With Steven and Connie out of commission and Black seemingly gone, it seems like victory is assured...but at what cost?
...
As the Crystal Gems recovered from Steven's attack set upon them by Black Diamond, they looked around for their enemy or the boy he was controlling like a puppet. However, all they found in the immediate area was a normal unconscious Steven and Connie, with Peridot still sitting nearby as she watched over the two. As the group regained their individual bearings and moved towards the group, they could assume that something had happened as Steven still had fresh tears on his face, Connie looked as if her body was still adjusting to a recovery from a recent injury, and Peridot's grief was all too clear.
"Peridot, what happened? Where's Black Diamond?" asked Pearl
"Black...he attacked me and Connie while we were mid air. I tried to save her, but I...I wasn't quick enough. She got injured badly. When Steven saw this, he attacked Black in a fit of rage and sent him packing. I'm unsure as to where he is right now, but that doesn't matter. We need to get these two out of here...Connie especially. After he sent Black off, Steven turned back to normal and healed what he could. I don't think there's anything major on the outside of her, but the interior is what I'm afraid of.
"We'll take them both to Rose's fountain." said Garnet. "I'm sure they could both use the pick-me-up. Pearl, Peridot, could you two stay behind and help out however Homeworld needs? If Black is finished, then I'm sure there'll be a bit of confusion as to where we go from here. On the off chance he isn't though, you'll need the diamonds for that."
"Yeah, we can do that Garnet. Just make sure they're both alright." said Pearl.
As the fusion carefully picked up both of the unconscious teens, she and the rest of the group set out for the nearest warp pad while Pearl and Peridot began to make their way back to the kindergarten battlefield. After sometime, the duo arrived at the area to find that the few gems still under Black's control were still fighting. With the leadership no where to be seen and Homeworld's numbers greater than their enemy's, victory seemed assured. As the two approached the diamonds, who had moved to the back of the battlefield to move gems around as necessary, they noticed the disappearance of one of the trio.
"Yellow, Blue, either of you need any help?" asked Pearl
"No, I believe we're just wrapping up here. There's still a good few of Black's gems fighting, with one or two still being enhanced. Me and Blue are overseeing it to make sure nothing goes wrong. But enough about that, what happened with Black and Steven? When we saw him transform into that creature again, we feared the worst, both for Homeworld and him."
"Steven's fine, at least from what we can tell. We managed to get him to revert back to his normal form. As for Black Diamond, Steven ended up attacking him after an...unfortunate turn of events. He sent him flying, but as for where he is now, we couldn't say", explained Peridot.
"For now though, Steven and Connie both are being taken off planet back to Earth to heal up. We stayed behind to help finish anything that's left. said Pearl.
"I see. Well, we'll have to make sure to track him down then. While I am glad to hear Steven is back to normal and back in more friendly company, none of this is over until we have Black Diamond's gem bubbled away." said Blue. "Once White returns, we'll begin to send out a few scouts to track him down."
"Speaking of which, where is White? We noticed that she wasn't her when we got back."
"We don't know. Once we were sure that the battle was getting under control, we returned here so we could continue directing gems around without being in the way, but we saw that White had disappeared. For how long she's been gone, we couldn't say either." explained Blue.
"That's concerning. Do you think she's alright?" said Pearl
"Please, we already know that her powers and Black's can't effect either of them, and I doubt any of these gems could take her down, not without a larger force at least. She probably wandered off to deal with some things. Even with Era 3, she'll still be cryptic every now and again with us."
With White's disappearance written off for the time being, the group continued finishing up the battle. However, in the near distance, close to the direction Steven and Black darted off in, a small crater could be found. Within in it lied a large gem. As he lay, still in shock with what had just happened, Black Diamond noticed a figure approaching the crater.
"Hello...sister."
"Brother."
"Seems you still know how to show up at the worst times...even after all these years."
"Yes, seems so. You don't look too good. As I've heard the earthlings say a couple times, has karma finally come around for you?"
"Hmph, seems so." said a wounded Black. "I guess even after all of this, I wasn't destined to rule Homeworld after all...all that time and effort into planning and directing...all for nothing."
"I wouldn't quite say that. After all, you would have won we're it not for the Crystal Gems."
"Yes...them. Them...and Steven."
"Heh, yes...and Steven. Am I to believe that he did the impossible yet again?"
"Seems that way. Everything was under control one minute, and then the next, I'm being tossed about like a rag doll."
"While I may not be able to share that opinion as I was fortunate enough to avoid having to get into a physical skirmish with him, I can say we both have seen him perform such incredible feats. He talked me out of my ways and changed my mind, and he broke your control...even if for a bit."
"Honestly, I'm not sure he was truly even under my control, at least not nearly as much as the other gems. What I said to him before his transformation...I meant it, even if a little. The actions that he took every time he encountered his old allies favored them more than me. He still achieved his tasks...but he left out enough to give you all a fighting chance.
"And that's the 'problem' with Steven. He sees the best in everyone and everything. He strives to keep the peace, regardless of the side he aligns himself with. Even when I had all his friends captured and defeated, he still chose to try and talk to me rather than move to violence. Underestimating his compassion was the result of the downfall for both of us."
"Yeah...I suppose your right in that case."
The two sat in silence for a few moments until it was broken again.
"You know dear sister, he tried talking to me as well before I converted him. Even had me considering the offer. He wanted me to come to Homeworld, plead my case before you all, and attempt to remedy our past differences so that we could all coexist."
"I see. To tell you the truth Black, while I would opposed the idea at first, considering our past history, I would have welcomed you into the fold still. With Steven's help, I would have no doubt that he would have managed to find a way to make it work between us. I will admit to you now also, I have missed our time together, even with our differences. It was nice to have someone who could relate to our way of thinking, to have someone who's been there with you since the beginning. I am sorry for how things turned out between us brother...and for the actions I took after your first defeat. While I may have thought otherwise back then, I can see that keeping you out of our history and attempting to erase you from gem existence was wrong of me. I hope that you can one day forgive me."
"Oh stop now." Black said, as he went to stand. As he did, his size became his normal form. Now equal in height with White, he continued. "Hearing you apologize is odd...but not unexpected, at least not until recently. If you had said any of this to me before this war began, I would have laughed in your face and called you a liar...but now, I understand that you all have truly changed. And while I cannot say I am sorry for the actions I took...I am sorry I had to take them. What I did is something that I chose to do without any sort of hesitation, but I'm sure now that there could have been another way. Regardless though, this is what's happened and this is where we are. And with that, unlike how our first conflict way back when went, I will say to you and all of Homeworld, that I concede. I've lost and you've won dear sister.
"Black..."
"Don't say anymore, please. This is what I want. Who knows, maybe in a few millennia, we could give this another go. But until then White, I bid you farewell...Please, take care of the planet we've both grown so fond of."
Shortly after saying this, Black Diamond poofed, leaving behind nothing more than a loud poof and a generous amount of dust. Once everything settled, White saw his gemstone on the ground. With a sigh and a mixed look of sorrow and relief, White bubbled the gem. As she looked at it, she noticed the lack of energy that seemed to be residing from the stone.
"Farewell brother. Hopefully we can try to again one day." Shortly after, White began moving back to the battlefield.
Meanwhile, back at the kindergarten, gems were continuing the skirmish. However, suddenly, all the fighting came to a halt. All the gems that were under Black's control had seized up. Before any one could process what was happening or move to do anything, each of the gems began to poof. As the remainder of the gems that we're being controlled disappeared, leaving behind multiple gemstones, everyone looked around as if they were expecting something to happen. Seeing the confusion of the gems still on the battlefield, the diamonds began to process the events.
"Yellow, what just happened?
"I'm not sure Blue. We should stay on guard though. This could be another trap after all."
"This is no trap Yellow." Hearing this, the two diamonds, alongside the rest of the gems on the battlefield looked around. After a couple moments, they noticed White Diamond had appeared on top of the edge of the kindergarten. Now overlooking everyone, she presented the bubble she had.
"Black Diamond has been defeated. The gems that were under his control are free. Homeworld is victorious!"
Hearing this, all the remaining fighters roared in celebration, while the two diamonds, alongside the Crystal Gems that stayed behind, sighed in relief.
"Excellent. Now then, gems, we must begin our recovery from this war. Let's get these gemstones recovered and present. Leave no stone behind." ordered Yellow.
As recovery efforts began to go underway, the morale was raised as the knowledge of Homeworld reigning victorious lifted up the spirits of everyone. The only ones not in a full on celebration were the diamonds and the Crystal Gems, each of whom had their thoughts set to Earth, as they each hoped that the day was truly victorious and that Steven and Connie both would recover well enough from the events that had transpired.
As the events on Homeworld came to an end, Garnet and the others warped away to Rose's fountain, where they treated the two young adults. Once it had appeared that any and all injuries had been treated, the group elected to return to the temple. Upon their arrival to the still messy house from Peridot's assault on Red, they set Steven up in his bed and Connie up on what was left of the couch (although it had some tatters from the attack, it was still decent enough to use). Seeing that the two weren't going to wake up anytime soon and that there weren't many other options, the group, minus Amethyst who elected to stay behind to watch over the duo, returned to Homeworld to help recovery efforts.
...
YA BOI LIVES! Seriously though, sorry for the lack of updates. I'm just gonna say it, this week sucked. Without going into detail, let's just say life decided it wanted to become a thing and give a firm reminder that adulting sucks (if there are any kids or young adults here, take my word for it, stay young. Growing up is a trap. 2/10, would not recommend most of the time). Regardless though, we ain't dead or done yet. There be plot to develop still, though I'll admit nothing as good as the past events (at least not for a minute...)
The two teens are safe and resting, Homeworld is recovering, and Black Diamond is poofed and no more. Everything seems to be coming together nicely.
Off the top of my head, thinking there'll be one or two more chapters for Control before I try to make a what if or two about what could have happened (or what almost happened as there are some areas that nearly came out very different) and before I move into what comes after (as I said, I'm trying to tie this into Future canon. Still have some ways to go to get there I'm afraid).
Thanks for the patience and support everyone. As I said, life happened and I got sidetracked. I am working this weekend, but I believe (right now) that I should be able to get that one or two chapters out before Monday (I promise nothing, but at the same time, I won't say that it won't happen either). Happy Friday all, hope the week was good and I hope the weekend is better. Stay safe out there and I'll see y'all in chapter 41.
Victorious by Skillet