They stood there staring at Garnet. Lapis held Connie's hand and squeezed it to reassure her that she didn't need to be afraid. But everyone was afraid deep down.
"What is she doing?" Pearl whispered in shock, hands clasped over her mouth.
"She's captured all the corrupted gems, she must want to use them for something…" Connie answered, her hands trembling. She left her sword at home, again! Why did going to the Kindergarten always result in her leaving it?! "I'm afraid to find out what…"
The apple green creature Connie had tried to capture before gave a roar at Garnet, scraping the bars. Garnet gave a growl and punched the thing in its cheek. Pearl and Connie quietly gasped and Lapis' eyes widened in shock, they were far enough away where she couldn't see or hear them.
Garnet showed no emotion in her face, but her words were cold as she spoke to what had once been a gem, like her. "You don't understand at all. I am your leader now. You must obey me, I am stronger than all of you. ...You used to be one of them, that's what I was told by Rose. You used to be one of those pathetic Temps."
Lapis gave a growl, her eyes flaring in anger.
The monster gave a growl as Garnet frowned in a sneer. "Jasper was the strongest of you, she's a real soldier, a worthy opponent for me, unlike all of you and that worthless failure who was supposed to be a spy for Homeworld."
"W-We need Jasper, now." Pearl hissed to Connie, grabbing her hand. Lapis turned to them with a stare like ice and they stopped in their tracks.
"Pearl, get Connie out of here, I'll handle her, alone." Lapis whispered, narrowing her eyes. "Without Connie here, Garnet can't use her against me."
"Lapis, please, reconsider!" Pearl whispered urgently. "You don't understand, Garnet will win! She sees every outcome, you don't have a chance against her! Jasper only beat her because Garnet was taken off guard by her being free! She will defeat you again!"
Lapis gave growl and turned back to look at Garnet but realized she was gone. "Where…?"
"You should listen to her, you should've ran while you still had a chance." Garnet chuckled behind them.
They turned in shock and the fusion grabbed Connie by her waist and threw her into the wall behind them, getting her quickly out of the way.
"Connie!" Lapis gasped. Pearl ran to the girl, and Garnet let her go, turning back to Lapis. The water gem narrowed her eyes.
"You don't have to fight me." Garnet hissed softly. "I'll spare you, I promise. We can team up, you and I. Yellow Diamond, she's done so much to you, to both of us. Together, we can bring her to Pink Diamond, just like we were made to."
Lapis gritted her teeth. "I chose my path a long time ago, you and I both know for certain that that it won't change."
Garnet gave a shrug. "It was worth a try. The future can be altered." She then gave a growl and punched at Lapis' head, making the gem fly up into the air with her wings.
Lapis felt like she was burning up, there was no water around them for what felt like forever, Garnet had planned it that way. She wouldn't be able to make a clone to defend herself.
Garnet knew that this time she wouldn't be able to hold her back with the past, she had risked everything fighting her close to the ocean. It proved how truly manipulative she could be. She turned and saw Pearl helping Connie to her feet and gave a sigh. "Don't tell me you've joined her."
Pearl stuttered slightly, nearly dropping Connie's hand and then gave a small nod. "I-I have."
Garnet put her hand to her face and laughed. "I thought you loved Rose, so much you'd die for her…. But she'd never do the same for you. You haven't changed at all because of this planet, and these Temps you think are your friends? They'd sacrifice you in a second to save themselves… Pearls aren't very valuable as you know."
Pearl winced and tears stung her eyes. She then wiped them away with a growl. "I won't listen to you! You're just trying t-to upset me!" She then raised her hand up to her gem. "I'm a Crystal Temp! And I can form my own weapon!"
Garnet's laughter ceased sharply and she stared at Pearl, who cowered slightly, but she then straightened herself up, to say it was true, and she wasn't afraid. She then reached her hand up to her gem, praying her spear would come, but nothing happened.
"It's useless! Get Connie out of here, now!" Lapis demanded, not turning to look at them. She then plummeted down from the sky and landed her bare feet on Garnet, pushing the fusion to the ground with all her strength.
Pearl and Connie watched with worry as Garnet threw Lapis off her and onto the stone ground. They could only watch, knowing it would be useless to try and fight Garnet without their weapons.
Lapis rolled out of the way just in time as Garnet punched and she got back up on her feet quickly. She ran and hurriedly flew up to a ledge, trying to escape Garnet best she could before the fusion came after her in a fury.
Garnet rose up fast and walked to the ledge with her teeth gritted. She then punched the rock wall, making Lapis cry out and fight for balance. "Come down, now!"
"Or what?" Lapis growled in challenge, narrowing her eyes and lifting her hands as water came up from her gem. The gem then formed a icicle and threw it straight at Garnet's hand, hoping to catch her off guard. She leapt down and avoided a swift punch.
Garnet stuck out her gauntlet and shattered the icicle into pieces before rapidly punching at Lapis, the water gem barely able to weave around each one . She stamped her foot down on the water with a mere look of irritation at Lapis' tries. "Is this all you can do? It's no wonder you joined Yellow Diamond so easily, it's because you are wrong. Somewhere in your makeup, there's a single flaw that made you care about her, it's a pity really. I feel sorry for you!"
"You? Sorry for me?" Lapis growled, brushing her bangs out of her face as the water rose up again. She kicked upward suddenly, trying desperately to poof her, somehow, but Garnet caught her ankle with a cold stare. Lapis gave a sound in surprise and the fusion threw her to the ground.
"Lapis!" Connie yelled in panic, ran to her guardian.
"We can't let Yellow Diamond get near." Garnet whispered to herself. She suddenly spun around and smacked Connie away with her gauntlet.
"Hold on you two, I'll save you!" Pearl called, tears welling up as she desperately tried to form her weapon.
Lapis gave a grunt in pain as Garnet put a foot on her chest, hard. However, despite it all, the fusion didn't poof her as she easily could've, instead she gave a sigh. "You can't seem to get it in your head that I know everything you will do, everything you'll say… No matter what you do, I'll always be one step away. You're just a single gem, all alone."
Unknown to all, Connie had gotten up, ignoring her bruised side and started to climb up a wall. She held back a gasp as her rock hold broke off for a moment, then she leapt up for another. Her hands glowed a fierce gold.
Lapis stared up at Garnet, fury in her eyes.
The fusion then heard a warrior's cry and turned in surprise to see Connie lunging at her from the cliff. Impossible! Garnet thought, Yellow Diamond would never sacrifice her own gem!
This wasn't Yellow Diamond, this was her brave and selfless daughter.
Garnet unfused, Ruby and Sapphire released each other's hands parting so Connie hit the hard ground between them.
"Connie!" Lapis cried, shoving Ruby's foot off her chest. The gem ran to the girl, tears in her eyes.
Connie gave a slight moan, opening her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Whispered Lapis, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. "I've been pretending that I can't feel anything, but my destiny was to destroy your mother, I should've just shattered myself when I didn't complete it! And the one your mother made for me, protect the Earth, and you? I failed that too! I… I failed everyone I care about!"
"And that will be the last thing you'll ever know!"
Lapis and Connie gasped and turned to see Garnet was formed once more and her gauntlets shone as she walked to them.
"She didn't fail any of us!" Connie cried, sitting up and looking at Lapis with determination. "And it's alright that she didn't do what she was made to, I did too! We can, we will, find new purposes, together!"
Garnet raised her fist.
"That… That sounds like a plan." Lapis laughed weakly, and took Connie's hand just as Garnet was about to punch through her physical form.
Suddenly, a golden ball of light exploded in their place, knocking Garnet and Pearl back and making the fusion turn back to her components again.
Once the light had disappeared, a tall and willowy gem stood in the place of Connie and Lapis. She had light violet skin with a even lighter hair that went just past her ears. The fusion held her hands together and then slowly fluttered open her deep purple eyes with amazement and joy. She looked down to see a top of gold and blue fabric wrapped around her and saw a pair of blue shorts with a lemon tulle skirt.
Ruby, Sapphire and Pearl all couldn't believe their eyes, staring at the new creation in shock.
"She's… She's different then we thought, Sapphire." Ruby whispered shakily.
Sapphire only held her partner's hand. She had known that Connie would fuse again to fight them, it was logical and predictable from what she had seen before, but what the gem couldn't foresee was who the fusion was, what it could do, even with Ruby's help. It scared her.
"I… can't believe it…" Whispered the gem, looking at her chest and touching her gem. She smiled, hugging herself. "I don't know who I am, but I know I love it! I'm me! And I can be anything at all! My destiny's mine!" She laughed and then noticed that Garnet had formed.
"Two traitors as one, how unsurprising." Garnet muttered, walking up to the new fusion. "Who are you now?"
The tall violet fusion blinked in surprise but then balled her hands into fists and looked serious. "I'm Labradorite if Lapis' memory is right."
"Hm. I hope you enjoy what little time you have in this world." Garnet growled, and then she stabbed her destabilizer.
Labradorite gave a growl and the sky darkened around her as she flew up with her water wings sparking with golden electricity. Thunder rumbled, making Garnet look up to see the fusion, who's eyes seemed to glow like yellow embers. Labradorite called over the storm in a booming voice. "This is your final chance to give up! If you don't, I will unleash everything I have until you're defeated!"
Garnet said nothing, her mouth was slightly open in awe at the fusion's power, she then shook her head, annoyed at herself. "I'll never give up! I will make you two pay for what you did to Homeworld, to me!"
Labradorite gave a small sigh, then lifted her arms up into the air. The rain drops froze into hail and she swung both arms to her left, making the hail cluster together.
"Oh my." Pearl whispered dryly.
Garnet thrust out her gauntlets to block it, but despite her incredible strength, the fusion was thrown back by the sheer force of the attack. She gave a grunt in pain as her form started to glow, but she grabbed herself in anger. "No! I have to keep it together! I have to!"
The taller fusion, Labradorite, landed hard in front of Garnet making a huge dent in the ground. She raised a finger and Garnet was pushed up by the hail.
Garnet then punched at the younger fusion's chest, where one of her gems was, attempting to shatter it. Labradorite gasped and dodged quickly, but Garnet kicked her legs from out under her, making her fall to the ground and the hail unfreeze and fall weakly away.
Labradorite sprang up to the air, flying away as fast as she could. Garnet chased her and the younger stopped at a wall, looking like she was too scared to move.
Garnet smirked and punched at her, only for the fusion to fly up with a growl. Her gauntlet instead made contact with the wall, smashing all her force into it. The wall collapsed, and all the corrupted gems were set free.
Knowing this was their only chance, the monsters fled, making Garnet give a yell in anger. "I'll shatter you both!"
Labradorite twisted up her face in anger, and suddenly thunder boomed, making the ground shake in her fury. She slammed her hands down with a yell and a single bolt of lightning slammed down into Garnet.
Garnet gave a yell in pain as the bolt forced her to unfuse.
When the light cleared, Labradorite saw a dome of ice had been made. With the flick of her finger, it melted and went away in her gem.
Sapphire grabbed Ruby's hand with urgency. "Ruby, we have to fuse, now!"
"But, Sapphire, we aren't strong enough!" Ruby moaned.
Labradorite walked up to them, water from her gem going to her hand. It sparkled with electricity and caught fire. She pointed the flames at Sapphire. The fusion then shoved them apart to separate sides of the area.
"Ah, come on! Please!" Pearl begged her gem, still trying to summon her spear.
"Ruby!" Sapphire yelled in panic, reaching out for her love.
"I'm… I'm sorry." Labradorite whispered, her sword going to Sapphire's neck.
Pearl gasped in surprise, still trying to summon her weapon.
Ruby watched in horror, and then noticed out of the corner of her eye that there was one more corrupted gem left in a cage, the apple green one. She ran to it. "HEY!"
All the gems turned to see Ruby place a hand on the monster and growl. "I won't let you hurt her!"
"R-Ruby, please, get away from there." Sapphire whispered shakily, pushing back her bangs to fully see her beloved.
"Don't worry, Sapphy! I'll beat them and we'll finally complete our purpose!" Ruby called, a blush reaching her cheeks. She then gave a growl at the monster, only wanting to show compassion to Sapphire. The two then started to glow and they were gone. In their place was a beast, a giant red and green mess of splotches with a squarelike head and the same body it had before, only more hunched and it had more claws to it.
Labradorite's sword vanished in surprise, but she quickly flew up to the air. The gem made a giant spear out of ice and lifted it with all her might.
In distress, the corrupted monster tried to unfuse with Ruby, and it worked!
The small gem fell to the ground with a cry, but hurriedly got back up, grabbing the monster's leg. "No! I need your help! I'm nothing alone! Nothing! Please, I have to save her!"
The monster didn't understand of course and ran away.
"Ruby!" Sapphire cried, tears rolling down her face. She tackled her love into a hug, kissing her repeatedly. They fused, and Garnet hugged herself, looking relieved.
Labradorite landed gently on the ground and Pearl ran up looking shocked.
"Am… I okay?" Labradorite asked herself. She then nodded firmly, another part of her responding. "I'm alright…"
Garnet then glared at the fusion in anger. She suddenly gave a grunt and grabbed her arm. She looked down and saw green spikes coming up her arm.
"Oh… oh no…" Pearl whispered, putting a hand over her mouth. Of course she had wanted Garnet to pay for what she did, but no gem deserved this…
"She's… corrupting." Labradorite whispered in shock. She then gave a cry in pain that morphed into two, unfusing back to Connie and Lapis.
Lapis grabbed Connie, holding the girl back. "Connie, stop."
"Lapis, please! It's only just started, maybe I can help!" Connie cried, and she ripped herself away. She then slowed, walking up to Garnet. "Garnet, I know you want me gone, but please, try to understand… I can heal you!"
"Yellow Diamond…" Garnet hissed in anger. "You'd never heal any gem!"
"I'm not Yellow Diamond, I'm Connie." Connie replied gently, licking her finger. "Let me help you, I can't stand for another gem to be hurt because of me."
Garnet gave a chuckle, her fingers were starting to turn sharp like needles but she didn't notice. "But you already hurt everyone."
Connie winched, but then reached out to touch Garnet, to save her. The fusion suddenly slashed at her, knocking the girl back.
"Connie!" Lapis cried, helping the girl up. Connie glanced at a cut in her shirt and realized it was already getting to out of her control…
Garnet suddenly started to glitch, her body seeming to turn square like every few seconds, but she didn't care. "You think I'd let you use me for my strength? Ha, that's all you use her for I'm sure."
Lapis couldn't be angry, she was too shocked, seeing Garnet's legs and arms glitch into sharp needle like legs.
"You tricked her, Jasper, even Rose's own Pearl into joining you." Garnet laughed harder. Her face then seemed like stone. "But I'll never let you trick me, Yellow Diamond, not after what you did!"
"Garnet, she didn't trick me, I chose to stay." Pearl whispered gently, walking up. "I chose to stay for the Earth. It's… full of life and beautiful! I learned to summon a weapon! I learned to love it! You can learn to love it too, and maybe Rose can see it for herself! Together, we can maybe be a team again, a fami-!"
"You've grown talkative." Sapphire and Ruby's vvoices growled in unison, making Pearl stop. "This place deserves to die! Your Diamond wants it dead, she doesn't care about it's beauty! And neither do I!"
"It's getting worse!" Connie gasped, seeing Garney start to grow bigger, her voice, now voices sounding more and more distorted and screechy.
"I will shatter you for what you did, Yellow Diamond! That's what you deserve!" Garnet yelled.
"Stop! You're making it worse!" Connie cried in panic. "Why won't you let me help?!"
"You would never help anyone!" Garnet bellowed, making the girl cringe. "You did this! I'll shatter you for what you did to Homeworld! What you did to Rose! What you did… to my Diamond!"
"Pink Diamond?" Connie asked in fear, shaking as a spindly leg stomped to the ground.
Garnet gave a grunt in confusion. "What?! No! My Diamond! Your sister, your family! BLUE DIAMOND!"
Connie backed up, tears welling in her eyes as Garnet fully corrupted, turning her into a three eyed, eight sharply legged and square-like spider of a monster. She lunged at the defenseless girl, making Pearl give a cry.
Suddenly, Garnet stopped.
Connie looked up and saw Pearl's teal spear stabbed into the fusion's neck and she finally, finally poofed. A red gem and a blue gem fell to the ground in her place, both covered in green splotches of corruption.
Lapis gently walked up with Connie not far behind and the older picked up the two, looking at them solemnly. "I… I guess we were both made to avenge our Diamond… I'm sorry that you'll never feel that satisfaction…." She then sighed and bubbled the gems together, she knew they'd like to be together, at least, they would've… She then sent them home and hugged Connie close.
"I'm sorry I haven't spoken at all, I just… can't believe it!" Pearl cried as they walked away from the warp pad to return to the barn. "I mean, for one, you two fused! I thought that was impossible! And second, I was the one who delivered the final blow!"
"Yes, I'm just happy all the fighting is over." Lapis whispered weakly with a tired smile, wrapping her arm around Connie who grinned.
The girl suddenly gasped in surprise and they looked over to see the group of Jaspers they had seen so long ago wrapped up in Amethyst's whip.
"Heh, I told you I'd show 'em!" Amethyst called.
Lapis gave a sigh in disappointment. Of course, why would she be so bold to assume they'd get a break?
Ahh! 100 chapters, can you believe it?! I can't! Part of me loves that I stuck with it, another wonders if it's a good way to spend my time, I still love it! I want to celebrate, but how? Maybe a Q and A about the story or a new origanal chapter? I'd love to hear your ideas!