellious quartz and a dozen misfits would be going to war with the most powerful empire in the galaxy. Lose, and we would be shattered forever.

"But then Ruby felt what Sapphire felt. Normally, Sapphire can see the future, but for the first time, she felt it. Pain, grief, doubt, defeat...and then, happiness. Victory. We didn't know how it would come to be, but it was the knowledge that it would eventually be that pushed us on. That continues to push us to be the best Crystal Gems we can be."

Garnet pushed her goggles up above her forehead, revealing three piercing eyes, one bue, one red, and the one in between a deep shade of maroon.

"Is that what you feel now?" Carocol asked. Garnet pushed her goggles back over her eyes, and for a second an orange glimmer traveled down her cheek. She cleared her throat and continued.

"We will win this battle," was all she said, her gauntlets appearing in her hands.

"How, Garnet?"

Garnet smirked.

"We have powers humans don't. And come to think of it, so do you two."

Alm wasn't sure what she meant by this. It was true that Carocol, thanks to Rose, was by all means immortal. But what could he do? Sure, he was good with the blade, but he was hopeless at magic and mastered no weapons other than swords...

"Rose, Pearl, let's fuse."

There was an amusing contrast in Rose and Pearl's reactions. The former squealed and emitted a cheerful "woohoo!" at the prospect of fusing with Garnet, while Pearl simply trembled and put a hand over her mouth.

"Garnet, are you...quite sure?"

"With our combined size, we'll frighten most of the people in the town so they're out of harm's way. And hopefully, a fair amount of soldiers will lose their composure as well."

"But you won't attack," Alm said, for even though Rigel would be on the other side of the field of battle, Gilgamesh and Berkut were the only true enemies. He would not condone the destruction of Rigel's sacred capital.

"No, but a good roar will do the trick."

"Can I do the roaring this time?" Rose said, bouncing on her heels in excitement. "Eeeh, oh this is so exciting…"

"Sure. Pearl, you work the legs. Ruby and Sapphire can handle the rest. Oh, and Pearl, if you step on my foot like last time, you'll be operating the abdomen from here on out."

It would be typical for Pearl to stamp her feet or become defensive, but Pearl merely smiled at the joke and got in position.

"Rose, don't you think fusion would be a bit excessive?"

Pearl's eyes twinkled mysteriously at Rose, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Of course not, let's just do it already!"

Garnet's palms began to glow, as did the gem on Rose's stomach. Rose folded her arms over her stomach and fell back, Garnet catching her just before she hit the ground, looking deeply into her eyes. They both looked up at Pearl, who looked as if a fly had flown into her throat.

With an uncertain glance in Alm's direction, the gem on Pearl's forehead began to glow. Dancing seemed to come more naturally to Pearl, whose legs and arms seemed to flow like water on their own volition. Carocol and Alm were transfixed by this bizarre ritual, as the three danced around the clearing, each possessing their own unique style. Garnet's limbs were as flexible and loose as a snake's body, and Alm had forbidden dreams about abdominal motions like hers…

Pearl, on the other hand, resembled the typical ballroom dancer, and the way she moved reminded him of the dances at the Ram Harvest Festival every fall.

Rose clearly had no concept of dance; it looked more like a squirrel had crawled into her dress, and she were trying to shake it out.

The light of their gems slowly grew stronger and stronger until finally, the three met in the middle of the clearing with their backs to one another, forming one amorphous white shape that slowly stretched to the sky.

Carocol and Alm looked up, up, up as the shape grew taller and thinner, until finally an eight-armed monstrosity was leering down at them. It was sporting the same shades as Garnet, but that was where the similarity to any of the gems composing it ended. Its skin was a wild yellowish-green color, though this far from the strangest feature of this new gem. That title belonged to its face, or rather faces, with the top one's mouth wrapped over the forehead of the bottom one as if trying to devour it. The unblinking eyes pulsed with a red color that could rival the luster of the sunset and the ferocity of a gargoyle.

The gem leaned back and roared, the noise echoing off the surrounding peaks and congregating in the village. They opened their mouth(s?) again, and Alm cupped his hands over his ears. This would be unnecessary.

In a matter of seconds, the gem had begun to glow again, and Garnet, Rose, and Pearl landed face first on the ground.

The fusion had done their job, however, but only partially. The few residents wandering the streets seemed to be shrieking in terror, and Alm could see the shadows running about, looking for shelter. The city guard, however, pointed their weapons in the direction of the mountains, before retreating in the direction of the castle. Alm could only watch as the gate opened, and a single shadow emerged from the inner sanctum, sauntering towards them.

"That's Berkut!"

But where is Gilgamesh?

"Pearl?"

The gems weren't paying attention to the developments below. Instead, Rose had her arms wrapped around Pearl, trying to help her trembling body to her feet.

"Why did you break the fusion?" Garnet said, putting her arms on Pearl's shoulders. Pearl's expression was vacant.

"Look!" Carocol called out.

It wasn't what Carocol saw, but what Alm heard that got his attention; a roar even louder than the fusion's. Thousands of dark shapes were emerging from the castle barracks, all sorts of weaponry brandished. The army broke off into three distinct lines as it moved through the city, but eventually reformed at the entry gate and began making their way up the mountain trail towards them.

"What do we do?" Rose said, finally seeing it for herself.

There was nothing else to do. Alm drew his weapon without a word, and moved into the center of the path, waiting for the onslaught to come. Carocol quickly followed suit, grasping his blade like one would a garden shear. Rose and Garnet nodded at one another, summoning their weapons and joining the humans.

Though Pearl had only moments ago endured some sort of emotional trauma, she eventually came to, and seeing her two friends preparing to fight for their lives, drew her spear and moved in beside them.