Freshwater and the gems watched with baited breath as the doors to the ship slid open, a cloaked figure surveying the area from above.
"What is your business here?" Garnet demanded, fixating the figures with a cold glare. The cloaked figure lowered their hood, the gems letting out gasps of surprise when they saw the way the light hit the boy's vibrant pink skin. "Sorry we scared you! Me and Jonathon just wanted to make an entra-" the teen's sheepish explanation was cut off when Steven launched himself at the ship and tackled the boy, sending both boys toppling over and onto the ship floor.
"Dude, watch the uniform." Lars protested, trying in vain to maintain his cool-guy monotone before glancing over his shoulder and flashing the Rutile twins a thumbs up. "Go ahead and tell everyone it's safe! Steven and the others are right here." he said, smiling to himself when he heard a very distant "I predict we have reached Earth!"
"Are you ready?" Jonathan asked, standing from his Lieutenant's chair and glancing up at Skinny, who was shifting uncomfortably back and forth. "No." the gem said with a laugh, shaking her white mane. Jonathan snickered. "Me neither." he said, looking up when he heard Padparadscha's prediction about it being safe to come out.
Jonathan gently took Skinny's hand as he lead the way to the ship's double doors, squeezing it gently as they surveyed the scene playing out in front of them from about 10 feet above the ground. Blue and Yellow Pearl were excitedly bombarding Freshwater with questions about something neither he or Skinny could hear, Steven was introducing Lars to Lion, Bismuth was laughing loudly as Garnet was excitedly mingling with the Off-Colors, excitedly gushing about something with Rhodonite and showing the gem the gemstones on her hands and -
"There." Jonathan said, gently squeezing Skinny's hand and pointing towards the shoreline, where a tall fusion with charcoal black skin and two sets of arms and eyes that were currently staring emotionlessly back at Jonathon and Skinny. "Are….are you sure that's them? Tourmaline didn't usually have…" Skinny said, unsure how to respectfully talk about the purple splotches covering the fusion's body.
"B9 fell victim to something called corruption a few months ago. It's basically an…illness I guess. It makes gems turn into horrific monsters. Jet…Jet must've fused with her." Jonathan said, trying to shake the shock away. His feelings weren't important. He had to take care of his crew.
"Why?" Skinny said, glancing down at Jonathon in shock.
Jonathan pursed his lips before squeezing the gem's hand and looking up at her with a forced smile.
"Only one way to find out." he said, swiftly launching himself off of the ship and in the direction of the fusion, dragging Skinny with him before the gem could protest.
As soon as the boy's feet touched the ground, Jonathan sprinted towards the fusion excitedly, vaulting into the air and wrapping his arms around the fusion's neck in a tight hug. Regardless of how he felt about B9, Jet was in there and he missed her dearly.
B9 grimaced as Jonathon wrapped his arms around the fusion, instinctively opening her mouth to chastise him or push hiim away, but when she looked over and saw that her other half had excitedly wrapped her own arms around the boy and was excitedly praising him for not getting himself killed, she decided to remain silent. Jet had sacrificed a lot to be with her and try to slow the corruption. The least she could do was tolerate a human and his - the gem's eyes narrowed when she saw Skinny standing a few feet behind the boy - traitorous scummy friends.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" Tourmaline exclaimed, Jet's voice prevailing over B9's as the gem excitedly tossed the boy into the air, the pair's happy giggles only growing with excitement every time she caught him.
"I"m glad I'm okay too!" Jonathan exclaimed excitedly, motioning behind him. "And…so is Skinny! She helped save a lot of people from the incident at the ball."
Jet followed the boy's hand gesture, her eyes widening when she saw the Jasper guard standing there tensely and avoiding eye contact.
For a moment, the gems stood in silence before Tourmaline spoke again, her voice even. "Skinny. That true?"
Skinny bit her lower lip and nodded, raising her gaise. "Yes. When we learned the Diamonds were going to wipe out everything, we couldn't…we couldn't take the cowards way out again. We turned on members of our crew out of fear and cowardice, and the guilt of that action ate all of us alive. So…we risked our lives to try to stop more gems from getting killed." she said, wiping a tear from her eyes as she continued. "We managed to save a lot of gems. But…it came as a cost."
B9's breath hitched at the Jasper guard's words. "No." she said in disbelief.
Skinny nodded, flinching at the sudden prevalence of the Bismuth's voice in the fusion's tone. "We're all that's left of the original gems that were involved in the creation of the zoo. We knew at least one of us had to survive to get as many gems as we could to Earth safely. And….and tell you how sorry we are for turning on you. We can't take it back, but we want to. We...were not cowards. At least not anymore. The Amethysts that were shattered took their shattering with pride and honor. We put our gems on the line for gem-kind and stood up to the Diamonds and…and her." she said, a shudder running down her spine.
"I'm…I'm sorry all of us couldn't be here to tell you how hard we fou-"
Skinny's statement was cut off when Tourmaline reached out a hand and placed it gently on the gem's shoulder. "I'm sorry too." she said, carefully putting Jonathon down and turning back towards the temple before either could read her expression.
"I…I'm just glad you're back home." she said simply before speed-walking towards the castle and closing the door.
Skinny started after the gem, but Jonathon reached out and stopped her. "Don't. Just let her go. She needs a minute."
Skinny looked like she wanted to protest, but took a deep breath and nodded, steadying herself and turning when she heard a loud roar from behind her.
"Good boy," Steven said, affectionately rubbing behind Lion's ear as Garnet thanked Steven before speaking up.
"As much as I really love this re-union, we should really take some time to re-group and make a game plan. A lot has happened since the night of the ball, and we need to both catch you guys up and make a gameplan on how we're going to deal with the downfall of Era 2 and potential coming of Era 3 if we're swift and efficient, it might not be too late."
"Isn't it already too late?" Yellow Pearl asked, motioning to the ship. "We're all that's left. The gems you see here, the humans on the ship, and what few gemstones the Amethyst guards were able to get away with, and the likelihood of them being ready to fight after getting hit by the Diamonds is slim at best."
Garnet pursed her lips, her shades flashing for a moment before the gem shook her head, a small hint of relief in her voice.
"The odds are against us. But nothing is impossible." she said, sounding like she was more trying to convince herself than the crowd before her.
"And…what are the odds exactly?" Freshwater asked, cocking her head to the side.
"25% success rate." Garnet said, her forced smile faltering slightly as the fusion rolled her eyes at the gasps and grimaces from the gems around her.
"Gems. Humans. Listen to me." Garnet said, motioning for the gems to calm down as she removed her visor, speaking in a calm voice and returning to her more stoic nature. "Before Sapphire met Ruby, she thought every path she saw was the only path that could be taken. Ruby's actions, however, introduced a whole new future Sapphire never could have predicted. My point is…while my future vision predicts a 25% success rate…I could be proven wrong. Which is why I do not think that success rate should make any of you shy away from fighting for your freedom. So please…do not stop fighting the good fight." she said, fixing each gem with a pleading look.
After a moment of silence, Amethyst let out a loud whoop of excitement and pumped a fist in the air, clapping loudly. "Yo G Squad is right! We can't just lay down and die after we've come so far!"
Freshwater nodded, looking between Blue and Yellow Pearl and gently clenching the ring at the end of her necklace. "Exactly! Almost all of us used to dedicate our very lives to defend the Diamonds, and they decide to just….throw us away? I don't think we should take that kinda shit laying down. Do you?" she asked, her eyes scanning the crowd who by now were murmuring to themselves.
"I predict the Crystal Gems will try to convince us to join their team!" Padparadscha said, excitedly clasping her hands together with a smile.
"Damn right we are!" Amethyst said with a grin.
"So…what do you guys think? You don't have to be Crystal Gems if you don't want to." Steven said, offering Lars and Jonathon a smile, who exchanged a look.
"I'm in if Lars is!" Jonathan said with a broad grin.
Lars frowned, feigning a thoughtful gesture and smirking.
"Depends. Do we get to keep the Captain and Lieutenant outfits?" he said, rolling his eyes when JOnathon playfully jabbed him. "Okay, okay. We're in."
"Preferably with the outfits." Jonathan said with a snicker before turning more serious. "So, we're obviously going to need a way to get back to Homeworld. We're a little low on fuel, but I'm sure if we siphon some out of Blue or Yellow's tanks we'll be good to go. I don't know if it'll be a smart idea to send everyone in unprompted, though, especially if we're going the Steven way of trying to talk instead of fighting.
"I can go." Freshwater piped up, raising her hand. "Gold Pearl said something…concerning before she fled. Something about me being a 'perfect fit' for Era 3. It kinda sounded like an invitation. I do agree that we shouldn't take everyone though if we wanna stay peaceful."
"I want to go! If Blue and Yellow stopped fighting when they realized I was Pink Diamond, maybe I can get through to White too!" Steven suggested.
"Well, if Steven's going, I guess the most mature Crystal Gem has to go too." Amethyst said, playfully ruffling Steven's hair.
"And I am not letting Steven go anywhere near White without me by his side." Garnet said, putting a hand on Steven's shoulder before turning to the others. "The rest of you should stay back and repair the ship. I doubt White will listen to us, and even if she does, based on Gold Pearl's reaction, that's not a pleasant scenario either. You guys need to repair the ship and be ready in case we need you, okay?" she said, nodding and giving a thumbs up when the gems nodded or shouted words of agreement.
Freshwater watched as the gems started to load the ship, biting her lower lip as her eyes flickered towards the temple, half expecting Pearl to run out and join them on the ship.
Seeing this, Tourmaline cleared her throat, one pair of eyes doing their best to avoid eye contact while the other locked eyes with her and placed a hand on her shoulder, nodding decisively and offering the gem a small smile. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her and let her know what's going on. Nothing bad will happen to her. I promise."
Freshwater took a deep breath, gently wrapping a hand around the ring on her necklace and nodding to steel her nerves before offering the gem a small smile. "Thanks, Jet. I appreciate it." she said, awkwardly offering the fusion a hug before joining the others on the ship and plopping down in the first seat she saw, still stroking her ring for comfort as the ship lifted off the ground and shot towards Homeworld, a single thought echoing through her head as the ship began its long journey to Homeworld:
Don't fight for her. Fight with her.
"I'll try, Pearl." Freshwater murmured to herself, wiping the single tear that managed to leak out of her eye as she stared out the window.
"Damnit, I'll try."
…
"So you're the ferocious gem that strikes fear in the hearts of even the most rambunctious Amethyst?"
Gold Pearl said, watching curiously as the Agate at the other end of her weapon stared back at her. "Aah, my apologies, my apologies. I forget my original form can be a bit…intimidating to most." the gem said with a giggle, feigning ignorance as her form flickered back to her original Pearl physique.
"This better? Make you feel more…in control? I know we Agates are really into that." the gem said with a snicker, not even flinching when the Agate swiftly tucked and rolled from out of range of the large scythe in front of her, summoning her weapon and fixating the Pearl with a glare.
"Oooh and you're quick on your feet, too! No wonder you were able to keep up with pearls so easily. We're not very strong, but we're quick on our feet." she said, snickering and rolling out of the way when the Agate summoned their weapon which was sparkling with electricity.
"Listen you pathetic chunk of rock, I don't know who you think you are trying to take on an Agate, but I have questions that need to be answe-"
"Where are you? On Homeworld. How'd you get here? The Diamonds originally brought your bubbled gemstone here to be shattered with everyone else. Why weren't you shattered? Well, see…that's the tricky part isn't it." the Pearl said, stroking their chin and feigning concern before snapping their fingers. "Oh yeah! Because the gems who instated that order are….how should I put this delicately….no longer giving orders, shall we say." Gold Pearl said, snickering when the gem's jaw dropped.
"W…what? Did those Crystal Gems…again?!" she said, unable to bring herself to ask if they had been shattered and relaxing slightly when the gem shook her head.
"Of course not! Those pathetic chunks of Earth dust weren't strong enough to. I, on the other hand, was am. They aren't dead yet of course, but they're safely in their bubble awaiting the day of Era 3, where they will be sha-" Gold Pearl barely managed to tuck and roll out of the Agate's whip as attack after attack was hurled at her.
Growling to herself, Gold Pearl disappeared into a puff of smoke and towered over the Agate, swiftly using the hilt of her weapon to knock the gem off her feet and kick the whip away, leering down at the gem in intimidation and staring deeply into her eyes.
"Now Agate. Let's not get too hostile. I think I've been quite patient with you, and I'd rather not have to teach you lessons the way you teach your Pearls. Are we clear?" Gold Pearl said, her eyes flashing angrily as the Agate's chest rose and fell in shallow breaths that were full of - fear.
Gold Pearl held the Agate's gaze for another long, tense moment before returning to her form and glaring down at the Agate with pursed lips and a bored expression.
"You're….you're the most recent result of the Perfect Pearl experiment."
Gold Pearl's expression shifted to one of excitement as the gem giggled. "Oooh, a powerful gem with brains and brawn, I see." the gem said, reaching down and pinching the Agate's cheek with a smirk and pulling back with a giggle. "The Diamonds wanted a perfect world, and they're going to see it before they're shattered. Afterwards, Era 3 will reign supreme. It will be glorious. WE will be glorious."
"So…why did you unbubble me? Just to rub my failure in my face?" the agate asked witha scowl.
"Partially." the gem said with a smirk before turning more serious. "The main reason, however, was I need a gem like you." she said. "And. I can give you what you want."
The Agate pursed her lips, choosing her words carefully. "And what do you think I want?"
Gold Pearl giggled. "Revenge."
The Agate froze for a moment before shaking her head. "Agate's don't need reven-"
"Bullshit." Gold Pearl said, shaking her head. "You mean to tell me if a certain little…..defective Pearl was still running around happily with a fiance on Earth that you wouldn't want to wipe that happy smile off her face? That the idea that while you're here, with me, she's on Earth smiling and laughing with her crew, planning to live a happy life on a planet that she abandoned you for? You don't want revenge on the gem that ruined your relationship with the Diamonds by fucking up so badly that they sent you to the Zoo? Her very existence is what has caused you so much pain, misery, and woe…." Gold Pearl tutted, shaking her head. "And yet…you don't want revenge."
Holly Blue Agate's hands shook, the gem choosing her words very carefully. Of course she wanted revenge. She wanted nothing but to grab that pathetic excuse for a gem by her gemstone, pull it out, and hear the sharp crunching of a gemstone beneath her feet when she ground her heel into it a few hundred times. Gold Pearl was right, of course, but she couldn't bring herself to admit it out loud.
"What do I need to do?"
Gold Pearl clapped her hands together excitedly, a devilish grin crossing her face. "Oh, not much. Just be my second in command until Era 3 is built. You know the deal. Take charge like you do so well and keep those gems in line in case they try any stupid shit. Shatter them yourself or bring them to me if you dem the crime agriegous enough. I need to spend time focusing on planning when those Crystal Gems will come here, because they will come. They don't know how to roll over and die, and I don't feel like wasting my time by sending gems to that planet where I know they'll turn on me. Place is busted and I don't have enough resources to deem it necessary to send precious gems there to take them out myself."
"And…I'll get to shatter the defect." the agate clarified.
Gold Pearl nodded with a small smile. "But of course. Not until the timing is right, of course, though. There are still some…things that fascinate me about her. Oh don't look at me like that - patience is a virtue. Let's just say there are things I know about this gem that have me…concerned. Neither of you will be living to Era 3, though, that I can assure you. If you don't shatter her, I will or I'll die trying." she said confidently, motioning for the Agate to follow her towards the door and closing it behind her. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have very important business to attend to." she said, clapping her hands, a Peridot swiftly making their wayover and doing their best to avoid eye contact with the gem.
"This Peridot will show you where all the Era 3 gems are being made. Just keep them in line, and if you have any trouble, you know what to do. That will be all." Gold Pearl instructed, a smile on her face as the gems walked off.