Chapter 15: Back Home

A warp pad a couple feet from the entrance of the spire erupted with light. Citrine who was now looking yellow, went down the down the spire with Garnet and Moonstone.

"What's going on?" Garnet asked while she fought her way through the crowd.

The gems formed a hole revealing two gem horses, Emerald, Sapphire, Tanza ,Aqua, and Peridot.

"Help me lift them on my cloud," Moonstone ordered.

The five hurt gems were carried up the spire into healing rooms.

"Where's Pearl and Rose?" Citrine asked Garnet while petting the pink horse.

"I don't know Citrine, but we have to go check,"

Garnet and Citrine warped away, but was dropped back down to earth.

"The warp pad is down..." Citrine said in a worried tone.

"Rose and Pearl are strong Citrine, they're going to be just fine," Garnet assured.

"I just hope your right..."

"In the meantime, we should be trying to figure out what the rescued troops know," Garnet decided.

The two officers walked up the spire to the fountain room, to find Amethyst bragging about all the attention she got when she stayed with the tribe.

"You all should have seen how they all danced around me," Amethyst bragged.

"Wow, I bet it was nice being on vacation," Ruby murmured.

"It wasn't a vacation,I was kidnapped, "

"Didn't sound like you hated it, "

"C'mon guys, Ruby's still a little jealous, "

Ruby was about to give a comeback, when she saw Citrine and Garnet walk up the spire. As the officers walked by Ruby glared at them.

Once they were in the healing room, they looked back at Ruby as the door closed.

"She needs to stop with that attitude," Citrine complained.

Garnet didn't say anything back as they greeted Moonstone.

"So how are the troops doing?" Garnet p asked.

"I'm still trying to flush the poison from Emerald and Sapphire, Perry and Tanzanite are just resting. Actually, it's almost like a coma. Aquamarine is awake and able to speak, but she's very shaken, don't pressure her for questions so much," Moonstone explained.

The two officers nodded.

In the farthest pool in the healing room, sat Aquamarine with her hair white with a nightshade.

"Aqua, I know you've just been through a lot, but we need some answers, may we sit down?" Citrine asked. Aquamarine nodded, and the two officers sat in front of the healing pool.

"What happened in the artic, when you were scouting?" Garnet asked.

"I warped in with, Ruby, Jade, and Peridot, right on the Northern coastline. We all decided to split up, so I went towards a snowy mountain hill. I realized the hill was alive and ran. Behind it, were 5 gems, riding on the sun. We all made a run for the warp pad, but I tripped and fell. No one saw me fall except I think Ruby, but she kept running. The hill landed its claw on me, and Next thing I know, I'm chained up, and asked a ton of questions,"

"Questions like what?"

"Were are the officers, were are we hiding our equipment, stuff like that," "What did you tell them? "

"Nothing, and they beat and tortured me over it. Once they figured out I didn't know anything, they locked me in a smelly cage,"

"What happened to Emerald?"

"I don't watch when people get tortured. But he kept asking her were Turquoise was, and hit her everytime she dodged the question. One of their Generals walked in, was the gem that...got Blue... He said they weren't using the right methods to get her to talk. Then I heard a bottle smash and I was almost sure Emerald was going to confess, but then Rose and Pearl dropped in. Next thing I know I'm being carried outside,"

"Where are Rose and Pearl now?"

"I remember they put me on...a pink horse, and we all rode away. But then the hill cam after us. I was too dazed to even notice that they were gone by time we reached the spire,"

"They could still be in the artic!" Citrine panicked.

"Garnet, I think I have something important to tell you...About Alex,"

Garnet's eyes widened.

"I can't remember the specifics, but It made Rose angry, enough to try and kill him," Aqua explained.

"Thank you for clearing some stuff up for us Aqua, now you should get some rest," Citrine suggested.

Garnet stayed silent as they left the room. "You feeling okay Garnet?"

Noticing her cousin talking to her she finally looked up.

"Yes, just thinking..."

"You two! Lady Moon wants you on top of the spire!" Lapis called.

On top the spire, the two gems could see lady moon pacing back and forth, and a small ploom of smoke heading for the spire.

"General Garnet, and Colonel Citrine, we have a problem. Around our spire, human, have been participating in water fights. They're sick and inhumane! I don't know how many cries for help I hear every time a ship falls. Whats worse, they have these machine that travel underwater that shoot these barbaric bombs. I'm so afraid one of the is going to hit the spire,"

"I remember hearing about this, when I was scouting in Flordia, humans kept talking about how they are at war too... I guess our paths have finally crossed," Citrine explained.

"What do we do now?" Lady Moon asked.

"We set up a stronger magical perimeter around the spire. So if the try to sail twords us, the magic will simply push them back, I guess we could also do a water roof,"

"Great idea Citrine, I'll start strengthening the magic as soon as possible,".

"No problem lady Moon,"

"We need to send a group to get Turquoise, she needs to be under maximum security, " Garnet explained.

Further in the distance, they saw a pink gem fusion swim towards them.

"Hey Garnet, looks like Kunzite is coming," Citrine pointed out.

The exhausted gem fusion slid down the spire and splashed in the water below. At the bottom of the spire, Rose Quartz and Pearl emerged.

"Garnet! Garnet!" Rose cried out.

Garnet didn't even use the stairs. she jumped down the spire to her fellow General.

"Rose whats going on?"

"The Alex brothers will die...unless you meet them at the top of mount everest by midnight and give yourself up," Garnet's stomach dropped.

"Citrine...What time is it?"

"Garnet! Don't be crazy I can't let you-"

"CITRINE WHAT TIME IS IT!?" Garnet screamed.

Her cousin stepped back with tears in her eyes.

"11:30..." Citrine whispered.

"Still time, "

"Garnet no, you can't go...it's a set up-"

"I'm just going to see if they're bluffing, I'll be back soon everyone, " Garnet announced.

Garnet stepped on a warp pad, to face the truth.