A/N: This chapter is a bit boring and I am sorry about that, I promise more exciting things will be happening in the next chapters to come. Definitely be more involved around Steven once again. ^.^ Thank you for sticking with me through this story.
Back on the other side of the globe, Ruby and Sapphire walked around Beach City. "Seriously, do we even really know where she stuck her Light Cannons? And if we did we're too small to even carry them back to the barn of all places." Ruby grumbled and threw up her hands as she slammed down her body on the ground in frustration. Sapphire sat down next to her and gently laid her hand on the gem's head cooling her down a bit, Ruby lifted up her head and looked at her wife. "What are we going to do Ruby?"
"Hey are you looking for these?" Ruby jumped up on her feet to look over at the voice. Lars was sitting on top of one of the cannons, while Sadie was sitting on the other one. Greg had a huge trailer hooked up to his can pulling the cannons with him. "Greg came to us and said you might be looking for these. I had one in the back of my shop, he had the other one in his storage."
Greg jumped out of his van, "Hey guys! Thought you might be looking for these, I heard what is going down and I thought I help out a bit." Ruby stepped back with Sapphire as he walked over to them. "Come on, I am trying to help you here. Look I know I might have done some pretty bad shit in the past, but this is life or death."
Lars jumped off the cannon, "We want to help too. Greg explained everything. This is our town and our Earth. We have the right to fight." Sadie followed suit and grabbed ahold of Lars' hand. "Please let us do this. We have others heading towards the barn too. Everyone in Beach City is willing to help in this fight." Ruby and Sapphire look at each other, they both know that it would be dangerous to let them fight, but they did need more fighters to come and fight with them. They had little time to learn to actually fight with swords and weapons, but if they started now they can give it a shot.
Ruby pulled Sapphire to the side, "Are we actually thinking about letting them go with us and fight? Rose wouldn't like this very much, Sapphy." She whispered and looked over her shoulder to look at the others, they just stared at the m waiting. "They don't even know how to fight properly. They could get killed out there. I don't want their blood on my hands." Sapphire looked at her wife and moved her own hair out of her eye, she sighed and shook her head.
"We have to do something, Ruby. Without them we have no chance in this war, we will all be shattered. Rose will be made with us for a few, but if there is enough people on our side then we can do it." Sapphire lightly kissed Ruby before looking back at the others, hand in hand they walked over. "How many others are on their way to the Barn?"
Lars look at Sadie who then looked at Greg, "Um ... Half of the city so far. Some just evacuated, others are getting stuff together to go up to the barn. They didn't want to waste no time so they are getting things to camp with. Speaking of that, Lars, Sadie, you got everything you need in the van right?" They both nodded, then looked at the two gems. "So, what's the answer? Can we all head over there now?" Ruby looked at Sapphire then looked at the others, they both nodded. "Let's go then! We don't have time to waste!" Ruby shrugged and ran with the others to get into the van. It was a slow ride as the cannons were weighing down the van a lot, but they managed to get there, by the time they actually got to the barn, there were tents all around and a group of people waiting to be told what to do.
Sapphire and Ruby jumped out of the van and ran into the barn looking for a sign of Rose, what they did found was multiple different gems talking in every corner of the barn. From where Sapphire could see she saw a Jade, a Jasper, a Fire Agate, a huge Cactus Quartz about the size of Rose herself and many more. Where did all of these gems come from? Was this the job of Pearl and Lapis alone? Sapphire and Ruby made their way through the gems to the back of the barn where they were met with a much bigger gem, "Sdate your reazon to pe here." An Eilat Stone that had "Eucalyptus" with hints of "Jade" colored hair and "Green Haze" with a hint of "Spring Green." eye color stopped them from going to the back room.
Someone thene slapped his across the head it was a much bigger Jasper. "Bow you dumb fuck, it's a Sapphire and her Ruby guard." The look on the Eilat Stone gave Sapphire pleasure as they bowed towards her. "I am sorry, M'lady for his rude behaviour. You may go into the room." Holding up her posture the Jasper quickly got up and held open the door for her and Ruby. Once they were inside and the gem closed the door both Ruby and Sapphire started to laugh their asses off. It has been a long time since someone has treated Sapphire that way, it was enjoyable, but also annoying.
In the room when they cleared their laughter, they saw the eyes of Rose, Pearl, Steven, Matthias and one other gem. It took Sapphire a second to realize who it was, "I'll be damn, if it isn't Spessartine." She walked over there as the gem bent down and they shook hands formal like before they both laughed and gave each other hugs. "It's good to see you, Tin. How have you been?"
"I've been good, my guards didn't give you too much trouble did that?" Spess asked as he pulled away and got back to his full height. Sapphire shook her head, "That's good." He then turned around and faced the others, "Now where were we? Ah yes, the plans."
"Wait ... before you guys get back to what you were talking about. Um ... there's a bunch of Beach City citizens out there waiting for orders ..." Ruby rubbed her foot into the wooden floorboards beneath her foot. "Yeah ... um, we told them that they could help ... just because they were so stubborn about it."
"You did what?" Pearl looked angry before Rose put her hand on her shoulder. "We cannot have the death of humans on our hands. They need to evacuate immediately. Rose what are we going to do?" Rose was silent as she looked at everyone's faces, seeing their worried expressions, seeing their anger at the humans.
Steven was the one who had spoken up first, he stood up and bit his lip. "I know that you don't want them to help in this battle ... but I think it's a good idea. All together Pearl and Lapis brought back twelve gems ..." he looked at Pearl for confirmation and she nodded. "Twelve gems then there is us which equals up to ten more. That's only twenty-two of us to whatever the amount of gems homeworld is going to send down."
Matthias set a hand on the boys shoulder, "He's right, you know. Having them here with us gives us a greater chance. Yes, these gems are going to be way bigger and stronger than them. But if we can get a gem to be in a group of humans because I'm more than sure there's more humans out there then gems and get them to teach the humans how to fight then we have a chance. And I know that some of the gems such as Ruby and Sapphire would like to stay together so there is another advantage." Rose had thought about this before looking towards Spessartine they had worked side by side many times during the first rebellion and she counted on him to help her make decisions.
Spessartine noticed the stare that Rose was giving him with her bright pink eyes, he looked down at the map that they had scavaged of Delmarva, a huge red circle was on the map where they knew the battle was going to happen at. Why was this all happening now? After six thousand years of solitude peace with the occasional corrupted gem here and there, there was no need for another rebellion. What had set the Diamonds off for them to come now? He looked at the curly hair boy that stood next to Matthias Tourmaline, he was caught up on current news and who he was and who he was not. Except he couldn't help think of how he could have possibly have gotten here in this universe and all of a sudden the Diamonds were coming down to Earth.
His heterochromia eyes met up with the dark magenta eyes of Matthias, they held so many secrets within the waves of color. He was hiding something like he knew was Spess was thinking about, he then looked away. That's when Spessartine felt a hand on his shoulder soft like baby hands, he looked to meet the eyes of Pearl, filled with such curiousiness and worried. "I'm sorry, I blanked out for a second. Were you guys waiting for a decision from me?" Pearl had just nodded as he gathered his thoughts and trying to remember what was being said. Then it clicked they wanted to know if Tourmaline's idea was good or not, he didn't know for sure if it would work. Most of his gems were anti-social and haven't been around a lot of human beings. Taking a deep breath that he didn't even need, he laid out his answer. "You will talk with your humans and I will talk to my gems and the leader of the Grey Wolves. We will meet back up at the barn to give you a honest answer on if we should do that or not. I do not want to say that we are in as I would like to know the opinions of my gems first."
Rose had nodded in response, "Then that's what we will do. Let's go then." They had fanned out of the room, they heard Spessertine's voice boom over all the other voices inside the barn full of gems. He had called out for the leader of the Grey Wolves and one of his best friends. Suranga Gahnospinel, a fusion between Gahnite and Spinel, came pushing through the crowd of gems and met him in the corner of the barn where they were able to hear each other. In the meantime the others had walked out of the barn towards the group of people that had gathered around the side of the barn, the chatter had stopped when they had seen the group walk over.
Steven stared at the all seeing all the faces he recognizes from his universe, but with different features here and there. He counted about twenty five heads all together, twenty - five people who wants to sacrifice their lives for the city and planet that they love. Twenty-five people that might not make it out alive from this still wants to fight even if they know the consequences of their actions. The first one who came up towards them was Greg Universe, he looked liked he did when Steven saw him the last time. "I know you had told me to evacuate the town ... but we couldn't just sit around and let you sacrifice your lives for us. We want to fight and save our hometown, our planet." He got down on his knees and bowed his head towards Rose. He kind of look ridiculous like that, "Please ... forgive me for all the cruel things I have done towards you, Steven, Pearl and the others. Forgive me as I want to change and make life better. I want to prove to you that I am."
Rose let out a sincere giggle at the patheticness of Greg bowing down to her, she bent down on her knees to try and get to the height of him. It helped a bit, but not by much as she laid her hands on his shoulders, "Greg, you do not need to bow or approve anything to me. I can see how much you want to help." She whispered, "You do not need to hear me say I forgive you for you to feel forgiven." She whispered and stood up helping him up, "Now go back to the group, I have something to say to all of you." Greg nodded and walked back to the group standing besides Lars and Sadie, Rose grabbed Pearl's hand and squeezed. Pearl had squeezed back standing next to her, the others in the group stood in a line side by side staring at the humans in front of them. "Welcome ..." Rose stopped like she was trying to figure out what to call them all. Pearl whispered in her ear before she finally spoke back up, "Welcome citizens of Beach City, I am honored that you all want to fight for your planet ... but you do all know the consequences that will follow?"
There was mumbling all around them, Steven felt a pang of pain, these might not be his people that he grew up with him, but these are the alternative selves of those people. The day when the war starts is going to be the worse day of his life watching people die all around him. "You guys might not all survive ... is what mom is trying to tell you ..." Steven stepped forward his voice low, but clear enough for them to hear him. "Look, I know all of you want to do this, but are you all sure that you want to die for this planet, for this town?"
"That's what my baby would have wanted. That's what Connie would have wanted." Dr. Priyanka Maheswaran stepped forward with her husband Doug Maheswaran, the parents of Connie. He didn't notice that they were in the crowd, he guessed he thought maybe they wouldn't want to be here. "Our Connie had worked hard to be where she wanted in this world, she wanted to fight for the heart of Earth beside the Crystal Gems. So, that's what we are going to do. We are going to try and achieve our little girl's dream even if it means sacrificing our own lives." Steven wanted to let the tears fall freely, but he needed to look strong for the others.
"My mom ... passed away this morning ..." Sadie's soft voice came out of nowhere, she was hugging Lar's arm tightly as tears fell from her eyes. "I had told her what was going on ... her wish for me was to fight alongside all of you. So that's why I am staying. I am staying to make my mama proud because I couldn't before. I am nothing else to live for except for Lars and he is going to fight beside me with his parents as well." Steven just noticed that Lars' parents were standing behind them with a sad smile as they both put a hand on their son's shoulders.
"Dr. Maheswaran, will you help us set up a medical tent some distance from the battle area? We could sure use your help with the wounded when it comes. And if you still want to we can teach you how to fight." Rose said smiling gently down at the Doctor, who nodded her head in agreement. "For the rest of you, I need you all to wait here with Steven and Matthias. Pearl will take Dr. Maheswaran to set up the tent and I will be right back." She turned her back on her and walked towards the barn where Spessartine was just finishing up talking when she walked in. The other gems all turned and bowed their heads towards her as she walked in between them towards the male gem in front of the group. "Hello, Spessartine, have you and the group came up with what you want to do?"
"Yes, we have. Right, Suranga?" The other gem just nodded, but not looking at Rose, "What do you want us to do General Quartz?" he winked at Rose who giggled at his charm, "Do we just go file out and wait for your orders then?"
"Yes, Colonel Spessartine, that is exactly what I was thinking." Spessartine asked the others to fan out the barn and to stand in a line of fours. When they got out there there were three lines of gems, the humans joined on the opposite of them doing the same thing, but with six lines of four then just three. "You're probably wondering why you are all in lines and we are not?" Steven face palmed, yes mom they are wondering that. Just then Peridot and Bismuth came back riding on Leon, right behind them was Garnet, Amethyst, and Lapis. Finally they were all together as they joined them in the middle of the two groups of lines. Bismuth had what looked like a sword strapped to her back in its sheath, Steven just shrugged it off waiting for Rose or someone else to continue.
"Like I already told my side, you are going to be grouped up with humans and gems. These humans do not know how to fight and so it's up to you in the short amount of time to teach them what they need to know." He turned towards the humans, "I am Spessartine and these are my gems, they are going to help you along with the Crystal Gems to fight." He nodded towards Matthias to take the lead next, he looked down at Steven who nodded knowing exactly what he wanted. He wanted him to pair up so he can learn alongside him and the others.
Him and Matthias stood out of the group, "Do you want to start with the humans or the gems first?" Steven asked Matthias who wasn't listening, his eyes went exactly to a gem that was in the front row of all the others. Her hair was in a messy high bun with twisted hair wrap and layered fringes in the color of blue dianne and persian green highlights. The gem's deep sea green skin looked smooth like a newly polish rock, and her body is what anyone would call 'pear shape.' Steven was a bit creeped out by her though, she had scars on the corner of her mouths that made her look like she was always smiling, he wondered what happened to her and why she stayed like that. Her clothes gave her the appearance of 'I really don't want to do anything, but I am here,' kind of look. She had a dark blue sweater that says 'I'd rather be sleeping' that was zipped down a bit just to see a purple shirt with the words that Steven thought could have said "I don't do mornings" with grey joggers that goes up to her knees. She was also wearing high top converse, the look honestly fits her.
Steven followed Matthias over to the gem, the tourmaline had towered over her by at least roughly 51 cm. The other gem stared up at him with her mortar color eyes that seemed to glow with puce pink around the edges, she seemed unfazed by him as they just stared at each other. Steven wasn't able to tell what either of them were thinking as both of their faces emotionless. He was going to open his mouth with Tourmaline put his hand over his mouth to shush him up, he never took his eyes off of the other gem. There was another gem standing next to her who seemed to be getting impatient with this whole exchange of stares. "Look dude, if you keep staring at my girlfriend, I am going to show you something to sta-" the female's gem that Matthias was staring at had covered her mouth as well.
Finally after what seemed like forever, Matthias nodded letting go of Steven's mouth. The other gem did the same, turning on his heel Matthias walked over to the human side, the gem he was staring at had followed and so did Steven. What was that exchange even about? What kind of gem was this? Why was Matthias just staring at her? There were so many questions, but not the right time to ask them all. "You pick," Matthias mumbled the two words as he stood in front of the humans. Why did he have to choose who to pick? There were so many he would like to have on his team? He looked at everyone's faces, he had only seen three who would directly look at him. Greg, Sadie Miller, and Bill Dewey.
He didn't want Greg anywhere near him, so he walked over to Sadie asked her to go stand near Matthias and the other gem, then he went over to Mayor Dewey and asked him the same thing. This time he had followed suit, when they were all together, Matthias spoke up again. "We got who we want on our team, we will go now and get out of the way." No one said anything to them, all they did were exchange looks and nodded confirming for them to leave the rest of the area.
Rose knew exactly what the exchange was between Matthias and the other gem, the other gem was an Elbaite Tourmaline. It was rare to find any tourmaline on this planet anymore as they have been getting all wiped out by the disease that Matthias was going through himself. He must had been dying to ask her different questions about her health. Or if there were more Tourmalines like them. So many other questions that might never be answered if they do not win this battle. She hopes that they do win this battle for the sake of man and gemkind. The next gem up was Garnet to choose her team, Ruby and Sapphire gave each other skeptical looks, but decided to go along with it anyway. Obviously, Garnet had chosen Jamie, but she also chosen the girl who had mouthed Tourmaline just because she liked her spunk. Then she chose Harold Smiley, just because he always had a smile on his face even in this dire of times.
Sapphire looked at everyone's faces, she was glad that her hair covered her face so they wouldn't see the look she had as she saw all the possibilities of their fates in the battle to come. Most of them was not good, "Ruby, you choose who you want on the team. I cannot look at their faces right now." She had whispered to her wife so no one else could hear them. Ruby nodded understanding where she was coming from, she then chose Lars Barriga, the Jasper that was guarding the door, later she had found out this his name was Elijah, and she had chose Nanefua Pizza. Next was Amethyst had she was all too excited to chose, she didn't even take no time at all, she chose Buck, Vidalia, Onion, and the Fire Agate gem.
Pearl stepped forward reluctantly, Rose wanted her to lead a team when all she wanted to do was stay next to her and fight beside the one she loved. She had chosen both of the Maheswarans, Mr. Fryman, and Suranga Gahnospinel. She gave a look to Rose who returned with blowing her a kiss. Next round was Bismuth who had chose Greg, both of the Barrigas, and a Cactus Quartz fusion. Then it was Lapis and Peridot, they had chose Jenny and Kofi Pizza alongside Peedee Fryman. There were only five gems left and seven humans left, Spessartine had chosen three of the gems to be the leader of their own groups, Annabergite, Hawk's Eye Quartz, and Transvaal Jade. Annabergite had chosen Kiki Pizza, Marty, and Quentin Frowney, while Hawk chose Sour Cream, Yellowtail and Kammererite. The Jade had chosen Kevin, Ronaldo Fryman, and the Eilat Stone. The only two that was left there was Rose and Spessartine they looked at eachother then looked out over to the vast field, the teams were already going at it showing off what they could do and teaching others. Maybe they did have a chance after all.
Spessartine had other ideas though, deep within his gem he just knew that half of the team that they started with wasn't going to be with them. He had sensed the emotions radiating off of everyone, but he had focused more on Sapphire's than everyone else's. She had dread surrounding her and sadness, so much sadness for everyone, and he tried hard to not absorb that emotion, but it was so strong he was feeling dread now as well. Rose stuck her hand on his arm and asked him if he was okay, he just nodded. "Let's go finish that plan before times up, I want this battle done and over with Rose. I didn't expect to be going in so soon." He covered his gem that pulsed within his hand the warmth from it, soothed his anxiety.