CHAPTER 32: WE CAN'T ESCAPE

"Black… thank you…" Steven whispered reaching the gem and giving her a warm smile, the gem looked away but for a single moment, she displayed a small smile… she was back.

"We need to find the others… it won't take long for Yellow Diamond to decide when the execution will take place…" Black said guiding Steven through the corridors of the prison.

"So… you remember?" Steven asked as Black stopped walking.

"I- I don't… not everything… but I remember what you said me and Pearl told each other… freedom is what is really worth fighting for… I remember her smile when we told each other that… she can't be the monster Yellow Diamond described… I just wish I could remember more…" Black said as they both reached a long corridor.

"Don't worry you will…" Steven said giving her a reassuring smile.

"Steven!" Lapis cried from one of the cells.

"Guys!" Steven yelled back running through the corridor.

"How did you get out?!" Amethyst couldn't help but smile seeing his little buddy was alright.

"Black helped me! She knows Yellow Diamond lied to her! We have to go now!" Steven said passing from cell to cell alongside Black, who deactivated each force field.

"Wait a moment!" Jasper said slamming the thin, black gem against the wall.

"Jasper what are you doing?!" Steven was afraid that Jasper wasn't going to let Black go.

"How can we be sure she won't just betray us?" Jasper said holding Black.

"She's risking her own life for us Jasper! She told me she remembered about the things Pearl told her and that she can't be the monster Yellow Diamond described! I trust her, please don't hurt her!" Steven pleaded, he sighed in relief as Jasper let the smaller gem go.

"Alright… but I won't hesitate to take her down if she tries something…" Jasper said gritting her teeth.

"Wait… where's Pearl?" Steven asked as he noticed the white gem was the only one missing.

Meanwhile:

"It's been a long time…" White Diamond said as Pearl got up, her entire body shaking.

"White Diamond…" Pearl muttered as the imposing gem raised from her throne and started to descend the ladder towards her.

"Oh you remember my name… I'm flattered…" White Diamond chuckled as Pearl stepped back.

"S-stay away! I swear I-I'll…" Pearl said as she hesitantly summoned her spear.

"You won't hurt me Pearl… it's in your nature… after all… I am still your Diamond and you are still my pearl…" White Diamond said reaching the end of the stairs.

"That's not true! I'm not yours! I am my own gem now!" Pearl said raising her spear towards the approaching gem.

"And who told you that?" White Diamond said, a pitiful smile on her face.

"W-what?" Pearl asked, her hands were trembling as the Homeworld leader became nearer and nearer.

"You know what I mean right? You aren't really convinced of those things isn't it Pearl? Those were just lies that someone told you… just another order to follow… to believe that you're something you're not…" White Diamond stopped right in front of Pearl, the point of her spear touching her chest.

"T-that's not true! I-I rebelled!" Pearl said, her voice was cracking.

"Yes… you preferred to follow her orders… because you loved her, but now she's gone… and you're alone again…" White Diamond chuckled as tears started to form in Pearl's eyes.

"I-I'm not alone… S-Steven-" Pearl tried to speak but White Diamond cut her off.

"That creature isn't her… and he will never be what you need him to be…" White Diamond slowly raised her hand and moved Pearl's spear away from her chest.

"H-he, h-he…" Pearl's cheeks were wet with tears by that point.

"But I can be what you have been searching for a long time… I can guide you Pearl, you're a wonderful gem, you have impressed me, you have inspired me… be my pearl…" White Diamond cupped Pearl's cheek and wiped away her tears.

"I-I-" Pearl's eyes became wide as she was taken in an embrace.

"You're safe my pearl… you're finally at home…" White Diamond whispered, but was taken aback when Pearl pushed her away.

"N-no! I will never be your slave! Not again! I'm strong now! I decide for myself! I choose my destiny! Not you nor any other gem!" Pearl didn't have time to react, she was backslapped and ended up on the ground.

"I can see there's still some of her idiocy in you… I'll eradicate that and then you'll come back to me…" White Diamond said turning around as the two quartzes entered the room and took Pearl away towards the prison.

"We'll have fun with you worthless defect." The first quartz hissed opening the dungeon's door.

"What the-" The second one was met with punch to her face while the other's chest was pierced by a halberd. Both of them disappeared into clouds.

"Pearl!" Steven yelled happily running towards the gem and embracing her tightly.

"Steven! Are you hurt?! Did they do something bad to you?! Let me see!" Pearl said frenetically as she checked him for injures.

"I'm okay Pearl! Black helped me!" Steven said giggling as Pearl looked between all of her comrades and noticed Black, she slowly got up and approached the gem, suddenly taking her in a tight embrace.

"I know you would remember!" Pearl cried happily as Black hugged her back, she remembered, finally she remembered.

"We have to get out of here, we should be able to reach an hangar and from there we should be able to take a ship, Peridot is able to make it fly aren't you?" Jasper said placing her hand on Peridot's shoulder.

"S-sure! I'm a technician, it will be no match for me!" Peridot said, pride rising in her voice, with all her friends, she finally found the courage to fight.

"Wait…" Lapis said as everyone turned around, she wasn't following them.

"Lapis what's wrong?" Steven asked as he approached the blue gem, she had her arms crossed and her gaze was fixed on the ground.

"I can't come… not yet… I have something to do first…" Lapis said watching eyeing the dungeon's door.

"What are you talking about? Yellow Diamond is going to destroy all of us if we don't escape!" Jet said looking around, many guards would have arrived shortly.

"And then what?! We'll escape but Homeworld will find us again, no matter where we go… it will never end, we can't escape… unless we put an end to all of this…" Lapis said marching towards the door.

"What?! If you hadn't noticed we are eight gems and one hybrid and the Homeworld's gems are thousands of thousands!" Peridot said waving her arms in the air.

"I have a plan… but I need to reach Yellow Diamond's chambers…" Lapis said.

"Lapis there's no time to-" Pearl was cut off by Black.

"I'll go with her…" Black said as everyone turned towards her.

"Black… no…" Pearl said as Black gave her a small smile.

"You have to protect Steven and prepare a ship, I'm not as important as any of you, we'll pass unnoticed if we are in two… I'll help Lapis, you find a ship and wait for us at the hangar gate." Black said following Lapis.

"B-but!" Pearl tried to protest but Black and Lapis were already gone.

"Pearl, we have to go…" Ruby said as she took hold of Sapphire's hand, both of them smiling to each other as they twirled around for some moments before being engulfed in a bright light and becoming Garnet.

"Come on…" Garnet said placing her hand on Pearl's shoulder, each of the gems passing through the dungeon's door.