"What do we do?! My dad, my friends! They're all going to be taken to Pink Diamond if we don't do something!"
The Crystal Temps were all at a loss at what to do. They had explained it to Pearl and Amethyst who told them they didn't know any of these gems and that they hadn't been a prominent task force in the slightest when they still served.
Pearl and Amethyst sat on the floor together while Connie sat in the middle of Jasper and Lapis, all watching Peridot pace back and forth.
"The ship was stolen, but Lapis can just fly us there, right?" Jasper asked. "You can carry Peridot and I there."
Lapis shook her head. "No, not forever. Besides, Pink Diamond probably would've already planned on that if we didn't come by ship. She probably has gems aiming at the sky, waiting for us to come after the humans."
"How does she expect my mother would arrive then if not by ship?" Connie asked.
"That doesn't matter, she still would be expecting it." Peridot grumbled.
"All we can do now is get them back, then get ready for what comes after." Jasper said, clenching her fist. "We're lucky we even got Connie back at all."
"Wait, how did you guys figure out that gem wasn't Doug?" Amethyst asked.
"We figured it was just Doug acting super weird, we didn't know it was a gem." Jasper shrugged. She then looked to Lapis. "Wait, how come you didn't stop her from coming in this morning and taking Connie? We all talked about how weird he was acting!"
"Did everyone figure this out but me?!" The girl asked.
"We didn't want to worry you any more than you already were if it was nothing." Lapis answered. She then wrinkled her nose at Jasper. "Uh, what are you talking about? Why would I stop her? You were the one on guard."
"No, you came over and…. Ohhhh." Jasper growled. "Man, I hate that gem!"
"Oh, right! We have a gem that we know nothing about!" Peridot sighed. "Pearl, Amethyst, just who is that shape-shifting, chameleon, deep-voiced stranger?!"
"Zultanite. Her kind was created very shortly after Yellow Diamond betrayed Homeworld. I believe Blue and Pink Diamond made them together." Pearl explained. "She can change her hues to any pallet, and that one most likely spent countless years training on how to shapeshift for such a long period of time without it affecting her true form. This one seems to be a master actor as well, she fooled all of us…"
Connie still was hating herself for how easily she had fallen for it. Why didn't she notice the signs sooner? Or the voice? She just really had thought her dad was safe from gem kind since they had already saved him once. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of him and her friends with that manipulative gem and her insane party of others.
"Wait, the Diamonds can make gems together?!" Lapis asked in surprise.
"When they desperately need to, yes. Those creations are very powerful and dangerous gems, but incredibly rare since they aren't often needed. I always thought that was how you were made, to be honest." Pearl admitted. "Or at least something like that."
"I guess… that makes sense..." Lapis bowed her head.
"Such a weird group…Why would some of them even be part of it?" Peridot asked herself aloud. "A Zultanite, a Sapphire, her Pearl, a defect, and three Peridots…"
"So, what you're saying is that the group has no harmony, meaning we can get the humans back quickly!" Jasper grunted, getting up at once and walking to the door.
"I didn't say that at all!" Peridot whined. "Jasper, wait!"
"No, she's right! We can't wait any longer, we have to save them, now!" Connie growled in slight anger as she tended to when stressed. She showed them a picture that Steven had sent, showing that they were at Funland.
The others looked reluctant but all agreed.
Connie, Amethyst, and Pearl all walked over to the merry-go-round where the gems had been waiting, their real ship hovering above.
The Pearl quickly pointed to them from their group huddle and they turned to see them.
The Sapphire summoned back the bubbles of humans, all of them yelling in anger, shock, and worry.
"Connie!" Her father cried.
"These horrid bubbles shall suffocate us all eventually, you must hurry!" Jamie called to them.
"Just get us out!" Sadie yelled in anger.
Connie looked at her friends and father, giving them a single nod to say she'd save them before looking back to the group.
"You have us cornered!" Pearl said dramatically, putting her hand to her head. "We know you'd simply come after us if we tried to run, so we chose to give ourselves up!"
"Uh, yeah. What she said." Amethyst grunted, crossing her arms.
Connie was quiet, glaring at the enemies.
"Giving up so easily? How disappointing." One of the taller Peridot's grumbled, as if bored while the other tall one flipped Connie's sword in the air.
"True, I expected a show, but I can't say I'm completely upset." Smirked Zultanite. "After all, we'll soon be off free again!"
Connie frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
"Did you come alone?" The blue Pearl that matched her Sapphire asked, smiling.
"Yes." Connie answered, her voice dry. "We… We didn't want to put anyone else in danger, so we didn't tell anyone else."
"Pity, but don't worry, you'll see them again when they and Yellow Diamond come to rescue you all!" Zultanite told her in a sing-song voice.
Sapphire then snapped and Amethyst and Pearl were suddenly in bubbles.
They looked at each other and nodded.
"Thank you for that little list of yours, by the way!" The other Pearl suddenly called. "It seems you still are a great help to your Diamond!"
"... List?" Pearl then remembered jotting down notes when she had first met Connie who had very willingly told her of the names of the humans that were all here. She winced. "That list…"
"This is all my fault…!" Connie gasped, remembering it too.
"Yes, yes, but you can wallow in your self pity on the ship, Connie!" Zultanite assured her happily. "But right now, you should feel guilty for another thing."
Connie's heart nearly stopped and she ran to the center of the group. "Wait-!"
But the Temps hadn't heard her and were already leaping out from their positions, Lapis and Peridot aiming at the bubbles while Jasper went straight at Zultanite.
Peridot was suddenly caught in a beam from her twin before the two others made several swords out of metal, pointing them at her and making them inch closer.
Lapis' wings were frozen midair and she quickly plummeted to the ground, them shattering into pieces.
Jasper gave a war cry, aiming her helmet straight at Zultanite. The gem smirked before shapeshifting and changing her colors.
Jasper suddenly halted in her advance, looking mortified as she saw Connie trembling in fear and hiding weakly behind her hands, tears in her eyes.
"Y-You…" Jasper trembled in anger, gritting her teeth. "How dare you-!"
The girl then grinned like a bobcat about to devour her prey and launched herself at the gem, giving a hard punch and sending Jasper to the ground.
"Easy-peasy!" Giggled the fake girl who quickly stood on top of the gem, pushing a heavy foot on her chest.
"No!" Connie cried. She tried to run but was frozen to the ground. She turned to see the Sapphire walking to her.
"Did you really think that would work…?" The Sapphire asked her, unamused as the Pearl laughed with the pink Sapphire following a few moments after her. "You are truly a foolish human."
She suddenly heard the same voice give three cries and turned to see that her Peridots had been wrapped up in Amethyst's whip and Pearl's staff was pointed at her throat. The humans all were free as well, holding the swords that the Peridots had originally made to poof their copy. Pearl and Amethyst had clearly used their own bubbled to pop hers and helped Lapis free the humans who then saved Peridot by grabbing the swords and breaking the beam.
Zultantie gave a sigh, going back to her true self after the scared daughter tactic hadn't worked on Peridot. She stepped off Jasper, her hands up.
Peridot floated Connie's sword back to her and the girl broke the ice, also pointing at the Sapphire.
"I just had a horrible vision! The humans shall escape along with-!"
"Already happened, Padaparasha." The Pearl whimpered.
"Everyone, get out of here!" Jasper called.
Zultantie only laughed before grabbing the Sapphire and her Pearl in her strong arms and then jumping to the Peridots.
Suddenly, all six started to glow and they fused.
Everyone but Padaparcha watched with shock and horror as a ginormous fusion formed, one way bigger than Andazulite. She was a caterpillar-like fusion of various hues with six legs and four arms.
"I think… that's why they teamed up…" Pearl whispered dryly to Amethyst who looked up open-mouthed.
"You… aren't going… anywhere!" The fusion told the humans and Connie who all stared in shock.
"Hurray! Fluorite's coming!" Padparadscha cried.
She swiped at the group when another giant hand grabbed her. She found Andazulite holding them back with much effort.
"Get out of here!" Andazulite growled to the others, three voices speaking at once.
Connie shook her head and quickly turned to Steven, grabbing his hand. "Come on! Let's form Stevonnie!"
"Honey, there's no time, we have to go and get everyone to safety!" Doug insisted, already trying to get the rest of the humans to back away from the fight. "That includes you two!"
Connie gave a growl. "I'm not leaving the Temps here to fight that thing! Steven, fuse with me!"
"But Connie, he's righ-!" Steven tried to back away but Connie suddenly gripped his arm so tight it hurt.
"STEVEN!" Connie cried, looking angry and scared at the same time. "We have to!"
"Maybe if you just try talking to them-!" Steven tried, making Connie laugh.
"I told you already, talking doesn't work on monsters!"
While the two were wrestling with each other on what to do, the other humans were being herded away much to their protest.
Fluorite and Andazulite were still fighting, pushing at each other on opposite sides.
Andazulite summoned her helmet and then made a sharp sword of metal with the many small ones the humans had been holding. She formed her wings and flew up, aiming it at the other fusion.
"You seem to be doing well! Keep it up!" Padaparcha called sweetly to her friend. "I'll get the ship all ready!"
At her voice the ship suddenly came down, allowing the danity gem inside.
Sadie noticed this and narrowed her eyes. If she could just get in there, take out that gem, and maybe get that ship working… She just wanted this to be over and quick so everyone would be safe, including Lars. And even though she winced at it, she realized she meant Connie especially too.
"Sadie!" Lars cried in horror, shaking in fear. "Get back here!"
Sadie didn't listen, of course, and ran into the ship. The door promptly closed behind her.
Lars was stuck in fear but he was then pulled away by Jamie and Onion. Once the humans were safely out, Pearl made a holo block the enterance, not realizing that Sadie was missing and unable to hear Lars' screams for her while she quickly ran to help the Temps.
"Connie, are you even hearing yourself?!" Doug cried, seeing his daughter who was growling in anger, her hair and hands sparking with electricity. He grabbed her arm.
Pearl and Amethyst summoned their weapons and quickly leapt onto Adazulite's shoulders, aiming at the fusion as well while she violently swung her sword, head-butted, and sent ribbons of water that were sharp as a knife.
Amethyst threw her whip at the fusion, tangling it around it's neck and quickly swung.
Fluorite gave a gasp in shock and Pearl quickly shot her in the middle of her four eyes. She gripped her eyes and turned away to see the small purple gem thorough her fingers.
Fluorite then snatched Amethyst up with one set of arms.
Pearl gave a war cry, seeing her barnmate yell in pain as she was being squeezed.
Fluorite then caught her as well.
Andazulite Gabe a yell, swinging her sword straight at the gems' neck but the sword was quickly caught.
"Get… off… ME!" Connie boomed to her father after they had been having a heated debate. She suddenly sent her dad flying away with her Diamond voice. She was horrified at what she had done and nearly ran to him to apologize but suddenly heard a yell in pain.
She turned to see her mothers all struggling against the fusion. Her eyes widened in anger and her body radiated gold in a halo around her. She turned to Steven with a wild look in her eyes. "Fuse with me, NOW!"
Steven looked frightened and she once again realized her mistake. What was happening to her?! She was acting exactly like...
"Steven… I-I'm sorry… I-I'm not even acting like myself anymore…!" Connie whispered, tears in her eyes. She turned to see Fluorite who was still fighting and she realized at once what she was to do. "... Maybe… it's better that I'm not."
She formed a bubble around him and her father who both yelled for her, asking what she meant and insisting she stopped.
Fluorite shoved the sword inches from Andazulite's own neck.
"HEY!"
They both stopped at once and looked down to see the little girl.
"You want Yellow Diamond, don't you?!" Connie yelled to Fluorite. "More than anyone else?!"
"That… is true." Fluorite mumbled slowly. She smirked. "Why do you ask?"
"I ask… because she's here."
Pearl and Amethyst stopped struggling, looking at her with horror.
Andazulite immediately backed off, unfusing at once.
"Kid, what are you doing?!" Jasper yelled in anger and panic, running up with the others.
"I'm not a human, and I'm not Connie either…" The girl announced. She then fully let her powers rage around her and revealed her gem. "I'm Yellow Diamond."
Fluorite unfused in shock and her components stared. Pearl and Amethyst were dropped to the ground.
"Quite the disguise, right…?" Connie whispered to Zultantie who was for once speechless.
"Connie Diamond Universe, you are not doing what I think you are!" Peridot screeched but she was stopped when Connie suddenly aimed her glowing hand at her.
"Don't make this harder." Connie whispered, tears coming down her face as her mothers' all were forced to watch.
"Connie…" Lapis whispered.
"My mother wasn't willing to sacrifice herself for you all… you deserve better than that." Connie told them. She then looked back to her enemies. "Even if I did poof you all, I know more will come… I'll go with you and do whatever Pink Diamond and Rose Quartz request, just please, please promise you'll leave this planet and my family alone!"
"Connie, NO!" Steven yelled while Doug was frozen with horror was his baby surrendered herself. "Stop it!"
"Don't do this!" Pearl cried while Amethst was still unconscious.
The Sapphire was the first to speak. "You have our word." The gem gave out her hand, relishing that the powerful Yellow Diamond was so helpless to defeat them.
"NO!" Jasper screamed, running at Connie as she slowly walked to her. Zultiatiaite was quick though and grabbed the girl before Jasper had the chance to, taking her and the rest aboard the open ship that was speeding quickly into space.
"Stop!" Lapis cried, grabbing the other two before flying up after the ship. "Please, you can't do this!"
Connie quickly tore away though and she ran to the very edge of the ship, her hair billowing in the wind.
"Just jump, quick!" Lapis yelled, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't lose her, not when she had spent her whole life trying to protect her from this fate. "I'll catch you, just like always!"
"Kiddo, please…" Jasper whispered.
Peridot has been silent, clenching her teeth the entire time Connie had been giving herself up. She suddenly looked to the girl, holding back loud sobs. "Before you face Pink Diamond, there's something you have to know…! I should've told you so, so long ago!"
Connie heard the engine rev and realised it was too late, they were about to leave the atmosphere. She let a tear slip down her face and a sad smile appeared on her face. She leaned out and hugged her mothers a final time. "I love you guys..."
They all tried to pull her to them but the ship suddenly blasted them away, causing Lapis' wings to fail.
The three watched helplessly as Connie, their Diamond, their baby, the one person they all loved more than anything in the universe, was taken from them…