The first time they came face to face with a corrupted Gem was when Pearl and Garnet were called into the Kindergarten some long months after the last battle. When they arrived on the scene three of their still living comrades were trying desperately to destroy the screeching monster.
It was a pale green cervidae creature, with four horns so enormous and heavy it was a wonder that it could hold its head up. It's tail was long and puffed out, with thorny spikes trailing from its hindquarters down the fluffed fur of the tail. Two wide eyes roamed across the bottom of the canyon as it shirked and tried to stay alive, mashing its powerful hoofs into the floor, sending the attacking Gems into the air each time. Its Jade gem was embedded in its throat.
As Pearl and Garnet ran to protect their inferiors the deer sent an Onyx flying into the canyon wall, cracking the round black stone on their back and eradicating their physical form. Garnet took out a leg forcing the deer to bow, while Pearl ricocheted off the wall and stabbed it straight through the neck with her pale spear. The green thing bellowed out in pain, its eyes freezing with fear, and then it evaporated into white mist, the stone plummeting to the ground.
Pearl picked up the small gem. It was so little one could mistake it for a shard to a larger stone. "Hm. That was.. strange. Why would a Gem go rouge like this?"
"It must be broken." Garnet commented, looking at the stone Pearl held out.
"You!" Pearl demanded, pointing at a frightened Amber. "Report."
Amber straightened, her teeth chattering. She stepped up to Pearl, glancing nervously at Garnet. "My comrades and I were assigned to stand watch of this section two days ago. T-today, as we stayed position, Onyx noticed an Earth creature stuck in one of the holes. She, she went to see, and then it dislodged when it saw her, screaming and growing and- and-"
The saturated Gem started to continue but Pearl dismissed her. "This isn't good. Look," Pearl pointed. "you're right, there is a little crack in this gem."
"Mm." Garnet hummed. "Let's tell Rose."
Pearl nodded up at Garnet, frowning.
"Oh!" called out one of the other two inferior Gems. "Onxy- she's cracked!"
Garnet turned around, observing the Amber and Cat's Eye as they stared at the black stone. Cat's Eye started to cry, so Garnet and Pearl went to them. "Let me see." Garnet said.
They gave Onyx to the tall Gem, fretting. She pursed her lips. "We'll bring this to Rose, too."
Pearl nodded vigorously. "Yes, she'll heal her. You two come with us, I'm certain Rose would like to hear what you have to say."
They looked in awe at the idea of speaking to Rose Quartz directly, it was as if they already forgot about their broken friend. So together the group returned to the Temple, Jade and Onyx in hand.
More broken or otherwise corrupted Gems became visible. They were both of Diamond and Quartz origins, but one could not tell because they no longer displayed their emblem. Occasionally a Gem would scream and yell "That Gem! I know that Gem, I thought she had died!"
Sometimes they would even find small fragments of shattered Gems that had turned into blobs of flesh, but had no mind. They would look like mutated animals parts, simple formless mush, or even humanoid limbs. They would move as if they still held a ghost of a directive, but were otherwise dead. Those were the things that disturbed living Gems the most, not the beastly monsters. They were the zombies. Sometimes a shard would dig itself out of a grave, but not often. Living shards were uncommon, but they did happen.
On the beach a red fire-breathing, flightless avian hissed and spat flames at Rose Quartz and her companion. She held her shield at ready, and her sword was drawn. "Why are you acting this way?" she called out to it. In response it flailed and coughed up a wad of fire, forcing Rose to hide behind her shield. "Please, try and tell me!"
"Rose!" yelled Pearl. "They can't speak!"
The bird turned on Pearl and hurdled at her, Pearl dodging. Rose wanted Pearl there for extra protection, but was trying to see if she could reason with the Gem. This caused Pearl pain, as it meant Rose would willingly put herself in danger, only allowing Pearl to protect her at last resort.
Rose called for the bird to pay attention to her. She could see the jagged stone in the back of the monster's head. Again she asked "Why are you acting this way? Why are you trying to harm us?"
It spun around and hissed, but Rose heard nothing by crying. Its feathers flared out, its eyes were wild and scared. Rose lowered her sword and stepped in closer, ignoring Pearl's pleas to keep away. "Please, let me heal you."
For a moment the fear in its fiery eyes calmed, plumage starting to flatten. Pearl watched on, in position to run and strike. Rose smiled up at the bird. "See? I won't hurt you." she sheathed her sword and her shield vanished, further relaxing it, but only caused Pearl to fret more. A hand smeared away water from one of Rose's droopy eyes, and she reached out to it. It lowered its head, penguin like beak chattering. It tugged at her pink locks and she smoothed her hand over its gem while it was visible to her. It flinched and jumped back, puffing up.
"Rose!" Pearl gasped, fearing the worse. She lifted her spear which did nothing but cause the bird to shriek, flapping its wings. It gurgled up fire and spat out flaming rain. Rose was forced to shield her head, but Pearl only had to use her speed to avoid injury. She struck the bird through and it cried out, gem falling to the warm sand.
Rose went and sat down, cradling the stone. She shed a few bitter tears. "I could have saved them."
Pearl momentarily sat beside her, concerned. She was incredibly guilty. "I'm.. I'm sorry. I didn't want it to hurt you."
Rose's tears dribbled onto the bright crimson gemstone, but she smiled through them. "I just want everyone to be okay again." she confessed childishly. She would not let anyone hear her say something so frivolous other than Pearl.
Pearl leaned on her. "Perhaps they will regenerate, and they will thank you?" she tried, hoping to comfort.
The giant shrugged. "I'd like to think so. But the other's I cried unto haven't so far."
Pearl opened her mouth, but could think of nothing more to say. She sighed. Rose's tears stopped, but she still cradled the stone. "My Pearl," she said "where would I be without you?"
Her knight blushed a light blue, and she suddenly felt so small next to Rose. She opted to stand up, hand on Rose's shoulder. "Come on, let's visit the bubbled Gems."
The temple was once the base of operation to the rebel cause, but it had become the safe haven to the small number of Quartz Gems still on Earth. With more time and less worry, they were able to begin constructing the mini mountain it was located under into a massive statue. They carved the rock, shaping it to resemble the worshiped figure of the main five's fusion. It would take a while to finish, but the temple was chipped at more and more each day by quick hands.
They caught word via wailing stone of incoming ships. Half a year later and the Homeworld was sending a second wave after them. They still wanted the Earth. Rose's army was little to nothing, but she told them that she believed in them as much as she did the moment they all joined her life.
Amethyst clung and pulled on Rose's flowery dress. "Aw come on, I'm good at fusion and I've been training with Ruby and Sapphire, why can't I fight with you guys?"
Rose lowered herself, glancing at Ruby and Sapphire who were nearby pretending not to hear them. "Amethyst, you are not even a year old."
She scowled. "Am too, I'm like, two months away!"
Rose smirked at her insistence. "I could not send you into war without feeling guilty."
Amethyst crossed her arms, frown deepening. "Ruby, help me out here!" she asked.
Ruby backed up behind Sapphire. "Wh-? Why are you asking me?"
"Sapphire?" Amethyst tried.
Sapphire ringed her hands. "Weeeeell," she drawled. "I mean, it's not like you'd be forcing her."
Rose half gave Sapphire a dirty look. "What do you see?"
Sapphire shrugged. She was quiet for a moment. "She could die. Or not."
"Duh, isn't that always the only two possibility?" Ruby retorted.
Sapphire nodded.
Rose sighed and stared into the purple Gem's demanding eyes. Amethyst wasn't backing down. "Alright." she gave in reluctantly. "Amethyst, I trust in you."
Amethyst grinned blissfully and jumped in the air, squealing. "I won't disappoint you!"
Rose grabbed her in a hug and kissed her chastely upon the forehead. "Please just don't get into trouble."
"Awww," Amethyst became sappy. "I won't!" she buried her face against Rose, so Rose picked her up in her arms and held her like a child. "Let us go find Pearl, so we can tell her."
"Okie dokie." mumbled Amethyst, nuzzling and closing her eyes like she would sleep. Rose walked away, leaving Ruby and Sapphire to themselves.
"You really think she's ready to fight with us?" asked Ruby.
Sapphire sighed and thought. "She fights enough here. I think she'll do well."