For the next 2 weeks of planet cycles, the Diamonds spent any free time they had working on tag team tactics, strategies, and combination attacks. The one thing White Diamond wouldn't allow, on any accord, is fusion between them. She said they didn't need some "cheap trick" to beat Black Diamond if they just stuck to their plan. And now, it time for the other diamonds to call Black for a Trial By Combat and give him a CHANCE of building a team to try and win. And the one to delivery their message was an innocent Peridot with a square haircut and her gem on her left eye. (Squaridot)
"A tag team battle?!" Black shouted in shock, his inner circle all around him with the same shocked looks.
"Yes, my diamond. One of the rules of this trial by combat, is a tag team battle of four members." Squaridot said with a bow.
"You gotta be kidding me, all these trials have been one on one and now they want to make it a team fight?!" Spinel said, not liking this.
"Well, to be fair, Black Diamond only set the rules for the FIRST trial but never set any rules for the trials afterwards. Or even called them properly." Squaridot said with her finger up. "Ergo, he left the rules to be open for alteration if THEY called for a Trial by Combat."
Lapis looked at her with a stink eye, angry at how hypocritical the other diamonds were being after being defeated by their fellow diamond.
"So NOW they feel like being reasonable, huh?" Lapis commented.
Spinel and Topaz had to pulled Lapis back a bit as she was making the water in the pool shake from her anger.
"Logically, yes." Squaridot said, unafraid.
"What are the rules of this trial by combat?" Black asked, getting to the point.
"You must assemble a team of 4 counting yourself, no fusions are allowed on the team, and fusing is not allowed in the battle." Squaridot quickly explained. "It's only fair."
"You think that's "fair!?" Four Diamonds against one and three normal gems with no fusing?!" Lapis barked in anger.
The square haired gem looked towards Lapis and gave her a quickly evaluation before commentating.
"If I am not mistaken, you are a Lapis Lazuli. Your gem is well known for planetary terraforming via hydrokinesis. I would say your power is-" Squaridot said before she was cut off.
"True as that may be, but Ms. Lazuli is correct. This seems like very FOUL play." Aquamarine said as she crossed her arms.
"I do not question it but I do wish you the best of luck, my Diamond." Squaridot said as turned back to Black Diamond and saluted him with the diamond symbol before leaving.
"Well...that just happened" Black Diamond said with a flat look.
"If you ask me, they are just scared, knowing you're so close to winning and pulled this just to try and save face." Spinel said, looking grumpy.
"Not to mention that we INCREDIBLY OUTMATCHED!" Rhodonite shouted in fear as she fell to her knees, beginning to sob! "The only ones that stand even a CHANCE of winning are Black, Lapis, and Spinel! We don't have a 4th gem that's not a fusion that could match them!"
Black Diamond closes his eyes and starts to think, feeling anger that this is how they want to do things, making things unfair and impossible to win when things don't go their way. Now who was the one being childish? But should he give up now? He didn't want his friends get caught in the cross fire with the other diamonds, even more now that they can't use fusion to increase their chances, what if they end up shattered?
'I would never be able to forgive myself if they got destroyed because they wanted to help me.' He thought as he opened his eyes a bit to glance at Lapis and Spinel. 'Lapis and Spinel are the most powerful, non-fused gems here but if they aren't careful, they could lose their lives. Not to mention that even if they did agree to help, who would be their fourth team member?'
It was at this moment, a call came to him as a small device floated before his right side.
"Mmm? A communication from Earth?" Black said as he waved his hand, opening the device. "Yes?"
"Black Diamond, I'm sorry for the intrusion but I have something incredible to report!" A Ruby with her gem on her forehead said through the screen. "It's from the Beta Kindergarten!"
"The Beta Kindergarten? Hmm...Okay report exactly, what seems to be the problem?" He said with curiosity.
"No, not a problem but something incredible! Look at this!" The Ruby said as she showed an image from the Beta Kindergarten, of a perfectly shaped person size hole coming from a wall. "This outline is from the latest gem to be created here. Perfect in depth and exiting, frictional rock melt with glass traveling all the way to the back! This is without a doubt the most perfect quartz to be born on this planet!"
Everyone in Black private circle was shocked by this, knowing just about enough to know that no gem EVER made an exit while that detained and finely shaped before! A one in a million chance and it happened possibly moments ago!
"Ruby, where is the gem that came from this hole?" Black Diamond asked her.
"Right right here with me! Take a look!" Ruby said as she moved to show a large gem woman with an orange gem for her nose. "This is her, Jasper X7932-ZC!"
Black Diamond analyzed the Jasper in the monitor from head to toe and honestly? He was impressed, sure they weren't face to face but something told him that this one had a lot of potential within her.
"Interesting, tell me Jasper. How are you feeling?" He asked her.
Jasper looked at him through the device before looking at her hands, clenching and unclenching them to test her grip strength.
"I feel…..strong. And powerful, my diamond." Jasper said before looking up to him. "But I don't know what to do with this strength."
"Well then my soldier, this may come as too much for a first mission, but I have the perfect place for you to test that strenght of yours." Black said as he smiled at her.
"You do?" Jasper asked in surprise.
"I do. Allow Ruby to escort you to the Galaxy Warp and report to my court immediately. A Holly Blue Agate shall be there to greet you and escort you." Black Diamond said with a nod.
"Yes, my diamond." Jasper said with a nod.
"I won't let you down, sir!" Ruby said with a salute.
The transmission ended and Black Diamond look back at his inner circle.
"Looks like we got our last member." He said with a nod.
"We will gain the most wonderful news! Our fourth team member will be such a sight!" Padparadscha said with joy.
Either the future or the present, Black Diamond's team now had a fighting chance.
"Thanks, you orange ball of joy." He said, ruffling Padparadscha's hair.
About an hour later, Jasper had arrived via the Galaxy warp and looked around for this Holly Blue Agate that was supposed to be her guide.
"Oh, there you are."
Jasper and Ruby turned to the side and saw a gem standing before them with her arms behind her back. Holly Blue Agate was a gem with a periwinkle blue complexion, pale lavender hair styled into two pointed side buns that are white, violet, and lavender, respectively, plump lips, and violet eyes with visible pupils. Her tear drop shaped gemstone is located on the lower back of her head.
Her clothes were a dark blue top with a high collar, a black shawl with a lighter black collar-like pattern and a dark blue diamond symbol, black pants, and white high-heeled jackboots that go up to her thighs.
'Wow.' Jasper thought, feeling heat buildup in her face as she stared at Holly Blue.
"I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long, how about you follow me? Black Diamond will meet you all shortly." She said with a smile.
"Not at all. We just arrived after all." Ruby said before gesturing to Jasper. "This is the Jasper the Black Diamond wished me to bring, Cut X7932-ZC."
"H-Hello." Jasper said with a stutter, quickly ridding herself of her blush. "I look forward to meeting my diamond in person."
"Very well. I shall lead her from here." Holly Blue said as she held her hand out to Jasper. "Come along, Jasper."
Jasper look at her hand for a while almost contemplating if it should be touched or not.
"Uuuh...y-yeah." Jasper said, slowly reaching out for it.
Jasper took her hand and stepped off the Galaxy warp, allowing Ruby to return to Earth for her job, before Holly Blue began leading her away from the Galaxy warp.
"Black Diamond has a warp not far from here. You can see a bit of Homeworld before meeting him and the others in his personal circle." Holly Blue said to her.
"Yeah, you came at the best time." Jasper said as she began looking around Homeworld, amazed at how advanced it was compared to Earth. "Wow, this place is amazing."
"I'm glad you think that. Homeworld is something to behold. I'm glad to have been born here and I'm glad that others like you can see how amazing it is." Holly Blue said to him. "Have you learned of the other Diamonds before coming to Homeworld?"
"A little bit yes but I'd like to know more if you can tell me." Jasper said to her.
Holly Blue Agate nodded to Jasper, happy to explain the Great Diamond Authority.
"The Great Diamond Authority is the matriarchal body of Gem leaders who have control over Gems a endeavors, being responsible for overseeing a specific part of Homeworld society. In order to expand the Gem race, the Diamonds took control of celestial bodies for colonization purposes. Each Diamond owns specific colonies." Holly explained.
"Okay. And there are five different ones, right?" Jasper asked.
"Indeed, there are. You already know of our Diamond, Black Diamond, but you don't know the others." Holly Blue Agate said to Jasper as the Warp Pad to Black Diamond's colony was close by.
"Okay, but what's Black Diamond like?" Jasper asked her.
"A kind gem but also a strong one. He wasn't always like this but he has shown all in his court a better way to the future for Homeworld and accepts all gems. No matter how discolored or dysfunctional. He sees a purpose for us all." Holly Blue said with a smile.
"Wow. That sounds...incredible. I can't wait to meet him in person." Jasper said as they reached the Warp Pad.
"Well, you won't have to wait much longer." Holly Blue said as she activated the warp pad and transported them to Black's court in the old Homeworld Kindergarten.
Now, teaming with life and advancement as it was full of unique gems and fusions.
"Welcome to your new home." Holly Blue Agate said with a sweet smile.
Jasper looked around and found herself amazed by this, seeing all the different gems and fusions all working together like they always have. Like the other diamonds and their rules didn't exist here.
Completely free to show who they were on the inside and explore beyong their limitations.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Holly Blue Agate said, seeing Jasper awed expression and finding it very nice.
"Yes, it is. I can't wait to see more of it." Jasper said before she and Holly continued move to Black Diamond.
Someone, however came to give them a warm welcome sooner than they expected. Stretching around the small buildings before jumping straight in front of them.
"Holly!" Spinel shouted as Jasper jolted in surprise!
"AAAH!" Jasper let out as she put her fists up before Holly Blue stopped er.
"It's alright. Spinel is the unofficial second in command of the court and just loves meeting new friends." Holly Blue said before smiling at Spinel. "It's nice to see you again, Spinel. I was just showing our newest resident, Jasper, around."
"Whoa! You're the biggest Jasper I have ever seen!" Spinel said in awe as she stretched her head around Jasper, looking her over before bumping her shoulder. "Looks like you sucked up those earth nutrients real good huh?"
"I guess? Hehehe." Jasper said, nervous about the joke a bit.
Though Spinel looked silly and weak, Jasper could sense strength inside of her. A strength that match her own or even surpass it.
"Well, I gotta go now to help the others with something, you can carry on from here." She said before jumping away.
"Understood." Holly Blue said before leading Jasper to Black Diamond.
As they walked, Jasper moved to hold Holly's hand again, surprising her as she turned to her.
"Just so I don't get lost. You're still my guide is all." Jasper said, blushing a bit but keeping a straight face.
"Oh, right." Holly said, blushing a bit herself before turning back to guide Jasper.
The duo walked in comfortable silence for a minute, looking around at the amazing court as gems were going about their business or their duties.
"So...is your purpose to be a guider?" Jasper asked, making small talk.
"A bit but my job is to help other gems that join or are brought to Black's court with their duties." Holly Blue said with a smile.
"Seems like an honor to work this close to a diamond. huh?" Jasper asked.
"Yes, it is. He is truly one of a kind and not just because he's the only male gem in existence." Holly Blue said before they reached Black Diamond's inner circle area. "And now, you'll get to meet him yourself."
Jasper readies herself, breathing in and out slowly, ready to meet the one and only Black Diamond face to face.
Once they arrived, Jasper instantly knew which one was Black Diamond and gasped at what she was feeling. Not seeing but FEELING, his strength was even greater than she assumed it was. His battle aura was sharp and ready to strike, even when he looked so calm! Seeming to sense their presence, the dark colored diamond of homeworld turn around to see they had arrived.
"Ah yes, you guys have arrived. Good, lets get down to business." He said with a smile.
Black Diamond walked over to Jasper and Holly Blue, who released their hands, with Lapis and Spinel behind him. Looking down at Jasper as she was up to his chest in height, Black nodded to her guide.
"Thank you for escorting her here, Holly." Black Diamond said to her.
"It was an honor, my diamond." Holly Blue Agate said with a nod before turning to leave, sending another smile to Jasper as she left.
Smiling back at her, Jasper turned to look over Spinel and Lapis to judge their strength and "battle aura" she could pick up from them. They were both powerful in their own rights and eclipse Jasper just like Black Diamond.
"Feeling anything unusual after emerging?" Black Diamond asks Jasper, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" Jasper let out, having spaced out.
Lapis and Spinel chuckled at this before Jasper straightened herself out.
"My apologies and yes, I have. With every gem I see, I can assess their strength and see if they are a potential danger." Jasper said before pointing to Lapis. "Such as her, she is incredibly strong."
"Oh really? Barely out of the Earth's crust and already seeing everyone's strength and how strong they are in compassion to you." Black said, impressed by Jasper discerning eye and battle sense.
"That could come in handy for the combat trial ahead." Spinel said with a nod.
"A combat trial?" Jasper asked, suddenly fired up and smiling hungrily. "What's that? It sounds exciting."
"Oh yeah? Let's see you say that again once you know the details of who we're fighting." Lapis said as she smirked, wanting to see how brave this new gem was.
"Lapis, be nice." Spinel said with a smile, nudging her.
"What? It's true, we are running out of time and we need to make sure she understands this is serious." Lapis said to Spinel.
"And she will. Like I said, being young can also be a good thing when in battle." Black Diamond said before fully telling Jasper the full gravity of the situation. "After 3 trials by combat, which I won against Pink, Blue, and Yellow Diamond, they have decided to change the rules for this final battle against White Diamond."
"Change the rules? How so?" Jasper asked, already feeling her gem quivering with excitement.
"This final trial will be a tag team battle with all four of them against us." Black Diamond said before pointing to Jasper. "And you, will be the fourth member our team."
"Yeah, they are quivering in their boots thanks to those humiliating defeats." Spinel as she smirks, liking Pink's defeat the most.
"Now this is their only chance to change things but we were missing someone on the team to help us." Lapis said, reminding them.
"And you picked me? My Diamond, it's an honor." Jasper said with a smile to Black Diamond.
"The honor is all mine but the time for that can wait. We need to prepare ourselves and you." Black Diamond said to her.
"Yeah, how about we start by checking combat capabilities?" Lapis asked.
"Sounds perfect." Spinel said with a nod. "But who will be the one to do it?"
"HMMM...how about I test Jasper out?" Black Diamond asked. "Our enemies are strong so its best if we do a bit of a harsher training than the usual training, putting you against the odds."
"Test me out? In a fight, it would be an honor!" Jasper said with a grin.
'Wow, she's already excited for battle.' Lapis and Spinel thought in surprise.
"Follow me, we got a sturdy arena to train in." Black Diamond said with a smile.
Jasper nodded as she followed after him rapidly, not noticing the rest of his inner circle and the Off Colors following them to watch.