The group was then flying right towards White's ship in the Galaxy King as they saw it interlock with Pink's ship, giving the head a set of legs.
"White Diamond definitely isn't going to make it easy for us to make peace." Jet said. "Where the heck did Mark run off to?"
"He must be down there with Steven, Connie and the other two Diamonds." Jexi said.
"Right…so…what exactly is the plan here?" Dan asked.
"White Diamond is too absorbed into her own ways…so…we'll just have to bust her head wide open." Jexi said.
"Oh, you mean we have to engage in psychological discussion?" Double D asked.
"No…I mean we literally have to bust her head wide open." Jexi said, pointing to White's ship.
"I like that idea better." Eddy said. "Alright, how're we gonna do that?"
"Well, we're going to need something big." Scarlet pointed out. "And as amazing as it would be to ram the King into her, I think we wanna avoid doing that…"
"So we need something else, like a giant robot, a combining mech, or… wait, combining…" Frisk mused. "That's it! We need to get down to the others!"
"Huh? Well, if you say so." Jet said.
"Jet, look out!" Jexi called out as they dodged two incoming objects. "The heck?" he said seeing two familiar arm ships.
"Are those Yellow and Blue's ships?" Rin exclaimed. "Who's piloting them?"
"I think I know…" Bardock mused as the group watched the arms square up against the Diamond ship. "Looks like our whole team is here at last."
"We better go down and check it out." Jexi said as they headed down.
On the ground, Steven and his group watched the two hands fighting the large ship.
"Whoa…Blue, Yellow. Did you two do this?" Mark asked.
"Oh, no way!" Blue Diamond said.
"White, this wasn't us." Yellow begged.
"Please, forgive us!" Blue said.
"Then who's…" Steven said as the Yellow Arm descended as a certain gem emerged.
"I always wanted to uppercut an upper crust!" Bismuth said.
"Bismuth!" Steven and Connie exclaimed in joy as they ran over to her. "You came?"
"Heck yeah, we did." Bismuth said.
"We?" Mark said as the blue arm landed nearby, emerging from it were two familiar Gems with new forms.
"You thought we wouldn't be here at a time like this?" Peridot asked.
"Ah! Lapis Lazuli and Peridot!" Steven said.
"Wasn't that cool, Steven? Check out the awesome job we did fixing up those hand ships!" Peridot said before the thumb on Yellow's ship fell right off. "Uh…who needs thumbs?"
"Yeah, nice job, you three." Bardock said as the rest of the group had landed and joined the others.
"Hang on a sec, Peri… is that visor based off of Kamina?" ZS asked.
"...What's a Kamina?" Peridot asked.
"...When we're done, Gurren Lagann marathon. All of us. Mandatory." ZS stated seriously.
"Very cute." a voice above the group said as they looked up to see a colorless Pearl floating above them in a bubble. "Glad to see we're having fun. However, White Diamond has certain issues with your conduct that will need to be addressed before we move forward."
"Funny, we were thinking the same about you." Undyne responded. "Frisk, whatever plan you had back up top, now would be a good time."
"Right!" Frisk nodded before he turned to Steven. "Steven, you need to fuse with the others. Then we can get inside that ship and talk to White directly!"
"Fuse with them?" Steven asked. "But they haven't reformed yet!"
"Well, there's no rule saying you can't fuse with Gems that are reforming, is there?" Lancer asked. "For all we know, it'll speed up the process."
"Okay…I'll…I'll try." Steven said.
"Ah! The ship attacks!" Ed pointed to the Diamond Ship as it was firing beams of light from its eyes.
"Steven!" Blue yelled in alarm as she and Yellow blocked them from the beams, getting hit themselves, causing their bodies and gems to be drained of color as they screamed in agony.
"Wh-What the heck?!" ZS yelled. "What's happening to them?!"
"They're being drained of their color…their wills." Mark realized as the two Diamonds began to move unnaturally, their faces plastered with a creepy smile. "So this is White's power…"
A giant white bubble encapsulated Blue and Yellow and they rose up, their ships doing the same behind the group. Soon, the Diamond Mech had gained the two arms, the Diamonds disappearing into the mech.
"Well that's not good." SE said. "Can we fight this thing?"
"Not on the outside. Let's get back on the ship. Least inside we'll have a fighting chance." Jexi said.
The group raced onto the Galaxy King, lifting it off as they watched the mech maneuver its new arms.
"Okay, time for plan…what is this, C?" Sans asked.
"Actually it's Plan D." Mark said.
"How many plans do we have?" Emo asked.
"Several, although I probably die at Plan M." Mark said. "So let's try not to go there."
"Then we gotta bust in before that point." Jexi said as they were quickly boarding before White attacked the ground they stood as Steven and the gems fell over. "Steven!"
"Please, can you guys hear me?" Steven pleaded as he and the gems were falling to the ground. "Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, please! I need you!"
Steven was clutching all of the gems to his chest as they fell through before a bright glow could be seen below.
"Steven?" Mark asked before they saw a large black Gem fusion emerge from the crevice.
"Whoa…looks like your gambit worked, Frisk." Rainbow said.
"Yeah! Power of love and friendship for the win!" Eddy cheered as the large Fusion let out a guttural roar. "What the heck do we call them, though?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Moltar asked. "There's only one name we can give to this… Obsidian!"
"I like it! It's gotta nice ring to it!" ZS smiled as the group saw the fusion climb up the Diamond Mech. "Come on, we gotta help!"
The Galaxy King and Obsidian worked in tandem as they battled against the large mech that stood before them.
"Just gotta time it right…okay…now!" Jet said firing a projectile as Obsidian climbed onto the head as both dealt a strike to one single point on the head, making a large hole.
"And therein lies our entrance!" Sir Saiyan declared, drawing his blade. "Into yonder breech, we go!"
"Full throttle!" Jet said as both the ship and Obsidian disappeared into the vast expanse of the Diamond ship.
The Galaxy King seemed to be flying in a void, nothing but grey walls and a white light all around them.
"Is this… is this infinity?" Ed said, looking out the window. "The never ending expanse of White Diamond's mind, a beings whose knowledge and motives are so foregin to us earthlings, attempting to unravel the complexity would drive us mad-"
"Uh…Ed? We're just in the ship's head." Shirou said, pointing downward, where they saw the Gems together. "The Gems are down below us."
"Oh. Okay!" Ed smiled.
"Let's just get down there." Emo sighed.
They hurried and landed the ship. However, the moment they did, they saw the Crystal Gems just as gray as the other two Diamonds were.
"Sorry…but White Diamond is not ready to see any new visitors right now." they spoke using her voice.
"No…snap out of it! This isn't like you guys!" Sora called out.
"Oi, Whitey!" Eddy yelled. "Let 'em go, or we'll pound your Gem 'til it cracks!"
"Why would I do that?" White Diamond asked. "I've removed their flaws! Now there is nothing to hinder my white light from sparking through them. I'd rather not spread my uninhibited self so thin, you know, but you've all made it absolutely necessary. Now, the impurities you've encouraged in them are gone. Now, they are brilliant! Now, they are perfect! Now... they are me!"
"And that's supposed to be an improvement?" Emo asked. "The Gems are fine the way they are."
"They're right!" Steven called out. "They don't need to be fixed! They're fine the way they are, flaws and all!"
"There you go again. Do you understand why you defend their flaws? I know why, Pink. You like surrounding yourself with inferior Gems." White Diamond said.
"They aren't inferior and he's not Pink Diamond! Pink Diamond is gone. She doesn't exist anymore!" Izuku called out.
"Yeah! Pink was his mom!" Frisk said. "Basically, it's this concept where-"
"His "mom"?" White Diamond laughed, surprising the group. "These worthless Gems weren't enough, were they? See how you surround yourself with lower lifeforms? You've smothered yourself in them. It feels good, doesn't it, Pink? Dulling your power, hiding your face, blaming everything on someone else. You became Rose Quartz to deceive your pathetic friends. And now, you've improved on that because you're even deceiving yourself."
"That's not true!" Steven called out.
"But you know things about her you couldn't possibly know." White Diamond pointed out.
"I- I've just been connecting with her. My powers, they- they help me connect to others. I-I'm not her. I'm just... feeling her feelings..." Steven tried to argue as White Diamond grabbed him.
"Hey, put him down!" Mark yelled, ready to fly over and punch White Diamond's lights out, only for the brainwashed Crystal Gems to get in his way. "What are you doing?!"
"I'm simply bringing back Pink." White Diamond said as she lifted up Steven's shirt and gripped onto his gem. "Now starlight…this has gone on long enough. It's time to come out…Pink." she said before finally pulling out the gem from Steven's body.
"Noooooo!" Connie yelled in horror, the rest of the group shocked into silence at what just happened.
"Did… did that just happen?" ZS stammered.
"We… we… We need to get through!" Double D said, regaining his focus.
Steven was soon dropped as the others rushed to his side as the gem above started to activate. At first, it was in Pink Diamond's shape before shifting to Rose Quartz before stopping as another Steven. It lowered to the ground before turning its head before looking at the real one.
"What…is going on?" SE asked.
"Your guess is as good as ours." Rainbow-2 said.
"No…" Steven cried as he got up, trying to walk to his pink counterpart before falling. "Please.. I... I need... I need it..."
"What is this? Where is Pink?" White Diamond asked.
"She's gone." Pink Steven said.
"What was that? Answer me!" White demanded.
"She's GOOONNNE!" Pink Steven cried out, creating a crater and shaking the entire area. After its episode, the new Steven slowly started to make its way towards the real Steven.
"Hang on, we gotcha bud." Eddy said as he and Connie supported Steven. "Let's get these two together!" he said as they started walking to meet the pink Steven half-way.
"Where do you think you're going?!" White Diamond demanded. "Don't you dare take one more step!"
The pink Steven ignored her, continuing to walk forward.
"That's enough!" White Diamond called out, firing a beam of light at it, only for the pink Steven to raise its shield. "Don't you dare raise your shield at me!" White Diamond cried out as her other controlled subjects joined in on the firing.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Mark yelled, firing a Ki blast at White Diamond, knocking her back. "I should obliterate you for what you've done, you damn tyrant!"
"Tyrant? I only want Pink to be herself!" White Diamond yelled. "She's not half human! She doesn't sound like that! She doesn't look like that. She's just…acting like a child!"
"He is a child…what's your excuse?" Jexi asked.
White Diamond was left stunned by this question, as the ones escorting Steven finally reached Pink Steven.
"Here ya go, I guess you know what to do…" Eddy said as he and Connie handed the real Steven to his counterpart.
Reunited with his gem, Steven breaks into tears and hugs Gem Steven, laughing heartily. Gem Steven then smiles widely and laughs along, the first sign of any emotion, and the two begin twirling each other around in a joyful dance.
"I know this feeling…" Frisk said. "They're…!"
As everyone in the room watches, Steven and Gem Steven continue to cheer and dance joyfully. The two Stevens begin to glow as they fuse back together, becoming whole again.
"Steven!" Connie called out. "Are you…okay?"
"Yeah…I'm me. I've always been me." Steven said.
The rest of Team Chronicle and the Dimensional Heroes ran over to check over Steven.
"Dude, what was that?" ZS asked. "That other you was like…super powered! It would've been cool if I wasn't completely terrified about you dying!"
"Time and place, Skater." Saber said.
White Diamond was still stunned by the question asked earlier as she started to blush as did the other controlled gems. "What's going on? They're all turning pink. Wait…something's wrong…with me! No!" she cried as all the controlled Gems were quickly regaining their color.
"Ugh… what happened…?" Amethyst groaned before she saw the rest of the group. "Oh, hey guys. I think I blacked out before you got here. Mind filling in the details?"
"Well, I think we got through to White." Krillin noted.
"Yeah… I think we did." Mark said. "You know what that means? We won!"
"This can't be happening! I can't have a flaw! I'm supposed to be flawless! If I'm not perfect, then... who am I?! If you're not Pink, then... who are you?! Who- Who is anyone?!" White Diamond said in panic.
"Ya know, if you just let everyone be whoever they are, maybe you could let yourself be whoever you are, too." Steven said.
"But I'm not supposed to be like this! I'm supposed to know better! I'm supposed to be better! I'm supposed to make everything better!" White said.
"You still can. We can even show you how. First…you gotta leave your own head." Jexi said.
"Hey guys!" a voice called out as Nathan, Bismuth, Lapis, and Peridot all came flying through the hole the group had made. "I got all the Gems out of the miner bots Sorry it took so long, but now I'm here to…help…" he trailed off, looking at the scene. "Okay, I think I missed a lot."
"Heh, we'll catch you up to speed. For now…we have one last thing we need to do." Mark said.
Later the group made their way back to Earth, all three of the Diamonds in tow.
"Now…before we reach the Earth…" Usopp said as they flew by the Universal Prison. "Delivery!" he called out as they kicked out the tied up Dark Future members, dropping right into the prison.
"Hey! When I get out, you all are…" Energy Crisis called out before guards surrounded them. "Ah damn it."
"See ya!" Eddy laughed as they all flew off while the Dark Future members were taken away.
It wasn't long after that they landed right on the beach on Earth.
"And we're back." Jexi said.
"Yep." Mark marveled. "Man, that was a crazy few days, wasn't it?"
"Yeah…super crazy." Jexi said. "'Specially considering we wiped out part of a division of a huge criminal organization and changed the ways of an intergalactic empire."
"Yeah, and the others were at a KOF tournament." Mark said. "Man, it's going to be hard to tell who had the more exciting adventure."
"Well, we can discuss how we can make that argument after we finish up." SE said. "There's still a bunch of corrupted Gems that need to be cured."
"Speaking of which, how exactly are the Diamonds going to cure them?" Lancer asked. "I'm guessing it'll take more than a wave of the hands."
"Hmm…I think I have an idea." Pit said.
The next day, a number of bubbled Gems were gathered to a large body of water as the Diamonds stepped in as did Steven. As the bubbles were popping one by one, the corrupted Gems were regaining their normal appearances.
"Nothing…beats a hot spring." Pit said.
"Pretty smart, Pit." Mark noted. "We'll have all the Gems uncorrupted pretty quickly."
"Yeah…I guess that means we're free until the others are done at KOF." ZS said. "So, what're we gonna do?"
"What do you mean, silly?" Pinkie-2 asked. "There's a bunch of new friends here, we stopped Dark Future, and convinced White Diamond to change her mind! We need to have parties celebrating all of that!"
"Well…that certainly does call for some celebration." Jexi said.
"Heck yeah!" Eddy cheered. "Party time!"
And so, well into the night, Beach City was host to a party welcoming the uncorrupted Gems. As the numerous party goers celebrated, Mark was talking with Nathan.
"...and that's why I've decided to move to New World." Nathan said. "Figure if I can start anywhere, it might as well be there."
"I think Sam and Zexi will be happy to have you as part of the world." Mark said. "Just don't forget us where you become famous, alright?"
"Are you kidding? I couldn't forget you people if I tried." Nathan chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess we are a rather memorable bunch." Mark chuckled alongside the musician. He then noticed Steven sitting on the edge of the beach, strumming his ukulele, walking over to him. "Hey, got room for one more?"
"Can you make that five more?" the voice of Amethyst asked as she, Garnet, Pearl, and Jexi joined them.
"Always." Steven answered, as the group sat down together.
"So, what're you playing?" Mark asked.
"I had an idea. Well, a song idea- but, also an idea idea." Steven said.
"Well, don't keep us in suspense. Let's hear it." Jexi said, the rest of the group adding to the affirmation.
And so, with a deep breathe and a smile on his face Steven Universe began to sing:
I don't need you to respect me, I respect me.
I don't need you to love me, I love me.
But I want you to know you could know me,
If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,
If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,
If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,
Change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind.
Team Chronicle: Diamond Days Arc
END
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"Ugh…must've gotten the calculations off."
That was the first thought that ran through Photon's head as his eyes fluttered open, staring up at the star-filled void of space, many of which he only barely recognized.
"Okay…in the past…no ship, no way off…yeah…I think I might be screwed." Photon said.
The scientist got up, looking around to see that he was in a run-down garden, the plants withered away from neglect.
"A garden in space?" Photon said. "What world did I end up in? If I can find some machine parts around here, I might be able to at least get a signal out."
He started to walk, taking in the appearance of the ruined garden, before he saw something - or someone? - that gave him pause: a small pink Gem with a heart shaped gem.
"The hell?" he said as he approached her. "Uh…hi. Can…can I get some help? I seem to be lost. Is there a comm station or something?"
"There's one over there." she said pointing to a distant telepad.
"Uh…thanks. What…what are you doing?" Photon asked.
"Oh. I'm playing a game. Just gotta stand right here and wait for Pink to come back." she said.
"Pink?" Photon said in confusion. "Uh…how long have you been here?"
"Oh…not that long. About…6,000 years, give or take." she said.
Photon nearly gasped in shock before he caught himself. "Well…guess I better get started then, cause nobody's coming otherwise." he said to himself, before he approached the comm station to begin working.
"She'll be back…" the gem said, her expression looking frayed. "Eventually…"
To be continued…
