Chapter 7
Pearl threw out a map of Empire City on the main table as everyone in the group huddled over it on every side. "Alright, if my deductions are right, in order for Carnelia to get her Nega-Dust around the city as quickly as possible, she needs to have Chromites stationed in these three areas." Pearl placed a large thumb tack in each spot, one in Empire Park, one in the Muscial District, and one in the China Town. "Alright then, who'll take what?" Pearl asked as she crossed her arms.
Garnet looked over the map as she leaned on the table with both hands, "I would like to take care of Empire Park along with Amethyst. The areas are really open that would have a lot of Chromites give the possibility of surrounding us."
"Which those situations we're really good with." Amethyst smirked.
"Also, when push comes to shove, she and I can fuse into Sugilite." Garnet continued, making Amethyst a little hesitant in what her friend said, "W-Wait, are you sure about that, Garnet? You know how unstable she can get sometimes." Amethyst commented.
"And the very fact that you said that makes me know she'll be better than before." Garnet smiled at Amethyst who immediately blushed a light purple.
Labra clapped her hands together with a big smile, "I would like to take the Musical District with Pearl!"
"Well, someone's very eager." Pearl laughed lightly at Labra's enthusiasm.
"Of course!" Labra chimed, "It's been forever since I was able to fight alongside you. It'll be just like old times during the Rebellion!"
"Well then, I think that part is settled." Pearl tilted her head with her hands on her hips.
The whole time, Zircon was twirling the blade of his sickle into the table, making a little circular cut in the table, "So that leaves China Town to me and Steven." Zircon's eyes opened wide as he felt Steven clinging to him with closed eyes and a bright smile, "Me and Zircon, fighting together again!" Zircon looked away, letting a little smile form on his face, "Alright nut-head, don't slow me down like usual."
"Don't worry! I've been training since the day you left." Steven reassured Zircon even though the Bloodstone was only teasing the Rose Quartz.
"Well then, happy to hear that." Zircon chuckled before looking over at the others, "Alright, let's get ourselves ready. I'm not gonna let another city fall to that witch…"
Hours Later
Everyone was set up in the different locations as they were all off to the side observing the civilian life as people were still wandering around the parks and streets. Over in China Town, Steven and Zircon were looking out a window in restaurant at one of the tables. "Look at them, Steven…they have no idea of what's about to happen. They're just living their lives with such care-free, never knowing that could easily end within a mere moment." Zircon talked in a serious tone, only for the moment to be broken up by a loud, slurping sound. Zircon's eyes narrowed as he looked over to see Steven drinking out of a noodle bowl. After finishing it up, he placed it on the table with a little burp, "One more please!" He called out to the waiter as Zircon was slowly chuckling as it escalated into full out laughter. Steven's head tilted as he looked over at his friend, "Um, did I say something?"
"Hahaha! N-No. No no no." Zircon started to calm down, trying to breathe normally as he waved dismissively at Steven. "I honestly just wish I had your lack of fear."
"…Zircon, I am afraid…" Zircon's smile faded quickly as he saw the usually bubbly Steven frown. "Not just of the current situation…I've been afraid for the past couple of months…" Zircon caught on quickly to what Steven was talking about. "Ever since you left I've been constantly afraid…afraid I would lose the others too, afraid that I wouldn't be strong enough to prevent a future incident like that, afraid that…afraid that I would never see again the only person who I've considered as a brother…" Zircon felt his spirit breaking with the more Steven was talking. On that last note, Zircon felt his spirit shatter and sink to the bottom of his stomach. He couldn't say anything…what could he say? Well, there was one thing. "Waiter! Two noodle bowls and two roasted ducks!" Zircon called out, making Steven's head jerk up to look at him. Zircon eyed over at Steven with a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile that Steven never really seen Zircon make. That smile was of pure bliss. "Hey, if we're gonna go out today. We might as well go out in a blaze of glory and full stomachs." Zircon stated.
"YEAH!" Steven yelled out.
Hours Later
In Empire Park, Garnet's head tilted up as she looked out, towards the park. "They're here…" Garnet said as Amethyst fell out from the tree next to her, "AH! Ow…"
Pearl and Labra were waiting in an alleyway off of Musical District as she readied her spear and Labra readied up her own weapon, a War Fan. "Ready?" Pearl asked. Labra merely nodded her head with a serious look on her face for once.
Finally, Zircon was still looking out the restaurant window as he noticed something zip across the rooftops. His eyes glared as he lightly tapped awake a napping Steven. He cutely snored awake, "H-Huh? Wha? What is it?" Steven mini-panicked as he was startled awake.
"They're here, Steven." Zircon informed as he stood up from the chair, readying a sickle in each of his hands.
Within the minute, the sounds of terrified civilians filled up the entirety of the three areas as Chromites lunged out from every hiding spot and every city orifice as they went on the attack. As they did, so did the Crystal Gems with each group launching out from their individual observation areas. Garnet was the first to start off the fight by sending three Chromites flying, at once, with a single, sending them all splattering into a tree while Amethyst tried to slice up some more with the spiked studs on her whip. Labra used powerful gusts of wind to send Chromites flying into the air as Pearl twirled around, in a graceful jump, as her spear sliced them to pieces.
After shield bashing one of the Chromites away, Steven kneeled down and readied his shield up as Zircon leaped up from it and threw his sickles in every which way, slicing through multiple Chromites. After Zircon landed, Steven ran over to him, "I think we allowed enough time for the civilians to get away. Should we use that weapon you made now?" Steven asked.
"Yeah, go grab them." Zircon ordered as he sliced a Chromite who lunged at him in half. Steven ran inside of the restaurant they were in a moment ago as Steven took out his burger backpack from under the table they sat at. Opening up the backpack, Steven pulled out these bottles of liquor that had rags inserted through openings, Molotov Cocktails. "Glad Zircon learned how to make these when he was over in Russia." Steven smiled in relief as he ran out to Zircon with a lighter as the Chromites that him and Zircon just defeated were starting to reform. "Steven! Now!" Zircon called out as him and Steven both lit a single of the Molotovs in each of their hands and chucked them over to the reforming Chromites. With the bottles shattering, the flames ignited on the alcohol, burning the beasts as their screeches echoed throughout the city streets. Over in the Park and Musical District, the others were doing the same as when the flames subsided, the extracted Nega-Dust laid out on the ground.
"Zircon, that was amazing! Your weapon worked!" Steven cheered out.
"Thankfully…" Zircon sighed out in relief. "I ended up burning myself multiple times in trying to perfect my own molotovs from scratch."
"Still, we did it! We beat back the Chromites!" Steven gave out one more cheer until both of them shivered as the sound of multiple growls surrounded them. They looked all around to see Chromites slowly walking out from alleyways, over rooftops, and even some from the sewer vents. All three of the groups were slowly becoming surrounded. "Um…Zircon?" Steven asked, voice filled with fear, "Do you think we have enough molotovs…?"