Chapter 5: the solstice

It was Saturday morning, and Citrine sat in silence in the officer tent. Her clothes still tattered, and eyes bloodshot, she fought to get herself out of her bed of yellow gems. Garnet opens the tent and walks in.

"Morning Citrine, today's the day,"

"yes, I know""Before we prepare, there's some things I need to tell you,"

"okay..."

"Please cousin, don't let your emotions for the sun warriors cloud your mind. The more you feel for them, the easier it will be for them to take you down," Garnet explained.

"Don't hesitate to do what must be done. They won't hesitate to kill you, remember Blue, Citrine, and what they did to her," Garnet added.

"Besides, we need to get ready," Rose added as she walked in.

"Are you going to be okay sweetie? We need everyone at 100% today, and I don't want to send you into the battle feild if your not completely focused,""I'm fine General Rose, I'll go see Turquoise," Citrine said as she left the tent.

"Garnet I'm worried about her, she's been off ever since I sent her to get water yesterday,"

"I know Rose...We need every gem at peak performance. Lets send her in as a fusion," Garnet suggested.

"Good idea, we'll send her in with Pearl, but they need to practice their fusion,"

"Yes, and I guess Pearl and Citrine's vehicles will have to wait until if they separate, "

"Lets go out and tell them,"

Garnet and Rose left the tent, to see to gems training and playing.

"Citrine, Pearl, we need you two over here," Rose called.

"Me and Rose have decided, that for today's battle, you'll go in as a fusion,"

"But Garnet, me and Citrine have never fused before," Pearl explained.

"Thats why we're practicing now," Rose exclaimed.

"I'm going to check on the troops, you two get to work," ordered Garnet.

Pearl and Citrine nodded and got into fusion position, while Rose sat in front of the tent and observed.

"Begin,"

Pearl and Citrine stood in ballet pose, and their gems began to glow. Pearl stayed light on her feet, as she hopped around like a fawn in the woods. Citrine danced as an ice skater, doing a series of rapid spins and turns. Pearl danced around her, until she grabbed Citrine's hand and spun with her. The two gem merged, revealing a white dove, and a tall lady, with three Argonite gems. She had Citrine's curly hair, buy it flowed like pearl's and was a very light blue. Her eyes were a seafoam green, and her skin was light yellow. She wore a sleeveless white dress, with blue fabric starting from the top of her dress, to her green belt. Argonite had star shaped earrings, and bright yellow shoes. She was a couple feet shorter than Sugilite, with a three ring yellow necklace.

"Wow you formed Argonite, you're much bigger than I expected, " Rose complemented.

Argonite shrugged.

"Let's see if I can summon my weapons,"

Argonite pulled a blue spear from her forehead, and two yellow hooks from her elbows. She focused and hooked her swords onto the spear, creating a teal triton. She swung it around testing its power.

"Mmmm... this is cool, wish I had a sparring partner,""Let me get Amethyst and Garnet," Rose suggested.

In the meantime, Argonite stabbed her triton in the ground, and practiced balancing on one hand. When Rose returned, Sugilite was behind.

"Wow, she's a big one," Argonite observed.

"Heard you need a sparring partner, princess. Well, lets go," Sugilite ordered.

"Fine, "

Sugilite summoned her flail, and Argonite pulled her triton out of the ground, preparing for battle.

"Begin!" Rose ordered.

Sugilite swung her flail, at Argonite, attempting to knock her into the trees. Seeing the attack, Argonite jumped out of the way, and threw her triton as a javelin at the big purple gem. Sugilite grabbed, the triton with her upper left hand.

"Is that the best you can do?" Suglilite growled.

"You'll see my best soon enough Sugi," Argonite taunted.

Sugilite angrily swung her flail at Argonite. Instead hopping out of the way, Argonite hitched a ride on the purple gems weapon. As she attempted to throw the white and yellow gem off, Argonite kicks Sugilite in the face, staggering her.

"That was my best," Argonite beamed while she does a one armed hand stand.

Sugilite, desinigrated her flail, and broke Argonite's triton.

"Let's try close up," Suglilite challenged.

"I'm game, but either way you'll loose," Argonite teased.

Sugilite charged at Argonite, putting her on the defensive. Arginite quickly blocked all of Sugilite'sattacks. But not even a fusion gem of Argonite's abilities could keep dodging attacks. Argonite weakly dodged a blow to the face, leaving an opening for Sugilite. Sugilite quickly upper-cutted Argonite making her fly into the air. The purple gem jumped up after her, and slapped her down to earth.

"Not so tough are you?" Sugilite taunted.

Argonite laid there, waiting for the perfect moment. "But you thought you were all big and bad huh,?" Suglite continued.

Suddenly, Argonite, swings her foot out, and trips Sugilite. The purple gem quickly got to her feet, and locked fists with Argonite.

"Okay okay girls, lets take a break, Argonite, go practice using your triton. Sugilite, I'm going to need you to seperate, "

"No," Sugilite retorted.

Rose summoned her shield, and threw it at Sugilite's head. The force of the shield was so great, it separated the gem back into Garnet and Amethyst. Amethyst, held her head and rolled on the ground.

"ouuuuuch!" Amethyst groaned.

Rose, walked over to the two separated gems and leaned over them.

"When I say seperate, I MEAN seperate. Go get some water for your head Amethyst," Rose ordered.

Argonite walked over to Amethyst, and threw her on her shoulder. She picked up Garnet, and carried her under her arms.

"Thanks for carrying me Argonite, " Amethyst said.

"No problem guys, besides, I have to take care of my favorite sparring partner," Argonite said.

When the fusion gem, and the two others reached the injured tent in camp, Argonite, dunked Amethyst in head first. Amethyst's hair turned white, as the fusion gem drops the small purple gem in the water. Then Argonite placed Garnet in the water next to Amethyst.

"You two rest up, we have a big night ahead of us," The fusion gem suggested.

Argonite, stepped outside the tent and summoned her triton. It was already sunset. Suddenly, Argonite form began to shake and become fuzzy. With a pop, Pearl, and Citrine were separated.

"You feeling okay Citrine, you got a little unfocused," Pearl asked in a concerned voice.

"Yea, yeah, I'm fine, " Citrine assured.

Rose came up to Citrine and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You may take a break now, you and can fuse again at 11 with Pearl," Citrine nodded, and walked away.

"Oh look, its the powerful Colonel Citrine," Ruby taunted.

Citrine balled her fists. Seeing anger build up in Citrine, Pearl ran to Citrine and pulled her away.

"Don't listen to her Citrine, shes just jealous," Pearl retorted with her nose high in the air.

"Jealous? Ha! Jealous of a gem who can't even fight, or function without her precious officers around,"

That did it, Pearl charged at Ruby but was stopped by Rose's hand. Rose lifted Pearl in the air.

"That's quite enough Ruby! Since you lack so much respect for the gems above you, your going to be assigned to carrying the cannons for Amethyst's troops. I hope your so called 'strength' doesn't fail you tonight," Rose sneered.

Ruby dropped her head and went into her tent.

"Thanks Rose, I don't know what I would have done if you weren't around,"

"Don't mention it Pearl,"

The clocks in the tent struck 11, and all gems were preparing for battle. Garnet, red battle armor on walked into Turquoise's tent with Rose, Emerald, and Amethyst.

"Hey guys, I have your vehicles!," Turquoise said as she pulled her head out of a pile of stuff. "For Rose, I give you a pink horse. As you can see, you two will have matching armor, and similar hair. In battle, if you fall off this horse, it will come back and make a magic bubble and wait for you to get back on. I also made you a rose sword, just in case a shield doesn't really work at the moment."

The blue gem handed the horses reins over to Rose Quartz. As the horse walked closer to its new master, Rose's gem started to glow.

" Wow, she sure is beautiful, " Rose admired.

"Amethyst, for you, I have 12 bomb cannons, they can be connected by strings, and are voice activated only by you. They're a little tricky to point, so a team of gems should be used to hold it."Amethyst snickered.

"Better go get Ruby for some help," Anethyst murmured.

"Before you go, I'll be making more cannons for you periodically throught the fight, so if you break one, or just need more, send a gem to my tent,"

Amethyst nodded, and left the tent.

"Emerald, for you I also have a special horse. As you can see, it mane is grass like, and you can break off pieces of it for a whip, just in case something happens to your weapon,"

"And last, Garnet, you get a red battle horse. Her armor is stone like, and shes able to create pools of lava. She's a bit of a fighter, so when you ride her, make sure shes on your side,""When Argonite is formed, can you send her in?"

"Yeah sure," Rose said while mounting her new horse.

Rose rode her new horse our of the tent to see the troops lining up in battle formation. In the distance, she watches Argonite be formed. As she trots towards the fusion gem, she can't help but admire every gem's commitment to the spire they live in.

"They've come so far, " Rose thought to herself.

"Hey General, nice horse,"Argonite complemented.

"Thank you, anyways, Turquoise need to see you in her tent, "

Argonite saluted to her general and jogged to the blue tent.

"Hello Argonite...Rose told me how tall you were but I didn't believe it. Good thing I came prepared. For you I have, gold and blue battle armor, and drums with the symbol of our spire on it. Garnet thought you should have the honor of playing it. Also, can you pass out these flags, every 5 person on the edges of the troops gets to hold one,"

"Well, I see you've been busy, "

"You have no idea Argonite, I've started prototypes since Lady Moon announced war,"

"I guess I'll see you around..."

"Yea, come back anytime Argonite, "

Argonite left the tent, and took her position between Garnet and Rose. Looking back, she could see Ruby dragging purple cannons on a wagon. Amethyst could be seen yelling at Ruby to hurry up. Argonite snickered at Ruby's struggle. She deserved it honestly. Rose tapped Argonite on the shoulder.

"You ready sweetie?"

Argonite nodded at readied her six drums. The beating of the drums signaled the Lunar Guardian army to advance. As the army marched, they could see in the distance the Solar military marching towards them, with Sunstone leading. The two armies stopped about 25 meters away from each other. Rose and Garnet stepped foreward on their horses, while Sunstone flew forward on his bed of fire. "So its come to this," Rose growled.

"Yes, it know, if you just turn the spire over right now, all your gems' s deaths can be avoided," Sunstone smugly replied.

"My gems, are fully aware of the risks of being apart of this family, we'd rather die than hand over our home to a tyrant like you,"

"Then you have sealed the death of your army, prepare to die!" The Sun warriors charged at the Lunar Guardians.

"For Lady Moon! For the Spire! For our home!" Rose shouted with Garnet in unison. The Lunar Guardians advanced.