Original Idea by: Scraps and Cleverun
Characters Created by Rebecca Sugar
Chapter 3: A God and a Ghost
[*]
Open Road
3 days later
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Silence, that is what filled the air of the van as the Gems kept driving down the road. No one spoke or made a single sound other than the occasional sneeze or cough from Connie. It's been days since the Gems escaped the attack on Beach City, days since the Gems left the temple and their friends behind to escape Master Diamond. Garnet kept her eyes on the road as she drove while Bismuth watched from behind, making sure that they were not being followed by the Pyrites or any of Diamond's minions. The road stretched for miles, passing through forests and fields and small towns. The occasional cars and trucks would pass by, but they mattered little to the Gems. Garnet looked in the rear mirror at Connie and Amethyst, who were sound asleep. As she looked back to the road, a though continued to linger in her head.
"We need to find Topaz, they'll find a way to fix this." she thought to herself, thinking of all the possibilities as to where the Taskmaster was, but nothing came to mind. Nothing in the temple, or in the book that she and Amethyst found gave any clues to where Topaz was. In fact, not one Gem knew much about what happened to them after the fall of the Tribunal. Perhaps the taskmaster was able to escape and go into hiding, but the question was: Where did they go?
Garnet heard a ping come from the car as she looked down at the fuel needle, seeing that was reaching empty and knew that the van needed gas. Luckily, she saw a sigh for a Gas station a while back and turned into the exit, arriving at the gas station, which also had a restaurant attached to it.
[*]
Fish and Fries
Present day
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Bismuth, Amethyst and Connie sat at the table of the indoor restaurant as their van was fueling up. As before in the van, silence floated between the Gems. The sound of plates clattering and voices talking and laughing surrounded them. Connie looked down at her plate and then back up at the Gems across from her. She saw Amethyst with her head buried between her hands while Bismuth had her eyes on the floor. After three days of quiet, Connie finally broke the silence.
"Is…is Beach City going to be okay without us?" Connie asked carefully, fidgeting with her hands.
There was no response, only Amethyst looking up to Connie and shaking her head.
"What happened back there?" Connie asked again, "We need to go-"
"No, we can't Connie!" Amethyst snapped at the half-gem, slamming her hands on the table. As she did, the restaurant went silent for a moment, the customers staring at the commotion from the Gems before continuing with their own lives. "Beach City is gone, and there is no going back! Do you understand?! We can never go back!"
"Diamond has the temple and Little Homeworld…" Bismuth chimed in as she tapped the table with her finger. "He now has access to our technology and everything, not to mention all those Gems he captured from the colony, and since he took over Homeworld, we have to face the possibility…that…we're probably the last of the free Gems."
Connie watched in disbelief as tears rolled down the purple Gem's face as she plopped her head on the table. "I…I don't know what to do…"
Garnet looked to her Gem sister and placed her hand on Amethyst's shoulder. She then looked to Connie and took off her glasses.
"What are we gon-"
"Just drop it Connie." Bismuth muttered softly as she leaned back in her chair. "Amethyst's right, Beach City's gone now. Diamond's won, and we lost…again. We need to leave Beach City behind. It's probably not even there anymore."
Connie hesitated as the images of her family and friends flooded her mind. As she looked to the demoralized Gems before her, she clenched her fists and slammed the table. Grabbing the attention of Bismuth, Amethyst, and the restaurant customers again.
"Listen, I know I am not that good at this Gem stuff, hell, I'm not sure if I'm even a real Gem, but we need a plan." Connie said as she recomposed herself and leaned forward on the table. "I don't know about you, but I'm not just gonna run and hide while that bastard takes my home!"
A long pause followed, Bismuth was about to open her mouth to respond, only to have Amethyst beat her to it.
"Were else is there to go?! Diamond has a whole fucking army of Pyrites, a crew of Gems including our "dearly-departed" Pearl, and on yeah, a batshit insane agenda to wipe out all of us! "Amethyst snapped angrily at Connie with a small scoff." Do you really think he is going to stop at Beach City or with the Gems?! No! He's not gonna stop until all of this as we know it has been wiped out, and even then, he'll probably keep going Universe is a lifeless husk of shit! This is Rose's war all over again, except don't have Rose! We don't even have Steven! We just have *you*!"
Connie heart sank at hearing those words from Amethyst. The short Gem was about to slam her hand on the table again, only to instead slumped back into her seat and break down in sobs. Bismuth wrapped her arm around the purple Gem and pulled her into a hug.
"I…I don't know what you want us to do. I don't know what to do." Amethyst sobbed, holding her head in her hands. "I can't do this anymore…please…make it stop…please make it stop…"
The three Gem's mood seemed to kill the mood throughout the restaurant. No one seemed hungry anymore and apparently doubted whether they were to begin with. Connie looked around at the customers, some of which were leaving and staff, who were whispering to one another, then back at Amethyst before speaking up.
"In case you've forgotten, my boyfriend was killed by Pearl." Connie said in a gritted tone to the Gem before her, "If you think I am going to just accept that, then you are sadly mistaken."
Connie then sat up and began to walk to the door. Bismuth then stood up and faced the half-Gem.
"Where're you going?" Bismuth asked as she approached Connie.
"I…I am going to try and do something." Connie replied as she stopped at the door before turning to Bismuth. "I have to…for Steven, it's what he would do."
"Okay Connie, what do you want to try and do, go up against Diamond?" Amethyst interjected with a sigh as she stood up and walked between the two Gems. "What is your masterful plan to face a Gemian of Power and his whole army?"
Connie looked down for a moment, thinking and then, she replied to the Gem.
"Simple…" Connie said to Bismuth, a look of determination gleamed in her eyes. "We stick to the original plan and find Topaz; they'll help us find a solution."
Bismuth looked in surprise as Amethyst scoffed and crossed her arms.
"And how should we do that?" Amethyst asked sarcastically, "You wouldn't happen to have been carrying around a God detector in your back pocket this whole time.?"
Just then, there was a flash and the sound of screaming from outside the restaurant as the Gems ran outside to see what the ruckus was. There, next to the van and Garnet, was a very tired Lion, laying on his side after apparently hauling a large Gem device known as the Wailing Stone on his back. Connie walked up next to Lion and patted him on the head in approval, Lion growled before slumping down onto the ground in exhaustion.
"Could this be used to find Topaz?" Connie asked as she examined the stone.
"It's designed to send messages. But using an "old school" method of communication." Bismuth looked at the stone and stroked her chin. "There's a good chance that Gemians like Topaz used these during their time."
"So is that a yes?" Amethyst asked with a rekindled spirit. "Can we find them with this, or will we just need hearing aids?
"There's only one way to find out." Garnet said as she placed her hand on the stone and pressed the button. This time however, instead of making an ear-piercing screech, a low hum could be heard; this was followed by a rhythm of low tones.
"Well that's new." Bismuth said as she smacked the stone. However, Garnet quickly stopped Bismuth and looked up to the sky.
"What is it?" said Connie, "Is it a signal from Topaz?"
"No, it's something else…" Garnet responded as she eyes widened in surprise, "It's a ship! A Gem ship and it's heading for Earth."
[*]
Crystal Temple: Catacombs
Present day
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Pearl watched in Disgust as Diamond slashed Lapses' back with his Khopesh. The water Gem tried to squirm out of the restraints Diamond had placed on her, but was too weak to break free, she felt the pain of the Ichor flowing within her, all she could do was gasp and scream as she felt a new pang of agony flow though her with each cut of the blade. Suddenly, Diamond grabbed Lapis by the head and pulled it sideways, allowing him to sink his teeth into the neck of his prisoner. As Lapis shrieked in pain, Pearl turned away from the sight to see Zirconia standing before her.
"Nice to see this happen to someone other than you huh Pearl?" the white-haired Gem said to her comrade. "Although, I suppose you're next if you screw up again."
Pearl hesitated to respond, looking back to the act that was transpiring behind her. What bothered her about this was not the fact that a Gem was being corrupted, like she was, but that it was being done on a Gem she personally knew. Lapis Lazuli, the Gem from the mirror, the Gem who fought the Diamonds and lived in the barn with Peridot, was now here, screaming, and crying for mercy. That she would soon become a killer, just like Pearl was.
As she stood there, Diamond turned to his servant and glared at her. Pearl quickly looked back to Zirconia in fear.
"Although I wouldn't know much about his punishments." Onyx gloated, crossing her arms in a smug manner. "Unlike you, I'm competent enough to finish my missions and to see them through. Plus, I'm an original Puerem Gem, I was born lucky, while you… a Pearl, was lucky to have been born at all."
Pearl clenched her fists as she was about to react, knowing that Zirconia was goading her into attacking her. Pearl then looked back to Diamond, who had just finished biting Lapis and dropped her to the floor. Pearl watched as the blue Gem writhed on the ground, vomiting up ichor as the Gem on her back began to crack and leak burning fluid.
"That's the other thing, I don't need a "refill"." Zirconia continued to gloat as she watched Lapis too, specifically pointing to the Ichor that was trickling from her eyes. "You know what it's like, to fight the Ichor? It must burn doesn't it, inside and out? To shed burning black tears from losing so much and having to be reminded of your failures when Master decides to anoint you?
"What is his reason behind doing this to Lapis?" Pearl asked Zirconia, trying to ignore the white Gem's questions. "Why is she here? She's just a normal Lapis, right?"
Zirconia sighed before leaning herself on the wall.
"You know about Topaz, right?" the Black Gem asked Pearl. "You know that they had about four Purems?"
Pearl nodded, now understanding what Zirconia was saying to her.
"Well she's one of them. Just like Sandstone and Moonstone." Zirconia explained as she watched Lapis stop moving and fall silent. "Apparently we aren't the first Gemian spawn to be created. Topaz had made them way before even me."
Pearl looked back a Lapis with a look of shock. It made sense though, how else would a Gem, especially a terraformer like a Lapis Lazuli, have such power over the element of water. Only the Gemians or those with their power would have such a capability.
"But now, Master is turning her into a servant, just like you."
Pearl then watched as Diamond then kneel himself over Lapis, he placed his hand over her Gem and utter one word to her.
"Kuwongolera!"
The moment he did, Lapis body jerked as she slowly stood up and faced the Gemian. As she did, she opened her eyes, causing tears of liquid Ichor to trickle down her cheeks and onto the floor.
"Who am I?" Diamond asked his new servant.
"You are Master Diamond, The Old King, Gemian exemplar of Power, Order, and Justice."
"Good…" Diamond replied as he raised an eyebrow in response "That's correct, but *who* am I?"
"You're my Master." Lapis replied, her tone was blank, and her eyes were fixed upon her Master's. "You're the one I'll serve until death either by my enemy's hand or yours."
Diamond then placed his hand over her chest.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"I am a tool to be used by you Master." Lapis said in a toneless voice. "I am an instrument created only to fulfill what you wish of me"
Pearl flinched when she heard her response. Her mind began to flow with memories of the last time she had to say the same thing to Diamond. Pearl felt the ichor burn down her face, knowing that Zirconia had noticed and smiling.
"That's correct." Diamond relied as he moved his hand away from the blue Gem. "You'll do as I command, without question or objection. Should you resist or fail my commands, I'll not hesitate to punish you. Is that clear?"
Lapis nodded.
"Four of your former comrades escaped my colony, they're traveling in a van." Diamond explained to Lapis. "You're first mission is to find them and watch them. They're looking for my sibling Topaz, once they make contact, you'll use the Ichor to contact me. Don't engage and stay out of sight. Don't fail me!"
Lapis nodded as she summoned her water wings and flew out of the catacombs. Diamond watched this for a moment before turning to Pearl and Zirconia, who froze with fear as he approached them.
However, before he began to speak or act, the two Gems saw Onyx suddenly enter the chamber and approach the Master. As she whispered into Diamond's ear, his eyes widened in surprise. Onyx then ran out the room.
"If she is lying to me or if she's wrong, ensure that this chamber is ready for her." Diamond commanded to Zirconia and Pearl before he left the room as well.
"What was that about?" Zirconia asked Pearl. Wondering what would cause their master to run off like that.
[*]
Beach City: Steven's House
Present day
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Diamond moved around the house, which was ransacked from the invasion of the Pyrites, waiting for the news that he was waiting for. As Diamond examined the home, he then felt the urge to point his hand outward, as if he was sensing something. He then stopped just before the Gem door. As he tilted his head slightly, he turned his hand and touched his fingers and thumb together before pulling his hand back. As he did, the doorway opened up and shined a bright pink light before the Gemian.
"So, this is where you've been hiding." Diamond said to himself before entering the light.
{*}
Crystal Temple: Rose's Room
Present Day
{*}
Diamond looked around at the pink clouds and swirls of light and energy that stretched as far as the eye could see. A long time ago, a boy named Steven visited this room on many occasions, each time he learned more about himself and where he confronted his mother, or at least to him, an apparition of her.
In sudden curiosity, he reached into his robe and pulled out a dead flower. It was pink, but flattened and wilted.
"Vive" he whispered to the flower.
However, nothing happened.
He scowled at the flower before clenching his fist. As he traveled further into the room, He then saw something in the distance float towards him. It was small, pink, and look oddly like a whale. As the tiny floating whale buzzed around him, Diamond expression changed to a look of interest as it stopped before him.
"Hello Rose." Diamond said to the whale with a tone of annoyance. "It seems that your still as lively as ever."
The whale blinked for a moment before bursting into a flashing light. When the light faded, there in place of the whale was a woman with long curly pink hair, white robes with a star shaped cut in the center, and a rose-colored Gem. Her face also seemed very familiar to a certain Gem child.
"Hello Diamond." Rose said as she looked up at the Gem towering above her. "It's great to see you again."
"Perhaps for you." Diamond grunted as he turned and looked around the room. "I wasn't sure that you'd show up. But when I found out that your essence was now in the possession of another Human, I knew that you were responsible.
"You're wrong Brother. "Rose said as she approached her fellow Gemian. "The Gem that Connie has isn't mine, it's Steven's."
"It matters not." Diamond hissed as he looked to Rose. "Your little game is almost over. I almost have everything I need to save this universe, and once I have your essence, then everything will finally be at peace."
"Is that why you're here?" Rose asked Diamond, crossing her arms. "Have you come here just to tell me that you've won?"
"No, I came here to tell you how disappointed I am with you." Diamond replied angrily, his eyes glowed red as she moved closer to her. "You seek peace, yet, you instead cause chaos all for your selfish desires.
"I'm the selfish one? Rose asked as she raised an eyebrow as her brother looked down to her. "Remind me, how exactly was I selfish?"
Diamond turned away from his sister, his hands placed behind his back.
"Where do I begin: First, there was the fact that you and Topaz sided against me, giving in to your corruption rather than fight for salvation. You then infiltrated my Authority as Pink Diamond and sparked a civil war that nearly ruined everything." Diamond explained as he turned to Rose, giving her an angry stare. "Then, after you fled to Earth and foiled my plans there, you had a relationship with that primate and created an abomination."
"His name was Greg!" Rose corrected Diamond, causing him to twitch.
"Then let us not forget that you turned my servant agents me and hindered my plans for almost two decades." Diamond hissed then moved up to Rose and bent down to her. "All for what, to let your spawn clean up after your mistakes?"
"It was so he could live a better life." Rose explained with a smile. "What I learned on Earth was that we didn't have to follow some vague command from our mother. We can live here, not to rule or to guide others, but to just live here."
Diamond gritted his teeth in frustration, he felt his chest and face burn as he quickly turned around once again
"It makes no difference though, although it was clever for you to give that human your powers, it was a wasted effort. I will acquire both your Vitae and Topaz's, and once I do, I can create the order that this Universe deserves. Once I do, no voice will an act or even speak without my command, and no…no flower will wilt nor bloom unless I allow it."
Rose tilted her head in curiosity. She then floated over to Diamond and lifted his hand. As she opened his fist, she saw the dead flower in his palm. She then looked up to her brother, who looked at her with molten red eyes.
"Diamond, you cannot control everything by force. Free will is not a curse or a burden; it is a gift for all life. It is not our decision on whether or not this Universe is corrupt. It is our job to guide it and nurture it." As she touched the flower, Diamond watched as it bloomed with life, turning from a wilted brown to a beautiful pink.
Diamond looked into Rose's eyes, as he did, he felt his chest become heavy, and his mind begin to calm. Rose saw as Diamonds eyes changed from red into grey and she smiled at him. As he looked to Rose, Diamond eyes widened as he quickly turned away from his sister and hunched over, clutching the center of his chest.
"No! I…I'll not be swayed by your tricks!" Diamond shouted to his sister as she floated next to him. "I've…I've sacrificed too much for this!"
"Not everything…" Rose replied sadly "I know that whatever plans you've made; they're plans caused by something that you can't control. You need to let me help you. I can stop all of this if you just let me in."
Diamond looked to his sister with a look of absolute malice. "You're wrong Rose. I'm the one in control. I've always been in control and I always will."
Diamond removed his hand from his chest as he regained his composure. He then turned to face his sister; his eyes had reverted to their molten red.
"Diamond…" Rose said sadly to her brother. "Long ago, you did something to win our war against Tiberium, whatever it was, it's corrupted you. Please, let me help. I can save you. You don't have to face this alone."
Diamond looked to the ground before looking back to his sister. She could see the hate and rage building up within the Gemian before her.
"You think that everyone can be saved, but you're wrong." Diamond explained to his sister, summoning his khopesh and pointing it at her. "What you see is the true potential of our power. You and Topaz will never understand what I had to do to ensure peace, and with this power I will continue until the threats of the universe are no more. By defying my mission, you've become a threat to my plans and therefore, a threat to the Universe. I promise this Rose: If…if you don't stop me, if you don't kill me, then I'll destroy everything you love, just as I destroyed your son!"
Rose then walked up to Diamond, lowering his weapon. Rose winced as the blade of he khopesh burned her hand.
"I'm not killing you" Rose said as she looked up to Diamond. Rubbing her burned hand. "I would never do that to you. I couldn't."
"But you have..." Diamond said, pointing his hand to his chest. "All those years ago, you were able to kill me then, you can kill me now!"
"I won't…" Rose pleaded as she turned away from Diamond. "I'll find another way to fix this. You can still be saved."
"Then you'll doom the universe you so care for?" Diamond hissed as he walked to the door. "I'd think that someone like you would do more than just plead for their lives."
Rose looked at her brother as he walked to the door of the room, as he opened it; he heard his sister's voice halt him.
"I'm doing more than you think…" Rose said sadly Diamond, who looked back to his sister. "…and I'm also pleading for your life too, my brother."
There was a long silence as Diamond stared at Rose before, he turned back and left the room, sealing the door behind him.
[*]
Beach City: Steven's House
Present day
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As he found himself back in Steven's house, Diamond pulled the flower from his robe and watched as it reverted to its wilted state. As Diamond placed it back into his robe, he felt a sharp pain begin to trail down his cheek. He wiped it with his hand and looked at it. It looked like droplets of Ichor. At this realization, Diamond twitched in anger before smashing his fist into the wall beside him.
Just then, he saw Onyx enter the house. Diamond quickly composed himself as he was approached by her servant.
"Where is the Jasper?" Diamond asked Onyx.
"She's on her way." Onyx explained to her master, the two of them walking onto the balcony, looking outward towards Beach City. "There was a…misunderstanding with the Pyrites and they poofed her, as per their protocol.
"More of a reason to acquire the Peridot Intelligence." Diamond said to his servant. "And what of the city? Any resistance from the slaves?"
"Some, but nothing serious." Onyx explained as she pulled up a gem screen. "Labor is at 91 percent. As for the resistance, Sandstone, Moonstone, Zirconia and the Pyrites have taken care of the majority. The only thing close to a real attack being that one human that uploaded that data online."
"We'll expect a response from the human government soon." Diamond explained as he leaned his hands on the balcony railing. "They will be no match for the Pyrites, unless they still have G.E.R.M agents."
"Master…" Onyx said hesitantly, looking away before answering. "…if I may ask, about the Prime Intelligence"
"Speak…" Diamond said bluntly as he continued to look to the beachside. "…and choose your words carefully."
"If the Intelligence is a Peridot, why don't we use the one that we acquired at the Earth Gem colony? Wouldn't she work the same."
"No, it would not." Diamond replied coldly. "Especially since I had her, as with the rest of her kind, shattered."
"Of course, you did." Onyx said. "But wouldn't it be good to keep one as a backup? I mean, I understand that Peridots can be loud and annoying, but I can't see one of those clods being an almighty intelligence? Unless it has a mute button."
Without warning, Onyx found a fist backhanding the Gem in the face, sending her crashing into the wall of the house. As Onyx tried to stand up, she saw Diamond storm up to her. He then grabbed her by the throat and pull her up the wall until she was face to face with her Master. Before she could talk, Diamond gave the Gem a hard punch to the stomach, knocking the wind out of the Gem. Tears of Ichor began to trickle from her eyes as she looked to her Master, who's face expressed a rage that she'd never seen before.
"You dare compare my Peridot to one of those false clods?!" Diamond screamed at Onyx; his voice was loud enough to rattle the balcony around them. "To compare her to one of those fake pebbles would be the same as comparing a spark to the Sun! I created those fake peridots specifically to hide my own! She is one of a kind, and if you ever speak of her like that again, I'll shatter you thrice fold!"
Diamond then dropped Onyx onto the floor and turned away to look over the balcony again. Onyx coughed and wheezed as she stood back up. Silent from what she just endured.
"Your success has made you forget your place in things!" Diamond informed his servant angrily. "Don't forget that despite your loyalty and your victories, you're still expendable, just like the others! Now bring me that Jasper, or my Intelligence, at once!"
Onyx slowly saluted as she walked into the house. As Diamond, heard the warp pad activating, he took a deep breath and looked down to the beachside again.
"What I do, I do to save the Universe, I have no choice in the matter." Diamond said softly. "What I do is for the greater good, and if you truly understand, then you'll do the same."
With that, he reached into his robe, pulled out the flower, and dropped it into the ocean below him, watching it fall onto the sandy beach below before walking back into the temple to continue his plan.
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