Rose Quartz had gathered thousands upon thousands of followers. It was still less than what the enemy had, but she believed in her Gems. They had been fighting for a year, building up their bases of operation on Earth while slowly poisoning the Kindergarten. On more than a few occasions they fought brutally to take down in coming ships and special teams that were sent out to start new Kindergartens. These were the battles where the most Gems were lost to death, as the Homeworld would struggle desperately to have the Kindergartens working. The field that Ruby once hated became a graveyard.
The single Earth Kindergarten was still in operation to some extent. It was maintained less than it was in the beginning, but it was more than well protected. Bulky Gems were deployed in troves to work as security. Young Gems were grown more slowly, but were easier to train and manipulate.
It was finally time to destroy the Kindergarten. Rose Quartz, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, and a Bismuth had been cooperating for months upon months to map out a solid plan. Their army on Earth had been training furiously, and by then they were a well oiled machine. The fusion dance of any two Gems meant for the front line was practiced to a point that it was almost impossible to accidentally destabilize.
Rose Quartz would lead the massive army into the Kindergarten alongside shaky Bismuth. Garnet, who was a powerful, well-trained fusion, would be at the top of the army fighting next to Pearl. The four of them together put fire in the stones of those following them into the craggy landscape of the Kindergarten. Pink, rosy flags flew above their heads. They would try their best to not let ignorant, new born Gems fall to their raised fists.
Upon announcement of their massive arrival alarms seemed to blare, and in minutes the battle had already begun. "It's Rose Quartz!" screamed working Gems who would then dash for the warp pads, not meant to fight. The great muscled Gems who guarded the Kindergarten did so for their life, blue diamonds plastered upon their uniforms.
Soon fusions were forming and monstrous, unstable Diamond Gems came crashing down over Rose's army. The sound was roaring and terrible. Pearl watched as a beast with three arms grabbed an entire handful of screeching Quartz Gems and ate them, crushing their stones with its tusks. She stabbed it in the leg and ran up the side, dodging the swaying arms as it swatted. Pearl cut deep into one of its dark eyes and fell away as it bellowed with anger, hitting itself in the face.
Quartz fusions kept their wits about them and quarreled violently with the stomping Diamond fusions, clutching hand to hand and bashing head to head. Enormous axes, swords, maces, and knifes were swung about, slashing the flesh of any in the way. Machinery was knocked over, Diamond fusions burst into their individual forms, and gems broke with deafening sounds, their armor clattering to the ground. Below the rumbling feet of the war young Gems nestled whimpering in their holes, trying not to be killed. It was total chaos.
"Retreat!" called out a Diamond Gem after a long, sticky hour crashed by. Others echoed their command, but not among those who fled for the safety of the Galaxy Warp were snarling Gems replying COWARDS.
Garnet held her fist high in the dusty air and brought it down with intense force, making contact with the shining green stone at her feet. The stone exploded into shards, killing the Gem who had given up physical form at her hands. She grinded the shards into the dirt. Upon looking up she found the enemy in flight, the last of the so called cowards disappearing into a warp pad, and those who stayed to fight getting broken.
She saw Rose Quartz frozen in the crowd of her sparse, cheering people, sword still held as if to protect herself. Her shield was gone, and then she lowered her weapon. A hand to her heart she moved swiftly across the dirt, stooping. Garnet went to her.
"Oh Garnet," hissed Rose painfully. "I would have avoided this if I could have." she held the tumbling, shining Bismuth stone in her hands. Its squared shape glittered darkly as she bubbled it, sending it home.
"I know." said Garnet. "That is why you did not attack until now."
Rose's face was filled with grief, but those in her army who survived were surrounding her now to cheer. She tried hard to smile, and said loudly to them, "We've won today!"
The Gems called out their love for their Goddess, and things were much easier after that.
The day after, Rose Quartz, her friends, and a good sized team of Gems returned to the dead Kindergarten. The dust was settled and the wind howled in the empty holes where Gems were once grown from. They were there to search and to totally shut down the equipment. It was clean up.
Rose sat upon a rock, head upon her hand. She looked out at the canyon, watching the other Gems move and scour, scaling the cliffs. They were checking in every single hole. Other Gems made sure the still standing machines would not be useful in the future.
"Rose?" asked Pearl, stepping beside the rock. Rose's head was much higher than Pearl's, and upon the rock it was even more so. Pearl did not mind.
She looked down, smiling. "Yes, Pearl?"
"How are you faring?" she asked delicately, dripping with concern.
Rose's smile deepened, but there was sadness present in her eyes. The battle had been but a day before, still fresh in her aged mind. "About as well as one can, after this."
Her knight's face remained serious, back totally stiff. "I understand. So many lost."
Rose, ever optimistic, replied."But they received a proper burial, and now they rest in the dirt they protected."
"Yes, we can be glad for that." she said softly. Then she looked up, reaching her hand out to touch Rose's. But rather than let her skin make contact she hovered and shook anxiously, glancing at Rose's face for permission.
Her eyes were relaxed and filled with love, almost wanting to laugh at Pearl's utter adoration. She lifted her hand and took Pearl's dainty one in her own sized one, allowing Pearl to smile. "We'll be okay." said Rose.
Pearl sighed dreamily. "If you are here, I know that is true."
Then Ruby was bounding haphazardly over, calling out for them. "Rose! Rose!" she squeaked. "Sapphire and I found a live Gem!"
"Oh!" Rose exclaimed as Pearl released their hands. She came off the rock. "Take me to them."
The small group went together to where Sapphire was leaned over, looking into one of the deep indention. She saw them coming and pointed into it. "In here."
Rose had to get onto her hands and knees to peer in. It was dark, but she could see the Gem coiled up in the far back of the space. "Little Gem," she called gently. "would you like to come out?"
"Go away, leave me ALONE!" screeched the unseen Gem from her only safe haven.
"She just keeps saying that." said Ruby.
"Why you," Pearl leaned over next to Rose and looked in, scowling. "Do you know who you're talking to?"
"Please, Pearl." Rose demanded sweetly. Pearl blushed and backed off. Rose tried again. "I'm Rose Quartz," she greeted. "please, I'd love to meet you."
The Gem hesitated to reply. "Rose... Quartz?" she asked, as if she knew the name.
"That's right."
There was shuffling as the young Gem moved. Rose could see her face now, which was almost obscured by a mass of un-brushed hair. The Gem stared back out at Rose, eyes puffy from where she had been sobbing earlier, before she'd been discovered.
Rose held out her hand and smiled with care. She could see the Gem's face contorting with worry, glancing around her shallow home. Still, she drew forward, shyly letting herself hit the dim light at the bottom of the canyon.
Smile brightened yet, Rose brushed a hand through the Gem's hair, placing it behind an ear. "Ah, an Amethyst."
The Amethyst was uncomfortable with the eyes upon her, looking down at the purple stone embedded in her chest. At the same time she was enamored by the feather touch of the pink giant's soft hands, leaning.
The months went by, and for a long time things were simple. Small squads remained under the control of their few commanders, keeping watch over bases and warp pads. Stations were set up at different areas of the desolate Kindergarten. Not a single Diamond Gem remained on Earth. Rose Quartz was not inclined to celebrate yet, not doubting the power of the Homeworld. Simply because they fought off the Kindergarten operators and guards, that did not mean they were in the clear.
"Watch us." said Sapphire, taking her partner's hand. Her other hand laid upon her shoulder, while Ruby's went to her waist. They began to slowly waltz, letting the chubby purple Gem take in their movement. A few leisurely Gems on the side observed, but otherwise kept to themselves.
"Yawn." commented the Gem.
"Yawn?" grumbled Ruby, suddenly stopping and causing Sapphire to fall into her, Ruby unflinching. "Don't you want to learn how to fuse?"
Amethyst shrugged. "Sure, but not like that!"
Ruby huffed and crossed her arms, but Sapphire laughed. "Oh, stop making that face!" she pinched Ruby's cheek. "Even we don't fuse like this!"
"See!" Amethyst cheered, gesturing with her arms where she stood. "Sapphire agrees with me!"
Ruby rolled her eyes. A mischievous look plastered itself across her face. "Then why don't we just show her how we really dance?" she growled flirtatiously, grabbing Sapphire and burying her face into her neck, kissing her there.
Sapphire squealed, her cheeks darkening and involuntarily smirking. "R-Ruby! Not here!" she giggled, pushing on her.
"Oh my god." Amethyst smirked, howling and whistling. She lifted her arms in the air. "Ruby goin' in for the kill!"
Ruby nuzzled her forehead to Sapphire's and purred, arms still holding the blue Gem against her. Sapphire couldn't help but steal a kiss even after scolding her. Amethyst snickered in the background. "Uhh, maybe I should just gooo." she teased, starting to back up.
"Hahaha, wait!" Sapphire called, reaching her hand out. "Okay, come on, we'll show you."
Amethyst clapped, excited. "Alright!" she cheered.
The two small Gems reluctantly separated, giving each other some space. They started, with each individual's dance coinciding with the other. It was like a mirror of their personalities, littered with segments of one another's own traits from being around one another so long. Flowing, swooping motions came out smooth from Sapphire, echoing in Ruby's dance. Ruby was more bold, more sudden and exciting, which, like Sapphire's style in Ruby's, showed itself between Sapphire's sweeping gestures. They slowly made their way to one another, circling, and with one last step mashed together into a glowing ball of energy.
Amethyst's eyes shimmered with awe. Outside of the Kindergarten battle, she had never seen a fusion. "Woooow!" she cheeped.
Garnet became solid and imposing, her three eyes beaming down at the now small Amethyst. She was proud of herself, for both enlightening her new friend and for what she was. "It's not so hard." she commented simply.
Amethyst jumped up and down and ran up to her, yanking at her arm. "Oh, oh! What kinda weapon you got?"
Garnet lifted her arms, Amethyst hanging from the one. She summoned her gauntlets, and as Amethyst dropped she stared dreamily. "You must be so strong!"
Garnet nodded. "Yup."
"You think I could learn to do that?" she asked.
"If you listen to our instruction."
The purple Gem slumped. "Awww, does that mean I gotta learn that boring dance?"
Garnet laughed. "Yes."
The frown on Amethyst's face sunk further, she almost seemed to let her hands touch the ground. "Fiiiine."
So Garnet unfused, and they took it from the top.