NYEH! I have no idea what I just did. Anyway, hey guys! I would have uploaded this earlier if FanFiction was not a butt and decided not to accept this into my documents. Also, Band camp is over for a few weeks so I can get to writing. Watch not write one chapter. Anyways, I do not own Steven Universe or its characters, ideas, ect. If you have any criticisms about the writing or my style, please leave a review. I always look to get better. Read on, good sirs!

God bless, JPLegends

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: What We Fight For

"We have our territory and we're ready to jump into Shitamachi," Hamada says. "We need to get a plan of action for the next set of events. I need a drone in that sky and we need the civilians out of here." Everyone was rushing from place to place. This is it. It would be time to drive the gems out of Tokyo and to bring the fight in their favor for once in months. And with the new soldiers lining up to fight and the civilians on the docks, everyone is gunning for a fight.

"Major," Connie asks. "If you don't mind me asking, where would the civilians be going?"

"Yilan City, Taiwan," Hamada says, looking up at the young girl. "That's where they'll be safest."

"So close to the shore?" Steven asks.

"With as little intelligence as we have," Hamada says. "We know that the gems started focusing on the largest cities. Tokyo, Washington, London, Moscow, Bankok. We know they still are because SATLINT suggests the Mediterranean is untouched. And the only true areas of destruction that continue include larger cities. Including Washington, London, Moscow and Bangkok. Taiwan is a rather small island in the gems' eyes. And with the area under attack, Shanghai and Hong Kong have been suggesting that the surrounding areas send refugees to Taiwan. And until Asia's major areas are gone, Taiwan is a safe haven." Connie nods and Hamada looks straight at Steven. The boy felt awkward for a second before he breaks the biggest bomb ever: "You gave us a fighting chance. You helped us when no one else could. We'll help wherever we can. You're amazing, Steven Universe."

"Heh," Steven laughs, awkwardly. "Thanks, I guess." Connie grins and looks at Hamada, turning serious.

"What's our move, Major?" She asks. Hamada pulls up a map of the surrounding area and draws a circle around the district.

"Full on assault," Hamada says, pointing to an area toward the south. "We open with a drone strike here, and carve in a few blocks up. Then we put a platoon of soldiers here to hold as a distraction. While they have the enemy's attention, we run in from the south-east and lead a charge with the drones backing us to the center of the district."

"What's in the center?" Connie asks.

"Some sort of camp with strange devices towering over the area," Hamada says, pulling up pictures of diamond shaped tri-pods. "We don't know what it is, but it's effecting the earth around it." Garnet walks forward pushing through the soldiers. She stares at the pictures and smiles.

"They're setting up a Kindergarten," She says. "Those are Injectors. They are making more gems for their army. They can be destroyed with your technology. But when they explode, the blast will have a large radius." Hamada nods.

"We'll stay within radio contact then," Hamada says. "There are more 'Kindergartens' within close proximity of each other. Domino effect. We destroy one in the center, all of them explode. Which means the only area where we'll be safe is here," Hamada circles an area on the map in the south-east of the site, half way between the district border and the Kindergarten in the center. "It should be relatively quick."

"What about the team at the south," Steven asks. "They'll be killed. You can't do that." Everyone stays quiet. Garnet speaks next, not baring to look Steven in the eye.

"Steven, there is a big chance a large portion of the group will die anyways," Garnet says. "Without a distraction, the drones and Hamada's team will never make it to the central Kindergarten. I'm sorry."

"You're sending them to their death," Connie shouts. "You can't do that! They'll either be caught in an explosion or be overwhelmed by the gem forces. It's a suicide mission!"

"What do you suggest we do?" Hamada says, clearly losing his patience.

"Why not send the Crystal Gems with them," Steven asks. "They can help keep them alive."

"No," Hamada says, shaking his head. "No no no, we need the gems to help us get the drones to the area! We'll never make it without them!"

"The entire point of the other team is to be a distraction," Steven says. "They'll be taking the majority of the defenses, including Peridot and Obsidian. Your team can survive without them, especially with that short of a journey. If the gems go over there, nothing will change except more lives will be saved."

"And once the gems notice the strategy, they'll come running for you," Connie says. "Our gems can help keep the more dangerous of them in place."

"ENOUGH," Hamada yells, smacking the table. "Steven, I don't lead the Crystal Gems. So who goes with who is up to you. But know this: no matter who the gems support, people will die. You cannot save them all. Trust me, I know from experience." Hamada stands straight up and looks around the table. "Any other comments? No? Good. Let's get the civilians out of here. We attack tonight. Dismissed." Steven looks over at Garnet, who just looks at him and walks away. No future vision predictions or advice. Steven grunts and walks off, wanting to watch the refugees take off.

An hour later, Steven is sitting on a brick wall, watching the boats drift off from land. The sunset is certainly beautiful but it acts as a vice. Looking away, Steven turns around and sees Jewel, standing under a cherry blossom, the petals gently falling around her. The boy drops from the wall and walks toward the gem, seeing a new expression on Jewel's face. It was not passive aggressive or shy like she was prior. Instead, she's filled with wonder and awe. Like someone watching snow fall for the first time. Hard to believe that this tree survived the gems' attack. "It's pretty, isn't it?" Steven says.

"Beautiful," Jewel says, catching a few petals in her hand. "The mountains, the oceans, the fauna. Everything about Earth is so remarkable. I've never seen a tree like this in my life."

"We used to have one in Beach City," Steven says, grinning. "It got cut down by a hologram holding a balloon. Long story." Jewel's shoulders rise and fall, in the form of a laugh.

"Is this what you fight for," Jewel asks. "Earth's beauty?"

"We fight for a lot of things," Steven says, picking a petal from the ground. "Beauty, people, legacy. You know any of that?" Jewel's face becomes more solemn, a tiny smile on her face.

"Earth is beautiful," She says. "Your people have been kind to me. Especially one. Sour Cream," a blue flush crossed her nose. "Your kind and your Earth. It's all so beautiful. I thought I could only satisfy myself by destroying the Diamonds. Maybe, there is something more."

"We all fight for different reasons," Steven says. "Garnet finds Earth to be the place where she can be whole, Pearl wants to preserve the legacy of my mom, Amethyst wants to protect her only home, Soren…hates the Diamonds. I want to be what everybody wants me to be. I fight to be stronger, so I can help protect the Earth, my friends, my… well, you get the picture." Jewel looks to the sky, smiling. The birth of a new Crystal Gem.

Do the gems help Team 1 or Team 2? I'll round up what you say and write the chapter around it. Remember, every action has consequences and a crucial character to this arc may die here. So think and choose. I can wait. See you next chapter!

God bless, JPLegends