Chapter 41: Gien's Mental Breakdown

After exploring deep within Pearl's gem, Steven and Gien discovered that Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond were the same person. Steven was a bit conflicted, but Gien looked worse. The other droids had shocked expressions on their faces when Gien told them what he saw.

Acha: P-Pink Diamond...

Kocha: F-Faked her death?

Gien was still not looking at them, speaking in that emotionless tone.

Gien: She did, she rebelled against her own kind. You Huntress were there.

Huntress looked up to him.

Gien: You saw what she was planning and so to cover her tracks, she earased you memory that moment.

Huntress: She did?

Gien: Yes, you knew too much. Why did she do this? Or if she wanted to rebel against her fellow Diamonds, why didn't she come to me? She knew what I was going through. ( gasps) Wait.

Gien looks up with his red eyes wide open realizing something. He remembered when he first tried to take down Rose as XJ9 with her Nova prototype, she was badly hurt an Rose was trying to help her. She turned her away.

Gien: No...no that day. That was her. She tried to help me, but I turned her away. It was her. IT WAS HER!

Out of pain and anger Gien shot out lasers from his eyes at the computers in the lab and then all over the room. Everyone ducked down except Viggo who tried to stop him.

Viggo: ( holding him down) My lord stop please!

Gien: It was her Viggo! It was her!

Viggo: My lord you must calm down before you kill one of us.

Gien: I don't understand, she promised me so much. I've done so much for her and she kept this all from me. I looked at her as a Goddess. Why didn't she ever come to me for help?

Pearl: Gien.

Gien and the other Gara Droids look at Pearl.

Pearl: She didn't forget about you. After you finished the Kindergarden she wanted to look at to see what the Earth was like. After seeing it's beauty and it inhabitants she realized what she was doing was wrong. We weren't making life from nothing. We were taking life and leaving nothing behind.

Steven: So she really did care about the Earth. She didn't realize what the colony was doing to the planet.

Gien: If this is true than why did she do what she did? Why didn't she try and stop the colonization herself?

Pearl: She tried. When she told the other Diamond's to stop the colonization, they told her to finish what she had started. When she told the other Diamonds to go through with your ideas of the Gara Droids, they strongly rejected saying they refused to let a Peridot get the best of them. She tried so much to help you accomplish your dreams. She did everything she could as Pink Diamond, but her status meant nothing to Blue or Yellow. So she decided to make a stand, as someone they couldn't ignore.

Gien: So she became Rose Quartz.

Pearl: ( nods) She was going to scare every gem off the planet. She originally wanted to fight only for Earth, but that changed when Garnet and Bismuth came, they were amazed how she was different from other gems how she chose what she wanted to be and she inspired me to think for myself. Rose wanted to fight for them, for me, for herself, for gems who were considered defected. She wanted to fight for you.

Gien: W-What?

Pearl: She remembered about you. With the message she had spread she hoped you would get it as well. The Diamonds never liked your ideas to begin with. That day, she didn't just go to your base to save some of our captured friends, she wanted to find you and encourge you to help us. She was devastated that she couldn't save you. You could have been a great asset to the team.

Steven: That's right.

Steven walks up to Gien.

Steven: Gien listen to me. This has to stop.

Gien: What are you saying boy? Aren't you upset as I am? Your mother is not who she's supposed to be. You have a gem of a Diamond! Aren't you mad?

Steven: I mean, I am confused and a bit upset that she had to lie like this, but I'm kinda relieved she didn't shatter anyone. I can see what she did good and what she did bad, but I really just don't know how to explain this. But look, I don't want either one of us killing the other, but we're running out of alternatives. I don't know exactly what it was that bent your life out of shape and I can only imagine how you're really feeling about this, but maybe I've been there too. You said that you looked up to my mom, that you would do anything for her like Pearl did. Even though she's gone, you can still help. Stop the invasion, help us protect the Earth. I can heal you. You can be your old self again. Not just you, but your team as well. What do you say?

Steven reaches his hand for him. Gien just stood their with blank and emotionless looking from Pearl, Steven and to his hand. Finally a grin formed on his face, a silent chuckle was heard and he bursted laughing maniacally. Steven had no idea where this was going. This was either really good or really bad. Finally Gien stopped and answeres to him.

Gien: No.

Steven: What?

Gien: I worked too hard on this Steven, too hard. You're saying I should help by throwing away everything I worked for? My work, my army, my elites?

Steven: I didn't say that. I mean use them for good.

Gien: This is good and why would I want to be a vulnerable and weak gem again when I am much more durable now? You expect me to protect this planet which is a constant reminder of my failures? Also do you want to know why I never joined your rebellion? It's because war is not how I would take down the enemy. You need brain and stealth to do it. Gain their trust and kill them when they have their guard down. Hack the security systems and mess with it and cover your tracks. With war you're making yourself a huge target and easy to find. And look what it got you into, 99% of your team has been corrupted and 5,300 years later you still have not yet found a cure. That's why I didn't join because I was aware of the outcome. Even if I knew it was Pink Diamond from start and even if she really wanted to protect the Earth, I wouldn't do no such thing.

Steven: Hold on, If?

Gien: I see what's going on now. I knew like me she was treated poorly by her fellow Diamond's and wanted to get back at them. I accept that she wanted to turn against her Diamonds and kind, but if I know anything else about my Diamond, it's that she never wanted to protect the Earth.

Steven: Yes she did, you saw.

Gien: It's a trick, from that Pearl!

Gien points at Pearl who the latter had a confused and scared look on her face.

Pearl: What are you talking about?

Gien: You did this! You manipulated her into following your plan.

Pearl: What plan? I didn't manipulate anyone. She wanted to protect the Earth.

Gien: You're right, you couldn't manipulated her yourself. So who's idea was this? White, Blue? No, Yellow! She's always the worst.

Pearl: None of the Diamonds had anything to do with this.

Gien: So it was just you?

Steven: Gien, stop it.

Pearl: No! I didn't trick her into doing anything. She wanted this.

Gien: Nonsense! I mean who would want to protect a planet full of low lifeforms? She promised to help me accomplish my dreams, but you like the Diamond's hated it! So you tricked her into thinking the Earth is a planet worth protecting and made her into a rebel like you! And then once it was over, you would have her to yourself so you would feel special! Well guess what? You're not special and you never will be. You claim to be free, but you were never free to begin with. Would a free pearl keep herself quiet for so long and keep this secret from Pink's son or your friends? Speaking of which, they don't know the truth either do they?

Pearl: No one knows except the three of us.

Gien: ( silent chuckles) Oh this is priceless. You might want to keep that secret a little longer now. If they find out, how would they feel that the leader they served was really a Diamond? They will realize that everything they fought for was a lie and all of their friends who have died or been corrupted in vain. They will drift away.

Steven: N-No, they wouldn't leave like that. Would they?

Gien: Oh they would. But I'm getting a bit carried away now.

Gien forms his limb enhacer hand into a laser and walks up to Pearl.

Gien: For manipultating my Diamond, you Pearl must be shattered.

Pearl gasps and Steven got into his way with his shield.

Steven: Stop it Gien.

Gien: Huntress.

Huntress at full speed knocked Steven to the ground and placed a restraint collar on his neck.

Gien: You know Steven, despite my rant I am glad to know she is still in a way alive. She's in you. Now that I know what you are, I will take your gem and be the hero who brings Pink Diamond home. Then she and I will be together, after I shatter this pearl.

Gien slowly walks up to Pearl, she was struggling trying to get out, but she couldn't for she was still strapped in the chair and had the restraint collar on her neck. Steven tried to get out, but was being held by Huntress.

Steven: That's enough Gien.

Gien: And what are you going to do about it? You can't with that collar on your neck. Hahahahaha!

Steven was starting to get mad. But what he didn't realize was that his gem began to glow, much brighter than it usually does. Pink electricity began to form around him as Huntress lets go of him. Gien stopped what he was doing and looked at him confused. The restraint collar couldn't take much more of it and breaks off.

Steven: I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!

When Steven yelled he let out a pink energy ring wave around the room. This caused all the Gara Droids to be paralysed and spazz out and it also set Pearl free and breaking the collar. She was breathing and looked at Steven. What was that? Pink never had that kind of power before. Is this a new ability she thought. Steven was breathing heavily after that and looked around and was even more confused.

Steven: Whoa. Did I do that? Pearl.

Steven went up to Pearl and helped her up.

Steven: Pearl are you alright?

Pearl: I'm fine, but we can't stay here. They will get up soon.

Steven: Right, lets go and find the others.

Pearl nods and the two run out of the lab, but just as they did, the paralysis wore off and the Gara Droids got back up.

Viggo: They're escaping my lord!

Gien: Don't let them get away. Gara Soldiers!

Viggo: Black Knight droids!

Giena and Viggo called upon 10 members of each squad and he, Viggo and Huntress pursued chase to find Steven and Pearl. The two of them were in the halls trying to catch up with the others.

Pearl: Steven which way do we go?

Steven: I-uh, wait follow the blown up walls right there. I crashed through them with my bubble.

Soon they heard voices from behind.

Huntress: I detect them my lord. They're not far.

Viggo: Let's get them!

Steven and Pearl hid behind one of the broken walls and kneeled down. The Gara Droids were getting close and going through each wall would slow them down.

Steven: They're getting close Pearl and there's too many of them. What do we do?

Pearl was worried for moment, but then had an idea to took a deep breath. She place her hands on his shoulders.

Pearl: Steven, if this really takes you back to the others and the exit, then go now.

Steven: But what about you?

Pearl: I'm staying here. I can lure them away from here and give you all enough time to escape.

Steven: What? No, I can't do that.

Pearl: It's the only way Steven.

Steven: No it isn't. I'm not leaving you behind.

Pearl: Don't argue with me. Just do as I say.

Steven: I'm not doing this. They'll kill you.

Pearl: I know! ( tears up) I know...

Steven looks at her with the sad look on her face.

Pearl: I deserve this. I lied to you. You're the most honest person I ever met, but not once have I been honest to you. I've never been good to you. I try so hard to have you love me and I still feel horrible about the way I treated you before. Now that you know the truth, I'm sure you're even more upset with me.

Steven: That's not true. Pearl, just because I know what really happened and what you did doesn't change how I feel about you. You don't derserve to die for this. You were forced to keep quiet, I can't blame you for that. I've always loved you. The fact that you wanted to spend some fun time with me and getting along with my dad better after the whole Empire City thing made my day. There's still so much I want to do with you. We still haven't played Ocarina of Time yet. ( hugs her tight with his eyes shut) Please don't ever think about killing yourself Pearl. You're the closest I have to a mom. I can't imagine living a life without you. So please, don't die for me. Let's get out of this together!

Pearl looks at him with tears in her eyes as well. She meant that much to Steven. All her life she wanted the two of them to be close. She was debating whether she would somehow tell him the truth about his mom but was also afraid if she did, he would reject her. She was relieved he didn't think that, but she couldn't just leave him now. She couldn't leave her baby behind. She wrapped her arms around him tight and whispered to his ear.

Pearl: Okay. We'll get out of this together.

After saying that, their gems began to glow and a light wrapped around them. The Gara Droids were finally at the broken walls.

Viggo: They went through here.

Gien: They won't get far.

Huntress: My lord wait, I'm detecting something coming.

From behind the broken wall, the saw a light.

Gien: W-What?

The light began to take shape into a new fusion. This fusion stood as tall as Stevonnie. Her skin was a light shade of pink, but had four eyes The top eyes had Pearl's eys and the bottom had Steven's. Her nose looked like Steven's, but was slightly pointed like Pearl's. Her hair was muave color it was slightly curly, but also pointed down. She had a sky blue blazer jacket which had pink in the inside and had Steven's shirt which was now a midriff top. She had his pants also, but now it was shorts and her legs were like Pearl's with the pink ballet flats. And of course she has Steven and Pearl's gems. She opened her eyes realizing what just happened.

Gara Droids: What?

Fusion: Whoa. I-I don't believe this, Steven and Pearl actually fused. This is so exciting!

Gien: The only thing you should be excited is me killing you fusion!

Fusion: Hey I still have a name, but what should I call myself. Hmmm, I'm not Rainbow Quartz now, that was Rose and Pearl. So how about Pearlven! No that sounds creepy.

Huntresss: Urgh! Stop fooling around!

Huntress charged up at the fusion, the latter caught her metallic arm before she could harm her.

Fusion: Hey, that was very rude. I was in the middle of a thought!

The fusion threw her at Gien and Viggo, knocking them down.

Fusion: Oh, I finally got it. I am...( forms shield and spear) Aura Quartz.

Gien: Impudent fool! You can't scare us with fusion. Attack!

The Gara Soldiers and Black Knight droids charged at Aura. Despite being outnumber, she managed to overpower them. She even tricked some of them into huritng the other. She was fast and very skilled like Pearl, but was also strong on defense like Steven. With the soldiers gone, it was now just Gien, Viggo and Huntress.

Viggo: Damn you!

Huntress: Beat me once I will kill you in a humane way. Beat me twice I will do it inhumane.

Aura: Wait you haven't seen my new weapon yet.

Aura Quartz merged Pearl's spear and Steven's shield and with it they made a pink umbrella with a star on it.

Huntress: Ha! An umbrella? You can't be serious.

Aura: Oh don't let looks decieve you Huntress. This is no ordinary umbrella.

Huntress: We'll see.

Viggo: Huntress wait!

Huntress charged at Aura and the latter closed the umbrella just before they engaged combat. Huntress took out her machete and used it as a sword. Surprisingly the machete didn't cut through the umbrella. The two seemed even at first, until Aura got back and placed her hand over Pearl's gem. It began to glow and an energy ball formed on her hand and threw it at Huntress. She falls back and Aura slashed her with the umbrella since the point on it was still sharp.

Viggo: Now you must deal with me fusion!

Now she was against Viggo. Viggo used his electric whip and tried to hit her, but Aura cut the whip breaking his weapon. So Viggo summoned the electricity from his hand and fired at Aura. But Aura opened the umbrella and blocked the attack. But when the lighting touched the umbrella it didn't just block, it absorbed the lightning and shot it back at him.

Viggo: What!?

Viggo now electricuted fell to the ground. Now Gien was left. He stepped backward seemingly defensless.

Aura: This is your last chance Gien. Quit now or else.

Gien: Don't get all high and mighty!

Gien's red eyes opened wide and fired his lasers at Aura. Acting quickly, she used her umbrella again to abosrb the laser and shoot back, but she accidentally shoots the ceiling which bursts open and lets the wires and cables fall onto Gien, electricuting him. He screams from the pain as he is trapped.

Aura: Sorry Gien, but I have to go. I have friends to save.

Aura Quartz leaves to save the others from Bomber, leaving Gien behind. Shortly after she left, he managed to get out and falls onto his knees breathing heavily.

Gien: ( pant) I will have you back Pink Diamond. I won't fail you again.

Meanwhile Garnet, Amethyst and Bismuth were still having trouble with Bomber and his army. They were being overwhelmed and the Gara Soldiers and Aerodroids were surrounding them.

Bismuth: There's too many of them. We're not going to make it.

Amethyst: Any last minute ideas G?

Garnet: I can't focus. I'm still worried about where Steven is.

Bomber: Hahahahaha! Finally! After many attempts, I Bomber the Great have finally defeated half of the Crystal Gems!

Aura: Not so fast!

Bomber: Huh?

He turned around to see Aura Quartz.

Aura: Hey, Bomber the Jerk you let my friends go now.

Bomber: And who are you supposed to be?

Amethyst: Uh wait, doesn't she look familiar.

Bismuth: Oh yeah, is that Raimbow Quartz?

Aura: I am the successor of Rainbow Quartz. I am two gems who are determined to get out together. I am the fusion of Pearl and Steven. I am Aura Quartz!

Garnet: ( thumbs up) Nice intro.

Bomber: Fusion? Again? Jasper was right when she said it's the only trick you know.

Aura: I'm only here for two reasons. To put you on a time out and get my friends out of here.

Bomber: I'd love to see you try. Get her!

The Gara Soldiers and Aerodroids charged at Aura. Like the previous soldiers, she managed to get through them easily and even formed energy beams from both hands and shot multiple projectiles at them.

Amethyst: That's it Aura, you got this!

Bismuth: Yeah, show them you mean Bismuth!

Garnet on the other hand after learning she's a fusion was just so happy and had a huge grin on her face. After most of the soldiers were down, Bomber decided to handle this by himself.

Bomber: Damn it all! Missile Mode!

Bomber transforms into his missile form and launches himself towards Aura.

Aura: Oh I love this game.

Aura stands in posistion like a baseball player and holds her umbrella like a bat. She hits Bomber with it and it sends him flying into a wall.

Bomber: ( after getting hit) What? How is that possible? ( notices the wall he's about to hit) Wait, no! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Bomber crashes into the wall with his legs sticking out and is stuck.

Aura: Home run!

Aura walks up to the others and gets on her umbrella like a witche's broomstick.

Aura: Hold on tight guys, we're getting out of here.

They all nod and held onto her and each other as Aura flew up to a ceiling and blasted it creating a hole to exit out of the base. Once they were far away and back to the warp pad she landed back down safetly.

Aura: Thank you for flying with Aura Quartz Airlines. Please remain seated when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and make sure all your personal items are with you.

They get off her umbrella as the trio looks at her.

Bismuth: I don't believe this. Are you really Steven and Pearl fused?

Aura: ( winking at her) Of course I am and if you ever need me again, just ask Steven and Pearl.

Then Aura Quartz unfused and now Steven and Pearl were back. Pearl now had a new form. She had the sky blue blazer jacket like Aura did but now she had light blue shirt that matched her jacket and dark blue pants. She looked at Steven and a smile formed on both of their faces. She picked him up and hugged him as they both laughed.

Pearl: Steven we fused!

Steven: I can't believe we actually did!

Pearl: You have no idea how happy I am!

Garnet walks up to them.

Garnet: Nicely done you two.

Amethyst: Dudes. That was awesome.

Bismuth: Yeah get some!

Pearl: I don't think we actually would have gotten out like this if Steven didn't stay for me.

Pearl looked at him and placed her hand on his head.

Steven: You know I'm not the type of person to leave my loved ones behind.

Minutes later they were now back at the house, but something was still not right though.

Garnet: Pearl wait. I just want to know, what happened in there? What did Gien want from you?

A frown formed on Pearl's face. She's still not sure if she should tell them about it. But Steven held her hand and looked at her with a smile. She gave him a sad smile. She knew that if she didn't tell them now, it would make things worse if they found out much later. She takes a deep breath and responds.

Pearl: Everyone please sit down. I have something I should have told you a long time ago.

To be continued...

Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. Now before anyone goes on to say " Hey that's not Rainbow Quartz 2.0! What is this, didn't you watch Change your mind?" I know that. But some of you might hate me for this when I say, I don't like Rainbow 2.0. First of all their was no build upt to it and he came a season or two too late. It's like they forgot to give Pearl and Steven a moment to fuse so they just threw him in there, the same goes for Sunstone. Also Raibow 2.0 is just a really dumb name. I've been developing Aura Quartz months before and I really wanted to use her. No I didn't rip off the umbrella weapon. I actually thought of that before the episode came, the only thing I took was the blazer jacket and riding on it like a broomstick. Also one more thing, I want to apologize for two things, one was killing off Jasper and failing to make Rose/Pink a better character. For Jasper I just didn't see her as a redeemable character and I seriously didn't know what else to do with her simple as that. For Rose/Pink, some of you might remember in my early chapters I said I would make her better, but I didn't. I don't know what happened, it just didn't flow with me. I once attempted on making them separate or have everyone already know who she is except the villain, but one it just didn't work and two it would have been a copy from the idea of another author and I didn't cause some problems between us. Anyway I hope you liked Aura Quartz and this chapter. Please read and review. Thank you.

P.S: You might have noticed a slight plot change or added line in Gien's rant. Some say that the original lines weren't that convincing and gave the idea of what he should have said. It's nothing major, just a new line and deleting another. I'm sorry if this seems like a turn, but i just regretted it. Please if you have any criticism, don't be afraid to share. I want to improve my writing. Once again thank you and have a great rest of your day.