As 2020 is nearing its end, this story still goes on! It's time for the Crystal Gems to get closer to setting off!

By the one-week anniversary of the attack, Beach City was almost completely back in shape. While there was still several tasks to do, it mostly revolved around repaving streets, fixing damaged motor vehicles and picking up debris. What made the cleanup go so fast was thanks to Adamite and Lapis fusing into Sandstone on and off again whenever they had a job. Even now, the twenty-foot tall fusion was busy sealing all of the cracks and potholes in the town's asphalt all the while pleasantly humming to herself as Garnet was carrying a huge palette of shingles to repair a broken roof.

"Well, you seem happy," the smaller fusion observed, "Great work."

"Thanks. Need a hand with that?"

"No thank you. Between me and Cinnabar, tarring a roof is pretty easy." She then made a small flame appear in her left hand. "I almost wish Steven could've given me this power ages ago."

"I know what you mean. I can see why you stay fused 24/7. I feels so natural now I never want to separate. There is one thing…"

"Hm?"

"It's Cinnabar… The three of us were good friends in the past and we got to reconnect after so long. Now, though… She's said she's okay with me staying around but I can't help but feel like she's a third wheel."

"Then there's no shame in splitting up and having you three together again. It's not a contest about how long you can stay fused. All that matters is what makes you comfortable. If that means staying together forever, only doing it now and again or even adding Cinnabar then it's your call."

"Thank you for the advice, but I don't know about that last one. She's pretty wild with her power already and adding her to this would make be very… overwhelming."

"Well, that's all up to you. If you're interested in training later, I'm planning to work with Fluorite later. She wants to get the hang of her humanoid form more."

"How do you plan to help her there?"

"With Sugilite."

"The gem who more or less trashed an entire tower by herself?"

"We're going to Homeworld. We need every advantage we can get which, unfortunately, might mean a problem for you."

"How so?"

"Peridot's made it clear that Homeworld is one massive city with practically no ground left undeveloped. I'm not sure how that will affect your powers."

"Hm, I see. I love being together, but not enough to potentially compromise our mission. If that city is the case, Turquoise would be a valid option."

"True. We'll start working on a more concrete plan once the ship is being built. Until then, keep fixing up the place and enjoy being you. Once we're all finished, you'll have all the time in the world to figure out your relationship."

Sandstone appreciated the talk and only left because she had words to repair on the outskirts of town. As she left via tunneling, the massive hole she made sealing up behind her, Garnet just chuckled.

"Huh, new love. Almost makes me feel old." She then, looked at the hundreds of shingles she managed to effortlessly balance in one hand even when having her conversation.

"Almost."


Days continued to pass and soon the Crystal Gems had Beach City back to normal. With that done, it was now time to focus on constructing their ship and making their way towards Homeworld. The people immediately insisted on rebuilding the beach house and continually refused the team's protests that the rest of the town should come first. It was the one construction project they had nothing to do with and by the end of the week the new house was standing, fully furnished and stocked with all the essentials they needed plus whatever possessions they could salvage from the old house.

The group now put their effort into gathering up piece of wreckage they could find while Peridot led Pearl, Topaz and Bismuth in crafting the perfect vessel that would be both appropriate for a long-term voyage and have the firepower and speed to outpace anything Homeworld could throw at them.

Soon, though, they were finding their job far easier than they imagined. Parts of downed ships of all shapes and sizes were being shipped to their house via mail. At first, they were baffled where they came from until Pearl opened one of the boxes and found a note on it from Van.

"Dear Crystal Gems, this is the best effort we can in helping your mission. It's a small token given all the centuries you've been valiantly watching over us. We hope you all succeed and return so we can congratulate you like the heroes you are."

"Wow…" the gem gasped, "I can't believe it…"

"Pearl?" Lapis asked walking past, "Are you tearing up?"

"No, no, it's fine. I was just a little distracted. Any updates?"

"Well, with the parts coming to us like this we'll be far more productive."

"Oh. I mean, that's nice but…"

"You miss having an excuse to fly all over the planet?"

"Heh, guilty as charged."

Lapis then went into her room and left Pearl to her work only to find someone knocking on their door. The gem opened up to find Priyanka Maheswaran standing there.

"Oh, hello Doctor! What can I do for you?"

"Is Steven currently home?"

"Not quite, but I can easily fetch him." Pearl quickly generated a clone to run out into town and find him. Last she heard, he was with Connie training with Garnet. The mother accepted a cup of coffee and chatted with the gem for a bit while they waited for him to return.

"So, how are things at home?"

"Honestly? Pretty surreal. Not just from the fact that it's only the two of us at home, but from how open everyone's being about the matter of aliens."

"Well, there's simply no denying an attack like that. Have you gone back to work?"

"A few times, but it feels so different. It feels… emptier somehow."

"What makes you think that?"

The woman took a sip of her black java before answering. "I wanted to be a doctor to help people, make their lives better. And I've been satisfied with that for so long but now it feels so insignificant. Helping people with broken arms and fevers suddenly seems pretty small to defending the whole world from invaders."

"Priyanka, you should still feel proud of all that. I'm sure many people have looked up to you as a hero. Plus, we're only just now getting any formal recognition."

"Isn't Rose basically in every mythology known to man?"

"And several dozen only theorized but still… And those were her being spotted by chance. Seriously, though, you shouldn't compare yourself to that. Humans are capable of so much without any sort of powers."

"Thank you, but I still feel like I need this. Connie is dead-set on going and where would that leave me? Turning my hair grey becoming an old widow just passing time until my daughter might come back?"

Priyanka looked up to see Pearl staring her dead in the eye, causing to flinch slightly. "Would you like a refill?"

"No thank you…" the mother said, slowly sliding her cup back to the gem.

"Listen to me when I say this: We will win. We are finally going to put this fight to rest. There is no 'might come back.' We don't have a choice but to succeed. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good to hear!" Pearl chirped, suddenly looking much friendlier as she took the mug and washed it in the sink. Their conversation ended just in time as Steven and Connie entered through the front door.

"Hey Mom!" Connie greeted, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to Steven about the treatment we discussed before this mission starts."

"Oh, you mean that?" the boy said, quickly catching on, "Yeah, gimme one second."

The half-gem then walked up to the fridge and fished out a bottle of healing water. The gems all agreed to keep a few bottles in the house at all times in case another emergency happened and the fountain was unavailable again. He then spat in it and swished it around before handing it to a slightly grossed out doctor.

"Thanks… Here goes nothing…"

As unhygienic as it felt, the good doctor poured the water over herself just as Steven did to Connie weeks ago and a brief glow washed over her as the enchanted liquid took effect.

"Heh, I'm not even wet," remarked the doctor, "And I suddenly feel like I'm in my twenties again!"

"You even look younger!" Connie said, surprised to see that the wrinkles on her face disappear and her hair darken slightly almost like years of stress from medical school and mothering melted away.

"Well, I don't think me being confused for your older sister is our biggest concern," she joked, "But what about the whole crystal power bit?"

"It first happened to Connie when she was under emotional stress," Pearl noted, "So try thinking of something trying."

The mother already had an idea in her mind: the face of Doug and how she would never see it again. She closed her eyes and let the pain and loss still inside her bubble up and little by little her body changed. Her feet changed into light violet crystal and the growth spread up her legs and swallowed up her torso until it finally went out to her arms and up her head. When she opened her eyes again, she looked down and saw three gobsmacked people staring at her. Then she looked down and saw her own body and looked just as surprised.

"So, Mom, how're you feeling?" Connie asked.

"I have no idea. It feels so… similar. I can still feel everything, but I look down and my body is completely different!"

"Well, since there's no time like the present," Pearl offered, "Would you like to start training?"

"Yes, please. Will either of you be there?"

"I'll help," Connie said, "Makes sense since I've had these powers longer. Plus… It is pretty cool to see you like that."

"Well, it would be nice to have some mother-daughter bonding… No matter how strange this all is. Any ideas on where?"

"I know just the place!" Pearl said leading the two to the warp pad, "Steven, will you be joining us?"

"Actually, I'm gonna stay here. I have something I want to take care of first."

"Very well. Don't forget to stretch if you plan to resume training!" Soon the three were at the Sky Arena and Priyanka and Connie stood side by side in the middle of the platform with Pearl in front of them.

"Connie, I want you to demonstrate how your powers work first. Priyanka, you then follow her example as best you can."

The pair both nodded as their mentor made two duplicates for them to spar with. One of them immediately ran at Connie who wasted no time shifting into her crystal form and pulling a pair of swords out of her body. Their weapons met with the spear holding back both blades until Connie forced them apart by making a spine grow out of her stomach that almost stuck Pearl.

"Goodness!" the mother exclaimed, "I never pictured her doing that!"

"She's very tenacious and resourceful. As you can see, she's very capable of handling herself. Now then, try to keep that in mind."

The other clone moved towards the mother. Rather than block the first spear strike, she backflipped away.

"Mom?!" Connie said, "How can you do that?!"

"I was a gymnast in high school! I wanted to be in the Olympics until I nearly put myself in a wheelchair and decided to practice medicine instead!" The clone kept trying to attack her, but Priyanka cartwheeled and somersaulted around everything she did. All the while, she was laughing and hollering as if she was a kid again and not noticing the dents she was making in the floor and walls she bounced off of.

"Mom, this is still a fight!"

"She's right!" Pearl agreed, "This is supposed to be combat training!"

Hearing that, the mother's expression changed in a flash. The childlike glee was replaced with a determined glare as she sent a kick straight into the Pearl clone hard enough to send her flying backwards. Remembering how her daughter could make crystal weapons, she tried doing the same but ran into the problem. The ones she made were only a few inches long and difficult to grab.

"Um, Mom?" her daughter asked, already finished her spar and watching her, "You need a hand?"

"No, dear, I just… Need these things to cooperate!" she growled in frustration and suddenly the three crystals all flew out of her like bullets! The clone quickly deflected the shots and tried rushing in to close the distance. The doctor turned fighter, however, had other ideas. Having seen Connie change her whole arm into a blade, she focused on her right arm and suddenly her hands changed into a spiky stub. She pointed it at the oncoming clone and focused and suddenly dozens of tiny crystals flew out. The gem tried deflecting them all, but a few hit their mark in her arms, legs and one in her chest. She staggered to a stop long enough for Priyanka to smash her foot into the clone's head, poofing it much to the awe of the two spectators.

"Well…" Pearl gulped, briefly covering her own gem, "That was… enlightening. Well done…"

"Heh, sorry about that," chuckled the mother, now seeing all of the damage she made, "I really don't know my own strength like this. I hope you can fix all of this…"

"Adamite can handle that, trust me. We are going to work on accuracy of your projectiles especially if you're fighting in tandem with someone else."

"Understandable, if that's the case then…" she trailed off noticing Connie's mouth was still open, "Honey, is something wrong?"

"That… Was… AMAZING!" Connie cheered, hugging her leg, "You looked like an actual superhero!"

"Connie, are you tearing up?" the mother said, noticing the tiny stones coming out of her daughter's eyes.

"Sorry… It was just… I… Was scared I'd lose you too… I kept having these dreams… I guess that didn't help me being so cranky…"

"Connie, it's okay! You're allowed to feel something! Even now, you're still human!"

"Your mother has a point," Pearl added, "Physical conditioning is all fine and good, but you also need to maintain your emotional state. Prioritizing one over the other can lead to all sorts of problems."

"Speaking from experience?" asked Priyanka.

"Too much experience, unfortunately."

"Okay," resolved Connie, "I'll train up, but I won't go off the deep end. Plus, if I do, I have an entire family that's going to bring me down to Earth."

"Is that a problem?" her mother dared only to get a hug in response.

"Nope. I know Dad would want the same thing…"


Meanwhile, back at the beach house, Steven waited until Pearl and her two proteges left before walking up to the temple door and opening the way to the Burning Room. He looked up at the growing collection of gems in bubbles that littered the space above him and sighed. Every single one of them was a Homeworld soldier that could and would attack him if given the chance.

His eyes were especially drawn to the extra-large pink bubble near the center of the room. The enormous stone of Yellow Diamond was still there and yet he could hardly believe it. It was not even two weeks ago when he fought her and yet it still felt strange seeing it. It left a mixed feeling swirling around inside him that he would rather put aside. He instead turned his attention to a smaller bubble containing a silver stone.

The boy heard everything from the others about what happened in Beach City and the field while he dealt with The Cluster. While he was intrigued to hear Peridot and Bismuth fused into Ametrine and horrified to hear she had a Breaking Point, he was more surprised by her personality.

"Complete rookie," he recalled Bismuth saying, "Might have even been her very first mission but that was a good thing. If she was a seasoned fighter, Ametrine might have been in serious trouble!

"And completely logical too," Peridot added, "If the Diamonds were actually that pragmatic, they'd be ten times more effective!"

The words played back in his head as he leapt up and grabbed the odd purple and yellow bubble. The thought of a gem like that who actually remained completely focused on smarts instead of the grudge every other gem on Homeworld had was fascinating. That and considering the mission they were about to depart on, they could potentially use all the help they could get.

He popped the bubble and soon the gem inside quickly turned from an inanimate stone to a gem taller than Garnet and bulkier than Topaz who looked down at him.

"Identify yourself," she droned.

"Um… Steven Universe?"

"The alias for Rose Quartz." She then looked around the room and noticed the mass of other bubbles. "Is there you harvest captive gems?"

"Ugh, no! I just wanted to talk to you."

"To interrogate me for information?"

"No! I'm not trying to force anything out of you! It's because… You're not like other gems."

"You mean my combat capabilities?"

"Not just that… Everyone else from Homeworld won't listen to us! We don't want to fight! We just want to be left alone!"

Mercury gave him as disbelieving an expression as her face would allow. "You expect me to take that truthfully?"

"YES! Because it is! Why can't any of you just stop and listen to-"

Steven's rant was cut off when Mercury kicked him under his chin and sent him hurtling into the air. "I will not divulge any information to you. I will return to Homeworld with you as my captive."

"Alright, FINE!" Steven said, pulling out a spear, "I'll put you back in a bubble!"

The hybrid ran forward to strike and swung his spear at her legs, but she hopped over the attack with far more agility than he thought possible for a gem her size. As soon as she landed, she quickly followed up by trying to hook a punch into Steven but was stopped by a bubble. She wound up another attack but was surprised to see Steven bolt out of the room. She turned attention to freeing Yellow Diamond but failed to notice the whip wrapped her around her ankle until it was too late and was yanked into the main room of the house.

Mercury tried to pounce on him only for Steven to duck under her and then opened the door to the temple again. The stoic gem followed him in, not realizing she was in a different room, and suddenly realized she was under a massive shadow. She looked up and finally her impassive look was broken by pure dread.

"What… is that?!"

"That's the Cluster," Steven answered, standing under the gargantuan pink bubble that now took up almost all of Rose's room. It turns out that the Burning Room simply could not contain the small planetoid of a gem and thus it went to the next available area.

"It appears to be composed of hundreds of thousands of… fragmented gem shards?"

"Yep. You can thank Yellow Diamond for that idea. Scary, isn't it?"

"But… Why concoct such a creation?"

"To blow up the planet. Remember the earthquakes that were happening during your attack?

"That cannot be. There is a massive strategic blunder in this plan."

"What's that?" Steven asked, playing coy.

"If a fusion this size was to form after incubating, it's size could effortlessly rip apart the planet! Said planet would still have thousands of gems both on the ground and in orbiting vessels in the blast radius! It would be a catastrophic waste of lives and resources that would be far better served on other missions. It makes no logical sense!"

Mercury actually looked panicked now, staring up at the enormous captive with fear as if it would break free at any minute. Steven, while not happy to see her obvious discomfort, was beyond relieved as he walked up to her and placed a hand on her arm.

"You wanna know why that's here?" he asked, "Because the Diamonds don't care about you. They don't care about logic. They just want the Earth blown up."

"Impossible! That would be such a massive loss that would be completely unavoidable! The Diamonds are the most strictly logical beings in the universe!"

"Then what's that?!" Steven yelled, pointing at the colossal captive above them both before calming down.

"Okay, let me ask this: Do you think I'm lying?"

"The odds are extremely unlikely. To even gather that many shards would not only be an immensely long process, but the probability that you possess the technology to create such a creature are infinitesimal."

"Thank you. So, if the Crystal Gems and I didn't put that there, who did?"

Mercury wracked her brain for answers but absolutely nothing came. The logic that dominated her mind could only come to one conclusion: The Diamonds really did intend on annihilating the planet regardless of the costs. She could practically feel her brain overloading until something she heard pulled her back to reality.

"Hey, you good?" Steven asked, floating a few feet above the ground to look her in the eye but this only raised her confusion.

"You are showing apparent concern for my well-being. Why?"

"Because you don't have to be our enemy. Like I said, it's the Diamonds that want war all because of a petty grudge. We're happy to just let it all go."

"You consider the shattering of Pink Diamond unworthy of reprisal?" Mercury said coldly.

"No, but that's the thing… She's alive."

"You expect to believe that outrageous of a claim with no evidence?"

"Wait here," the hybrid said before heading out of the temple and then outside to the beach. Mercury contemplated following him and launching some form of attack, but she quickly settled on waiting until he got back. Said plans completely disappeared when he came back with a much smaller bubble in his hands with a very recognizable gemstone in it.

"That… Can't be…" she gaped.

"It is. Now do you see the point? The whole plan with the Cluster was for nothing. IF they went and blew up the whole world then Pink Diamond-"

"-Would be well and truly destroyed in the blast. The entire past era of gem history is a lie! My entire purpose means nothing! I-!"

"Whoa there, calm down! Look, Mercury, it'll be okay!"

"HOW?! I was almost atomized along with thousands of my compatriots in vain! So many gems captured or lost for schist! How could they do this?! How could the Diamonds, the ones running such an expansive empire, be so STUPID?!"

"Breathe!"

"Wha-?!"

"Mercury, just breathe, please? You don't need to lose it!"

The soldier did as was asked and brought her raging anger and betrayal under control after some time. Once she could actually think straight, her analytical mind turned back on Steven.

"You act so leniently with me," she noted, "Why? I tried to abduct you not even ten minutes ago."

"Because I forgive you. You're just confused and angry like everyone else on Homeworld. We want to help you."

"Help us? As in Homeworld? After the constant attacks we've made?"

"Yes. Mercury, can I ask you something?"

"Affirmative."

"What do you want?"

"My emotions are irrelevant. My mission is-"

"I didn't ask about that. What do you, as an individual, want? How do you feel?"

The gem thought long and hard before she spoke up. "I… am conflicted. If the conflict of our two allegiances is pointless, what am I destined for? Mercuries are designed specifically to attack high-priority targets."

"Well… Maybe you can try something else?"

"Such as?"

"Whatever you want. There's a whole planet of possibilities here."

"Are you offering me a place in your group?"

"If you want one, then sure!"

"I cannot go against the Diamonds. The odds are incredibly low to escape any direct confrontation with them."

"So, don't confront them. If you don't want to fight, then we won't make you."

"You sincerely mean that?"

"Yeah… We're not an army, Mercury. We're just a bunch of people who want to live life in peace. Would you like that?"

"…Perhaps."

"Okay then! In fact… I think I've got an idea on how you can help without going to Homeworld with us!"

Steven then laid out his plan to the alien which helped her make up her mind little by little. Eventually, he left the room and gave Mercury some time to her own devices. Having learned of the nature of Rose's room from her new ally, the gem summoned a few books to read to pass the time until she heard from Steven again. The first was an utterly gigantic stack of history books about the human race and various civilizations which she started working through. The people of this planet had already piqued her interest.

And so quite a bit happened this time! One crystal-powered mother is on the team and one bookworm-powerhouse is on board too! Lift-off is getting closer and closer but there's still a bit to be done. See you all next time!

Thank you all so much for reading! Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below!