Chapter Six: Annihilation

Carnelian's rage caused a drought. The Shadowlings shriveled to dust from thirst and heat. The leader shriveled like a prune but didn't vaporize. Carnelian used his weapon to let loose a beam of fire hotter than Homeworld lava, and that's pretty hot.

Instead, the leader glowed faintly. Carnelian swung his sword in a 360 degree angle in case the black bird dared try to change course. It didn't. It let out its horrid cry and retreated to a purple-black gem with an orange center. Turquoise bubbled it in a teal sphere with light brown veins and made it disappear.

Then the Gems heard something.

The Wailing Stone.

And its message was more horrible than the Shadowlings' Alpha.

"I'm coming for you now."

The voice was deep and raspy.

Carnelian unfused and Garnet went into a rage. She recognized that voice.

And the warp pad activated.

It wasn't who they thought it'd be. They thought SHE might have come to warn them like she did with the Wailing Stone before the abduction on the Crystal Gems.

Not Lapis.

Not Peridot either.

Jasper.

Blue Diamond.

Garnet offered to fuse into Alexandrite, or Carnelian again, but Onyx had other plans.

Tiger's Eye knew what he was thinking and let herself fall into his hands as their bodies started to glow.

And merge.

And their gems changed color.

And out came one of the most beautiful Gems you'd probably ever see.

Rose Zircon.

Rose Zircon was recognized by Blue Diamond as a vivid nightmare. Her red locks were accompanied by her eyes with pink irises and whitish-pink gown. Her skin was a very bright pink. And her voice was soothing enough to calm a stampede to sleep.

She summoned Onyx's weapon, a black lance, and Tiger's Eye's weapon, a glove with very sharp claws. When she combined them, an impressive gauntlet where the middle finger was replaced with a small harpoon gun. It still had the claws.

And this pink harpoon was a deadly tranquilizer dart.

Jasper summoned her weapon, the helmet, and started a spin dash. Blue Diamond brought out his carbon-flamethrower.

"That pink gem would look good on the council desk", said Jasper. "And we need more decoration in there. Oh, who am I kidding? Let's get them!"

Jasper finished the spin dash and hit Onyx's gem, which was on the elbow. Right as that happened, though, Rose Zircon shot the harpoon at the helmet's visor. And it hit right between the eyes.

Blue Diamond shot at Rose Zircon's neck, making a small dent on Tiger's Eye's gem. She shot back at him on the leg, giving him a limp.

"Retreat!" He'd managed to order before Rose Zircon shot again on his shoulder.

When they left, Rose Zircon said,"Cowards." The two Gems unfused, both unscathed.

"Well, that happened."

"Yep."

"Anyone wanna go out for some pizza?"

"We just had breakfast, you idiot."

"Okay. Thank you for that comment."

Tiger's Eye and Onyx kept bickering on the way back to the temple.

The fight wasn't over.

The Gems knew their ultimate nemesis would send more Shadowlings.

And to their horror…

The most horrid monster the Diamond Empire had up their sleeves.

The Devourer.