"Charge!" Sadie yelled, running out with Connie by her side. Fluorite was right behind them and quickly knocked the two on the sides out of their way.
"Monster…!" The captain gasped in disgust while the two struggled to get back up.
The captain then noticed the figures who were busy fighting the other soldiers stationed. The smaller human held a sword she recognized well and her eyes widened in shock, seeing the gem gleam from beneath her dress' torso as she fought, stabbing through soldiers to poof them before bubbling them.
Sadie punched someone guard twice her size away with an angry yell while Fluorite managed to take out many at once that were trying to grab the human with the swing of her long body.
Connie noticed the seeming leader of the group, a greyish gem with rainbow dreadlocks with a device with a sharp end on her arm. She decided that once Sadie and the others were gone, she would be the one to turn herself in to.
"Oh Bissssssy, you busssy?" Called out a high voice before hugging the gem from behind.
"Ugh, I told you to stop doing that, squeaky." Bismuth shivered, she didn't like it when the gem snuck up on her. It seemed only Rose did.
Spinel pouted. "Sorry…" She then noticed the battle in which the other side was clearly winning. "No way! You threw a ball without me?!"
"This isn't a ball, Spinel." Bismuth growled. "It's a battle, and we're losing!"
"So… that means you don't have time to play? Pink's busy 'emotionally preparing' herself, whatever that means, and Pearl's-!"
"I don't have time! I won't until this is over and Yellow Diamond is-!"
"Ooh! I'll help!" Spinel cried. She suddenly stretched out her long, noodle-like arms and wrapped them around Fluorite before using her actual hands to grab Sadie and Connie. "Can we play noooow?"
The captain grinned. "I always forget you can do that. Good work."
"Put us down!" Sadie yelled, struggling as Fluorite gave a yell in pain that morphed into all of her parts' cries.
Spinel's eyes widened and she giggled before squeezing the fusion til it poofed, dropping the two humans to the ground.
Sadie ran to Connie and hoisted her back up before glaring to Bismuth. "If you think we're going to surrender quietly-!"
"Think again..." Bismuth grunted firmly before placing the spike of her weapon to Padaparcha's gem, which Spinel had sneakily brought over. "Or go right ahead, if you want your friend here to be shattered."
Sadie and Connie were quickly grabbed by a soldier, the former struggling wildly while the latter merely glared at the captain.
"You two, gather up those gems and see that they're imprisoned, separately. Pink Diamond will decide their punishment later." Bismuth grunted to two while carelessly throwing the small peach gem to them. She then walked up to Sadie and Connie, smirking. "Don't worry, we'll be taking very good care of your little pet, Yellow Diamond."
Connie was quickly yanked away from Sadie despite her trying to hold on. "Sadie!"
"Connie!"
Bismuth nodded to Spinel who grinned happily before running to the door. She let it open and did a small bow before their leader.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, even with her deadly reputation she still seemed to look serene and calm with her eyes closed and her hands folded together neatly. If Connie didn't know how wicked the gem before her was, she would've thought she looked like a princess with her long pink curls and beautiful white gown.
Sadie's breath caught and she silenced at the sight of the woman who despite looking so heavenly, gave off the most unsettling feeling of fear she'd ever felt. Seeing that the gems had grown silent and looked solem, they must've felt it too.
Lady Rose Quartz, Connie knew it had to be the real one this time, opened her eyes and gently stepped forward without making a sound.
The girl couldn't stop herself from trembling in fear as she approached. She'd had countless nightmares of this moment, in different places with different people, but the smile, that was always present, just as it was now.
"Come with me now." Rose spoke softly, smiling down at the child. The smile held no sense of warmth or comfort, it was there to express the gem's delight that she would soon see her master kill the small creature.
Connie felt frozen in place but after a moment, she stiffly walked forward to be beside Rose, clasping her hands in front of her to show she wouldn't fight.
"Wait, no!" Sadie cried, realizing what was happening. "Connie, you can't go with her, she's gonna kill you!"
Connie looked back to Sadie with a weak smile, tears in her eyes as she walked to the door. "You'll be alright, I promise."
"Let me go!" Sadie yelled, kicking at the guards before glaring back at Connie. "Connie, don't be stupid! Don't let them win!"
"We already have." Rose cooed, gently placing a hand on Connie's head and turning it to look forward, signaling her to keep walking towards her doom.
"Quite the disguise you picked for yourself."
Connie slowly looked up to Rose, unsure what to say. Normally she'd refute and say it wasn't a disguise and she was a different person, but she knew that wouldn't help her now, it never had before. Besides, Pink Diamond would spare Earth for Yellow Diamond's demise, not Connie's.
"Even I couldn't see you through it. The idea of you wanting to appear as one of those adorable little humans, I thought you would be more prideful than that. But I suppose you felt it was your very last option, you finally realized you couldn't win against the Diamonds and hid with those worthless traitors."
"They're not worthless…!"
Rose's laugh stopped and she looked down at the girl with slight surprise, an eyebrow arched. "But they failed to protect you…. They stayed behind and watched you be taken."
Connie pouted slightly when Rose stopped walking and turned to her. She narrowed her eyes seeing Connie had no reaction.
"Doesn't that make you enraged? Furious with them?" Rose asked softly. She grimaced. "I know you want to shatter them…"
Rage over took the girl and her hands balled into fists before she yelled. "I'd never do that! I wouldn't hurt them! They're my family!"
Rose burst into laughter, making the girl tense. "Your family?!" She then glared at her coldly, a smirk on her face. "You and I know that's no excuse. After all, Blue Diamond was your family… and you shattered her."
They entered a room that was quite grand and pink. Around them were weapons of all types and sizes, along with armor. It reminded Connie of her mother's armory, minus the confusing controls.
She glared back at Rose. "I did. But Blue Diamond… she was going to let Pink Diamond destroy the Earth-!"
"You were too!" Rose cried, glaring at her. She then realized she'd lost her cool for a moment and regained her composure with a small exhale before walking ahead, turning her back to the girl. "Connie, I have so many questions for you…"
The girl blinked in surprise. Did she just call her… by her name? "... Why did you…?"
"Isn't that what you like to be called now? Connie?"
The girl frowned. She didn't want to hear her name out of Rose's mouth, like the bookworm girl who grew up in Beach City Delmarva had done the terrible deeds she was here for. "I don't want to be called that now. Yellow Diamond is the one who betrayed you and shattered Blue Diamond, I expect you to call me by my real name."
"Oh, we are being honest with each other now, huh?" Rose asked, turning to her and holding her arms up like one would for a hug. "If that's true, I say we should shed our disguises… and see each other face to face…"
"... What do you….?" The truth hit her nearly enough to knock her off her feet and she stumbled back in shock, her eyes wide. "Y-You're…!"
Rose smiled before she suddenly glowed, her form becoming unseeable in the white light, all that was there in the glow was her gem. It suddenly rotated downward, showing the sharp tip that protruded from the bottom. The light then faded, revealing her true form, now in a dress that matched her disguise's aside from having sleeves on the shoulders and it being split down the middle. "... Surprised…?"
Connie stared up at Pink Diamond in shock. "... It was you?"
"I thought it was rather obvious!" Pink Diamond sighed, stretching as she walked around Connie to her trophies. She glanced back with a smirk. "Didn't my Pearl tell you?"
"Pearl knew…?" Connie asked. Pearl had said she didn't know much of anything about Pink Diamond, only Rose did. Why would she not say anything?
"Don't feel bad, I made her promise to keep the secret, or else I'd just have to go back on my promise to let that overcooked Amethyst stay under my, or rather Rose's, protection." Pink Diamond smiled, looking at Connie in the reflection of a helmet. "To be honest though, I did grow too attached to the runt, I don't think I could bear hurting her! That Pearl mainly served me when I was Rose… I think the poor thing thought we actually had something different, even if she served with the other. It was cute… and quite useful to keeping her obedient… But she, Amethyst, and Garnet were all just simply my loyal friends…"
Connie felt anger boil up in her, stepping forward. "Friends?! That's a sick way of saying pawns!"
The older Diamond turned, looking quizzically.
"You used your 'protection' to guilt Amethyst into thinking she owed you everything, you led Pearl on and threatened the gem she really cared for! Garnet, Ruby and Sapphire, if she hadn't been following you, she wouldn't have been corrupted! Your 'friendship' hurt them beyond repair!"
"Oh, don't act like you're some kind of polished stone!" Pink Diamond snapped, staring at her in a rage. "You shattered the only person who actually listened to me! But that wasn't enough!"
Pink Diamond unsheathed her sword from nearby: a blade identical to Connie's in every single way, except for the color, which was rosy pink rather than the shining yellow. "You stole my perfect soldier… the last gem she made… You even loved that little Peridot more than me! You shattered Blue so… so I'll shatter you!"
Connie grimaced, backing away as Rose, or rather Pink Diamond, stalked forward, seeing tears in her eyes. "You're not thinking straight! You can't shatter me right away! I may be guilty, but all people must have a trial to debate the sentencing!"
"Trial...? Trial?!" Pink laughed, her eyes widening. "Why would I give you a trial?! You never used any mercy on me, you never 'debated the sentencing'. I was punished right away, like all the other gems you dealt with! You remember who insisted we had trials?! They died with her!"
Connie held back a scream when Pink suddenly swung at her head, stumbling back into a suit of armor that clattered to the ground. She dodged just in time to grab a shield from nearby, blocking the next few attacks. She peeked at the crazed gem who was her family, tears of anger and fear going down both their faces as they fought. The Diamond kicked the shield out of Connie's hands and prepared to strike…
"WAIT!"
The two Diamonds turned in surprise to see the door open, revealing Pink Diamonds main attendants, captain, and Sadie.
"What… are you doing here…?" Pink Diamond asked sharply, as if her words could crack them just as easily as her powers could.
"My Diamond… W-We have reason to beleive…" The Pearl gulped nervously.
"We think Yellow Diamond doesn't deserve to be smashed, at least not yet!" Spinel suddenly cried loudly, making Bismuth and the Pearl wince in worry.
Pink Diamond looked mortified for a split second but then maintained her composure, stepping forward while Connie slowly stood up. "...And why not…?"
"You are allowed to punish me anyway you'd like, as long as you leave the Earth alone and let my friend go." Connie whispered, stepping forward. She touched her gem, it feeling warm. "I shattered Blue Diamond so-"
"That's just it." Sadie suddenly said, making Connie look surprised. She smirked. "We don't think she did it."
"What?" Pink hissed, Connie felt her bones beginning to ache and noticed a small crack forming on each of the gems around them's faces. "... You all think that?!"
"No! Well, we don't know for sure, My Diamond, it was only an idea but…" Bismuth gently held Yellow Diamond's sword out, trying not to look afraid as Pink Diamond stalked near her.
"That sword…" Pink Diamond whispered, glancing at her own before tears came to her eyes. "I-Is that the sword that…?!"
"This is the sword the witnesses saw, yes…"
Her own sword clattered to the ground as she seethed in anger, glaring back at Connie. "How did you manage to copy my sword?!"
"I didn't!" Connie insisted in shock. "Zircon did, she hacked in-!"
"Those were supposed to be private!"
Bismuth grimaced, holding back a cry in pain as the crack went further up her head and into her hairline. "They were, My Diamond, but they got past us, I don't know how."
"Why bring it here, why make me feel like this?!" Pink cried.
"Because I made the stolen plans for this sword." Bismuth grunted. She looked silently down at it before looking back up. "And I know it can't shatter."
Connie felt her stomach drop while Pink Diamond tore the sword away before flinging it back into the armory, making a loud crashing sound came from various items being knocked into.
"But everyone saw her do it… with the sword." Pink Diamond whispered sharply.
"I didn't see her do it." Spinel added on suddenly, making her Diamond glare daggers at her.
"Because you weren't there."
"That brings us to the next point, who was there?" Sadie asked.
"Wh-What?"
"Well, surely you must've taken accounts from everyone who saw it, right?"
Pink Diamond looked shocked for a moment before narrowing her eyes. "Everyone who saw it fled the scene at once, and I didn't feel the need to pry at them when I already knew who did it, one witness told me everything…"
"... Only one witness? And you relied on her testimony alone instead of tracking others down?" Connie asked softly in confusion. "That doesn't make any sense…!"
"And also, My Diamond, there is the matter of how she was shattered. There is only one weapon type in existence that can do such a thing, which is the Breaking Point." The Pearl heaved you the weapon Bismuth had earlier been holding. "At the time, this weapon was top secret to everyone but a select few in your court. I figured… we ought to question them."
"Well I don't think there's any need." Sadie growled suddenly, stepping forward. "It's obvious who really did it! If Blue Diamond was shattered, and Yellow Diamond was framed, who would that leave in charge of this whole empire? The same gem that could seemingly only find a single witness, and the one that ordered the Breaking Point to be made in the first place, of course! Yellow Diamond didn't shatter her… You did!"
The gems all gasped in horror besides Pink Diamond, even Connie who had grabbed her sword back in that time nearly dropped it in shock. It did make sense…!
Pink Diamond's eyes seemed gone as her face shadowed, glaring down at the human. She suddenly grabbed her sword back and lunged at the girl with a scream in rage. "How DARE YOU!"
Connie tackled Sadie to the ground just in time.
There wasn't any time to chat because just then, Pink Diamond stabbed at them once more, leading Connie to quickly guard with her own blade. She shoved her off with a yell before the two began a bout between their swords.
Sadie stumbled backwards, straight into Bismuth.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you." Bismuth quickly assured her, but you two need to come with me, okay? I know a place you'll be safe!"
Connie was suddenly pulled away from her match by Sadie who ran after Bismuth.
"COME BACK HERE!" Pink Diamond roared, making Connie shriek in agony and Bismuth fall to the ground as cracks went up her entire body.
"What's going on?!" Sadie yelled in shock.
"Doesn't matter, we gotta keep going!" Bismuth cried.
"Hang in there, Connie!" Sadie called to the girl, scooping her up into a bridal style carry as they were chased down the hallway.
Pink Diamond reached for Sadie but she was suddenly held back by a pink gloved hand and pulled back.
"I think we're due an apology!" Spinel pouted, the cracks had also gone to her and the Pearl who was shaking behind her.
"Let me go!" Pink Diamond yelled, trying to claw her way after the escapees.
"Spinel, please! If you don't, you may be punished!" Cried her Pearl, clasping her hands to her chest in fear.
"I don't care! I can spend a bit few years of time out in the garden if it means we get an apology! She hurt me, and gee, that doesn't matter too much, but she hurt you and Bissy too! And I'm not letting her get away with it!"
The Pearl felt warmth rush to her cheeks as a slight smile came. Even at the revelation that Pink Diamond could be a shatterer, Spinel still would only think of her friends, she wasn't one to live in the past.
Pink Diamond glanced between her playmate and the escaping group before grimacing. She grabbed the rejuvenater off Spinel's belt and unsheathed it.
"Wait, what're you doing that for…? I don't wanna be reset….!" Spinel whispered, immediately letting go of her best friend as tears came to her eyes. "If you do this, I'm gonna forget everything again! I-I'm not gonna know our favorite games or the garden...I'm not gonna know you at all!"
"If it makes you feel any better… I'm not resetting you because of something you did…."
The Pearl held onto Spinel as their Diamond and friend backed them into a corner.
"You just learned way too much."
"What are you doing…?!" Snowflake asked in confusion, seeing Bismuth come running into the hanger with their prisoners.
"I… I'm doing what's right." Bismuth mumbled softly. "I'm standing up to her…"
Snowflake looked mortified and then shook her head. "You're insane! I know you always joked about it, but I didn't think-!"
"I know. But this time isn't a joke, Snowy. I'm going against Pink Diamond for real, she-!"
The door suddenly burst open and Sadie held Connie closer as Rose Quartz walked out of the room. Bismuth immediately stood in front of the two girls. "Give her back… now."
"No." Bismuth whispered, forming one fist into a hammer and the other into a pick-axe. "I've served you long enough, 'Rose'."
Sadie backed up slightly with Connie only to find Snowflake right behind them. She quickly snatched the two up by their collars, making them watch their new ally fight her old one.
Pink Diamond, in her disguise, lunged at her friend who quickly blocked with the pick-axe.
"I'm done letting you lie to everyone about everything!" Bismuth yelled. "Your name, your face, what really happened to Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet…! And now the shattering too."
"I'm sorry to hear that…" Rose hissed. She noticed Snowflake who stood in the back and yelled to her. "You, handle her! Those two are mine!"
Connie was finally able to now stand on her own again, despite the nearly overwhelming pain that coursed through her body after being both dropped to the hard metal ground and Pink Diamond's powers still raging through her. She gasped in fear, blocking the pink sword just in time with her own before quickly running with Sadie.
The two hid behind one of the many ships before Pink Diamond could see them do it, panting for air as she walked closer.
Bismuth meanwhile was fighting with Snowflake, still trying to help them escape as she managed to reach the ship bay controls. She started to type in the communication line but the Obsidian tackled her to the ground, causing her fingers to slid off and the device gave a depressing sound to indicate that the jumbled code her hand had entered was incorrect.
"Snowy, please! You gotta listen to me!" Bismuth yelled, one hand turned into a sword as she blocked the gem's also shapeshifted fist that was now an ice pick. "Pink Diamond isn't what she used to be anymore! She was driven crazy by the shattering!"
"You think we all don't know that?!" Snowflake yelled, making her friend look shocked. She smiled. "I think it's fine! We all do! So what if she's a little cracked now?! We get to be warriors! We get to fuse! We get more freedom than we ever dreamed of! You want to go back to building towers?! You want me to go back to digging trenches?! Crazy Lace will be separated… Biggs imprisoned, reset, or worse! You really want that to happen?! Wise up! We're free in this age! We're finally, finally free!"
Bismuth stared up, looking disgusted that this was her idea of freedom: a world where they had been forced to fight and fuse. Some may have wanted it, but many didn't. She'd like making weapons but… they'd hurt so many gems. It was only around 30 years ago when she'd discovered how wrong it was by confrontation of a group of gems, which for the gem felt like a second ago. She glanced to the control panel again. She needed to contact that group, now.
"Yellow! Where are you?!" Pink Diamond called in a sing-song voice, trying to sound like the Diamond's little gem as she used to, despite her voice still shaking in rage. "Come out to see me! This game isn't funny anymore!"
Connie and Sadie looked at each other in fear, hearing the sword make a terrible screeching sound as it was dragged across the metal floor.
"I didn't do it, you know! How could I?" The Diamond glared around the ship bay, checking behind and in each one. "I loved Blue… And I know you did too…! Who knows? Maybe someone else really did shatter her! How about we Diamonds all talk about it, hm?"
Connie could tell by the tone of her voice she was lying. She was just trying to lure her out in order to destroy all proof they had of it being someone other than her.
"I'm getting awfully tired of this…."
Bismuth finally managed to shove the Obsidian off her and enter the comm line.
"Who is this?" A voice answered, seemingly annoyed due to as her British-sounding accent sharply ended the sentence.
"It's Bismuth, 2X-"
"I know which Bismuth you are, blockhead, what do you want?"
She bit back a few words before gritting her teeth. "Look, there's two more escapees and me coming your way. The only way there from here is down and I'm going to need you guys to catch us when we jump down, alright?!"
There was a slight pause before a small giggle. "Well it's about time you joined us!"
Bismuth smiled faintly. "I'd say so. I… I honestly can't wait."
"You all! No, not you, the strong types! Get ready for to catch our new members!"
Bismuth ended the call with a sigh in relief when she was suddenly twisted around. Before she had time to react, her past friend stabbed the ice pick into her gem.
"Wh-Why…?" Bismuth whispered, looking down to see her gem was cracked at the very center.
"Sorry, my friend... We can't have you ruining this." Obsidian cooed coldly, pushing harder as the gem's crack increased before Bismuth fell to her knees, clutching her gem as she knew that if it wasn't healed, she would break apart. The worst was still to come, but it didn't matter much to her. She supposed she deserved it after knowing the terrible lies, knowing the gems down there, and still doing nothing until today.
"If you won't come out… I suppose I'll have to get something to make you… But how? I know now that kidnapping humans get you upset, but it has to be much more than what I originally planned if I want you to obey me in everything. So I guess I'll have to take that whole little 'town' you like so much…"
Connie's eyes widened in shock and she nearly got out of the hiding spot but Sadie held her back.
"That isn't enough? You're getting pretty greedy." Pink Diamond sighed. "Then I'll take the town and whatever's left of your rebellion. Reset Amethyst and Pearl, because I love them too much, but the rest… It'll be nice to see them all again, and have them pay for what they've done. Though, I suppose the Peridot is already paying because of me, huh? I heard she was so tiny, so it must be the very same one I stole the nutrients out of when she was still in the ground! Oh, right, I never told you I stole those! So sorry. I had to, you see, to make my super soldier! … And then you stole her too… And the Lapis Lazuli, which I'll tell you was not easy to get her up to capturing you in the first place! We had to modify her powers and her mind, all of it just to get her right! …. They all betrayed us… so they all will be shattered at the hands of the Diamonds."
Connie couldn't hold back any longer and ran out with a war cry, her sword drawn.
"Connie, no!" Sadie yelled but it was too late.
"Here you are!" Pink Diamond smirked, blocking her attack like it was nothing.
Connie backflipped, landing perfectly unlike when she'd let Pearl out. "You won't have my home, and you won't have my family!"
The Diamonds clashed again and Connie began to rapidly hit at the other's sword, her hands glowing with power as her hair floated around her, sparkling with electricity.
Sadie looked around in worry, wondering what to do. She then noticed a switch on the farthest back wall that looked connected to nothing. But if it was what she thought…
Connie whimpered in pain as her body seemed like it was to destroy itself, her bones feeling like they would shatter.
"What's wrong, Yellow? Am I hurting you?" Pink Diamond asked tauntingly, despite clearly knowing. She smirked as she increased the power and watched with delight as Connie gave a scream and crumpled to the ground. "You've grown so weak…!"
Connie couldn't stop the slight noises of pain as she used a single finger to lift up her chin, the feeling getting even stronger when touched.
"Don't worry… it'll be over soon!"
Pink Diamond didn't get the chance to stab her through though as the ship bay opened to show the rest of Homeworld distracting her enough for Sadie to snatch up Connie and run.
There wasn't time to notice the geometric buildings, the pastel colors they were, the sky that stretched for miles and miles, and the giant structure of what looked at a glance to be a white flower, though all of Homeworld knew better.
Pink Diamond chased the two down the ship bay before they finally reached the open doorway. Sadie looked back in worry, seeing the Diamond running to them, about to catch them. She took a breath in fear and then jumped.
It felt as if in slow motion as they were about to fall hundreds of feet, but then it all stopped when Connie gave a scream. Sadie found herself clinging onto Connie's hand after she fell out of holding her.
The two looked up in horror, seeing Pink Diamond was holding Connie up by her hair, much as her mothers did whenever she was about to fall. This act usually saved her.
"You will pay for what you've done…!" Her sister Diamond whispered with a small smile.
"From what I've seen… so will you."
Pink Diamond only saw the sword after it had sliced off Connie's long hair. "NO!"
Connie and Sadie hugged each other close as they fell, not caring to look anywhere with their eyes shut.
"What's going to happen to us?!" Sadie cried.
"I don't know… but whatever does, we'll face it together!"
They fell into the abyss...