Ocasio

It was so painful, oh so painful. I had placed my hands on the dull, steely crystal and immediately a shock ran through my form. It was all I could do to not destabilize. The entire time all of my senses screamed at me to let go, I think I even cursed out of pain at one point because I think I remember my father shouting to keep mother back.

It was an experience for sure, a terrifyingly painful one that even hours after I had finished powering the crystal I still felt sore. Quartz picked me up off of the ground (the transfer of energy must have been too much) and steadied me, "Are you feeling well Ocasio?"

I rubbed my temples, "I-I think-"

"Heh, course she is Quartz!" Fire Opal clapped me on the back, I'm sure he did it softly but it still made me ache.

Mom grabbed me by the arm and started checking me all over, "Any exuberant amounts of pain?"

"No ma'am."

She pinched my nose, "Any spots in your vision?"

"Nu ma'hm."

She grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eyes, "Are you feeling ok?" I nodded. "Oh thank the stars."

Dad kneeled by Mom, a huge smile painted on, "Ocasio, you do not know how proud I am right now." then his smile changed to that of a neutral expression, I had never seen it before… it was creepy. He seemed so businesslike. "Alright, everyone to their positions. Amber and Quartz, grab the flags." he pointed to Peridot, "Give us a ten minute head start to get everything set up."

Mom stood up too, her face was hardened. Just what exactly were they expecting to happen that required so much focus?

Emerald

The air was chilly, it was crisp, I breathed in, it was life giving. We placed the last shards on either side of our "battlefield." Jasper, Lapis, Howlite, and Peridot were on one side and the rest of us were on the opposite side. We both had the banners of our forces whipping in the cold, winter wind. Ocasio was hidden behind a boulder, ready to activate the machine.

I went over the plan once more in my head, memorizing the words I wanted to say once more, I could feel sweat break on my forehead. A reassuring hand soon found its way in mine, "You're going to do fine"

I flash a nervous smile in return, "Thank you Pearl." my smile drained and I returned to business when the machine whirring to life sounded. I watched as tiny "hands" flitted about and refitted each shard into position, sometimes bringing shards from differing sides to the opposite side -- there was no way we would have known exactly which shards went with which shards so we placed at random -- and seemingly stitched them together. We all stood, awestruck at the power of Star Quartz.

What felt like hours of a continuous miracle was, in actuality, only a couple of minutes. But the miracle did not stop there, a second one arose as each and every one of the reformed gemstones shone brightly. I could but barely hold my tears back as dozens upon dozens of my comrades fell to the ground, their forms just as every bit colorful as the days of the Rebellion. There were even Emeralds among them, oh how joyous a song I would have sung, had the rest of the plan not remained.

I could hear similar gasps of life on the opposite side of the field and I watched as dozens upon dozens of Homeworld Loyalists, their colors as dull as the day they fought against us, were reborn.

Soon enough everyone began realizing where they were and as each side saw their enemy they roared their war cries, however Jasper and I had prepared for this. I unhooked Rose's standard and gripped it tightly in my hand, roaring unto the masses of my fellows a command, "Crystal Gems, hold your weapons!" multiple exclamations of confusion, both among us Rebels and of the Loyalists. The confusion was only enhanced when Jasper gripped the old Homeworld Standard as well and barked the exact same order.

'Everything's going to plan.' I happily thought. So, I kicked into phase two. Both Jasper and I began walking to each other until we stood mere feet apart, her anger and rage filled expression going tic for tac with the neutral and hopefully calculative expression I bore. I'm not going to lie, as I stared into her eyes, those angry, angry eyes, I kind of felt a little bit of fear. She could betray us at any point right now, it'd be easy as summoning her weapon and busting me in the head.

Thankfully, Jasper was different from what she used to be as she gripped my arm in hers, "Sageson, I submit to you power and your truths."

I nodded and gripped back, "Jasper, I submit to your strength and willingly accept your aid." We then planted our flags by one another and turned to our forces. I explained to the Crystal Gems what had transpired and Jasper tried to explain what she herself had learned. She also explained that the Loyalists need not be Crystal Gems, they could still remain loyal to Homeworld just as she did. "I am no Crystal Gem, I am a Homeworld Gem through and through, however I have seen horrors that our Diamonds have created. Each and everyone of you were reborn from them."

Pearl walked to us and began using her holo-imaging ability to explain, in tangent with Peridot, the cluster project. I should explain that the Cluster project had always been just a rumor and a horror story told to gemlings to keep them in line. But as they all learned that it was more than just an empty legend, that the Diamond had actually done this, and with them no less, there was countless cries of outrage.

I waved my hands and from the earth rose a sculpture of the Vishi, the symbol of my clan, "Loyalists, you have learned of the atrocity that the Diamonds had done… so I extend to each of you an invitation to join us. Nobody will judge you for wanting to leave now, but know, those who stay will work to protect this planet and the people who inhabit it. For this planet will become their home just as it has the humans." The Vishi bloomed as I opened my palms, but as I finished my sentence I clenched my fists and the flower's bloom became lined with spikes, "So if you threaten our home and our people, you will be attacked once more."

The looks on the Loyalists were definitely something to behold, there were looks of honest consideration, revelations, and plenty of fearful gazes. Jasper turned to her people and extended her hand, "Who will join us."

I watched as dozens upon dozens of expressions hardened, not out of anger, but out of conviction; and as the sun started to set upon the farm a new dawn was carved into time. Enemies of generations long since passed laid down their arms in favor of a new future, one for camaraderie and a shared goal.

As each army collided, not in battle, but in union, I could not help but shed a tear. Rose would have been so happy to have seen this. But I feel solace in knowing that in some part of Steven, Rose knows what we've accomplished, and she feels happy.

Emerald

It's been four years since that fateful day, so much has happened since then. Of course there were multiple occurrences of infighting. We all had differing ideals after all, but thankfully I was able to stomp out those problems. But, that was the least of my problems. With such a staggering boom in the Gem population I am afraid that the denizens of Beach City were incapable of keeping a blind eye to us… nor could their country… or the world. And so for the second time in its existence, Humanity was fully aware of Gemkind.

Of course, there was an attempt on cornering us but luckily nobody was harmed. The humans quickly warmed up to us when they saw the corruptions and how we were the ones dealing with them. After the initial pandemonium, Gems were even given citizenship to whatever country they chose to settle down in, we were adapting rather nicely to society. Something that Steven was super happy about. Of course there was still some discrimination, we were still viewed as aliens so it was to be expected. All of the Crystal Gems and the warrior level loyalists, and those who wanted to become as much, stayed in our standard militiaesque union. Pearl and I became politicos of sorts for our people and we were constantly attending Crystallized Earth meetings.

Oh… I should explain that too shouldn't I? Well yeah, somewhere down the line we were able to somehow get into the United Nations group thingie that the world leaders had already formed. And since the Gems had made such a presence, what with taking care of the Corrupted Gems and helping Earth's civilizations thrive more by helping along their technological and medical advances, it was all reworked to properly represent the union of our two species.

Though all of this was nice and dandy, there were barely any days I had just to myself. It was nothing but meetings and keeping the CE army in working condition, oh yeah, along with politico I am also the head of Earth's newly formed Crystallized Earth Army.

But enough about all of the fancy stuff like titles and events… I was just happy to have today off. From atop of the Temple's Statue the wind felt nice and warm. The ocean mist was comforting to say the least. I wished Pearl was here to feel it too, that would have definitely made this feel timeless.

I am sad to say that all good things, slight as they be, must come to an end. An Emerald arose from the stone, she was one of my elite guard. That was the best part about having my clan back, I could finally fight alongside them again. Anyways, she held out a wrist communicator, "My Elder," huh, that still felt a little odd to hear even after four years, "You will wish to hear this."

I grab the communicator and thank her, and tap play. What appears next tells me that I will not be having another day off for quite a while. "To Earth, this is White Diamond. We know you are housing rebels and that you have destroyed our cluster. For this you must pay the price, however, that price can be wiped away, humans, for one measly favor. When we inevitably arrive you will surrender your planet for destruction. We will give you six standard years." Holo-White Diamond's face sneered in frustration, "That would be ten earth years, for you to prepare for our arrival. Do not attempt to fight, it will only bring your deaths."

The feed cut out and I stared at my guard, "How long has this message been circulating."

"Since dawn of this day." she said. I asked if she would relay a message to my wife, "Of course my Elder."

"Initiate Protocol Coal."