Black Pearl surprisingly slept well despite the thoughts moving through her head like codes in a computer, zipping and zooming at the speed of light. She bounced back and forth between a conversation she had heard on the train to the base and one from her distant past.
"Blue Diamond is dead? How long ago was this?" A Pearl asked another, looking surprised.
"Just a few days ago, by an assassin called Moonstone!" The other Pearl said.
"An assassin? You don't think she's working for the deviants who wrote that letter, do you?" The first Pearl seemed afraid.
"Probably...I think we'll have another Gem War soon...and now that the rebels know how to kill the Diamonds, Homeworld will erupt in chaos!"
"We can't leave anyway...we must remain allegiant to our Diamonds!" The first Pearl said, standing up straight and putting her right hand on her chest with pride.
"I guess...we'll just have to get shattered too. Do you ever wish we could just do what we want, like other Gems?" The second Pearl asked, blushing and keeping her head low.
"Nah, it's all in your head." The first Pearl said.
It's all in your head...that's what they all say. Why? Why does one choose to immediately invalidate someone's feelings like that? Does it come from a society of lies? Does it come from the fear of giving someone your dedication and pity only for it to be a lie? Only for their suffering to all be in your head? Black Pearl wasn't sure, but soon learned the sting of that phrase when she confessed her feelings to another Pearl back when she was training with White Diamond. They were speaking in ancient Gem language, a language few Pearls are proficient in today.
"You're...this isn't what you've been taught. How can you go against what you've been trained to think so easily? I can't do that...so how can you? Is it your color? Are Black Pearls smarter than White ones?" One of Blackie's old training friends, a white Pearl, asked late at night.
"I don't know... I just can't ignore...I can't ignore seeing you get hurt like today. That scar on your back will probably last forever...and your scream...how could I ignore that?" Black Pearl responded. They were both still young, only 1,000 years old.
"I can't ignore yours either...or your tears...but don't we have to? We can't fight back, Blackie." The White Pearl said.
"I wish we could. I remember life before the Diamonds...it was so much happier...we could do anything we wanted to." Black Pearl said with nostalgia.
"You can remember that? All I can remember is what we've been doing in training. I wish I was like you." White Pearl said.
"No, you don't. It haunts me, I can't stand it. Those Diamonds took us from our homes and stuffed us in here, and we're helpless to stop it. I wish..." Black Pearl paused to sniffle, her voice was breaking. "I wish I could do something. Is it wrong that I can feel pain, is it wrong that I don't live to help them?"
"Blackie, I..." White Pearl tried to console her.
"Of course!" A boisterous voice cut in. It was that of a Yellow Pearl who was easily brainwashed by the Diamonds' plans for Pearls. "Don't be ridiculous, Blackie! You're lucky they haven't proved you defective!"
Black Pearl watched her memories go by like a movie, and she hated seeing how weak her younger self was.
Young Blackie began to cry, tears streaming from her eyes. "I'm not defective..." She said quietly.
"Oh yeah? You're awfully discolored, for a Pearl, not to mention those crazy thoughts! You better shut up before they figure you out, which shouldn't be hard, it's all in your head!" Yellow Pearl sneered.
It's all in her head. She liked to think that during her days working for White Diamond. By day, she worked hard to prove that she was worth something, but by night, her memories of a happier Homeworld lingered. No...it had to all be in her head. That's all she had been told, even after the Diamonds betrayed her. How could it be in her head if she could feel it so real? Resonating within her like a restless animal in a cage?
Her sleep was the kind where one does not remember every moment in darkness but when it was time to wake, it happened naturally...as though she had caught up on all the sleep she needed. Black Pearl blinked her eyes open and rolled over, only to be face to face with Moonstone, who was waiting with more tea.
"So, you came in pretty late last night-" Moonstone began before getting interrupted.
"Gah!" Black Pearl exclaimed, sitting up abruptly.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" Moonstone asked.
"No! You just surprised me!" Black Pearl shouted defensively.
"Okay, okay. Do you want tea? I have a surplus since Rho doesn't really like it...turns out, she has a pretty strong gag reflex. Yesterday morning she barfed it all over Gaspeite!"
"Sure, I'll take some." Black Pearl grabbed one of the two teacups off of the metal tray and took a sip.
"As I was saying, you came in kind of late last night...did something happen?" Moonstone asked.
"No, absolutely not. I just decided to take a stroll through town." Black Pearl replied.
"I thought you hated it here?"
"Ugh." Black Pearl scoffed. "I do. You caught me, Rhodonite made me feel...upset...and I just needed a break."
"You're not thinking of quitting, are you?" Moonstone asked.
"No, of course not, and I know she was trying to help...instead, she managed to take all of my experiences, convince me that they are going to be validated, and then spat them back in my face because of artifacts!" Black Pearl's tone turned from calm to a low growl.
"She did? Artifacts? I'm confused."
"She doesn't realize that Pearls and Maw Sit Sit have been working on a secret record of every event and every subject coming straight from the knowledge of the Diamonds. I worked in it for years, but after my work was complete I proved to be defective, and then I think you know the story from there."
"I know of the record, I just haven't told Rho about it yet."
"I see." Black Pearl paused. "How do you know all about the Diamonds, anyway?"
Moonstone froze. Quick, lie so she doesn't kill you. She began laughing nervously. "I used to be a big deal, like an aristocrat...or something. Yeah! I always thought it was unfair, the treatment, but of course, we never get a say, do we? And then I met Rho and..."
"I see. That's surprising, since I heard some startling news on the commuter last night, that Blue Diamond is dead...killed..."
Moonstone's entire being skipped a few beats, knocking off her breathing and her train of thought. Her body was an orchestra, and Blackie's words were like one section speeding up the tempo, turning her once fine-tuned movements into a total train wreck.
"By you!" Black Pearl continued her sentence and pointed at Moonstone.
"I can explain..." Moonstone stuttered.
"Wonderful job!" Black Pearl reached over, wrapped her arm around Moonstone's neck and pulled her in close. "And now we know how to kill them! I had no idea how much of a wonderful asset we have, but now I realize!"
Moonstone squirmed in Blackie's arms. 'Uh..Um..Blackie...you're choking me!"
Blackie let go of Moonstone, who fell to the floor beside the bed. She coughed and wheezed before standing up. Black Pearl got up as well and changed out of the black sports bra and harem pants into an ebony spandex suit to cover her tattoos. The seemingly magical outfit change also put her hair up in a high ponytail similar to Gaspeite's.
"Oh, so you're planning on getting up? Great! We need your help, you see, we-"
"You know, Moonie? I'm actually growing quite fond of you." Black Pearl said.
"Thanks!" Moonstone smiled. "But-"
"Don't get too comfortable, that doesn't always mean a good thing. Now, what do you need me for?" Blackie had gone back to sounding gruff.
"Uh...we wrote a letter for Carnelian, and we figured you would want to edit it. If you worked on the record, then you must have exceptional writing skills. Besides, all Pearls and aristocratic Gems know how to write a good letter. I tried convincing Rho and Gaspeite to tweak it a little, but they said it was two against one and I need another follower." Moonstone explained.
"Those two are more stubborn than I thought," Blackie said.
"Well, it's early in the morning," Moonstone smiled.
"I'll be your deciding factor, but just so you know, I think a war through letters is pretty pathetic. If you really killed Blue Diamond, then we can sneak in and kill the other two, no problem." Black Pearl said, slamming her fist into her palm and smiling devilishly.
"It's a bit harder than that, you know just as well as I do how heavily guarded their palace is. It's pretty easy to maneuver out, but when Rho and I went after Blue Diamond, we bust through the window and made everyone aware of our arrival, unintentionally." Moonstone explained, walking beside Black Pearl out of the bedroom.
Black Pearl chuckled. "I've been responsible for several window bills in my time." Much to Moonstone's surprise, Blackie locked arms with Moonstone, as though she were her escort. After looking down at Moonstone, who was only a few inches shorter than her, she held her head high, looking down the hallway ahead. "Hmph." She exhaled sharply, flashing a wry grin of pride.
Moonstone could feel her face heating up. Stop it! The voice in her head yelled at her.
They emerged out of the hallway and into the central room. Rhodonite and Gaspeite both perked up at their entrance. However, their hospitable smiles soon turned to realistic reactions. Rhodonite looked down, trying to hide her blush as Gaspeite giggled and repeatedly punched her on the shoulder.
Rhodonite cleared her throat. "So, you finally got her up, eh?"
"It's about time...this letter has been a nightmare from start to finish!" Gaspeite shouted, throwing her arms up into the air. "Too...many...words..." She sighed as though writing the letter knocked the wind out of her before falling backward onto the floor.
"So, where is this thing you want me to edit?" Black Pearl asked.
"It's right there." Rhodonite gestured to the piece of paper laying on the floor in front of her.
Black Pearl unlocked her arm from Moonstone's, much to Rhodonite's secret relief, and crouched down so she could read the letter. She scanned it, her face remaining stoic, as the other three Gems waited in anticipation, studying Blackie for any sort of movement...she had to react to something!
"Hmph. I don't know what you're talking about, Moonstone. This letter is just fine." Black Pearl said, still staring at it.
"Alright! Even Blackie's on our side!" Gaspeite shouted in triumph, high-fiving Rhodonite before realizing just who they were celebrating with and flinching as though it burned.
Black Pearl smirked at Rhodonite and Gaspeite's antics, then stood up. She folded up the paper and changed into a black suit of armor, with a weapons belt carrying three different types of guns, a Katana, a bag of ammunition, and six grenades. She quickly got rid of the weapon belt and stuffed the letter in her boot.
"You're going to deliver the letter?" Moonstone asked.
"Of course, and believe me, I'll make them read it if it's the last thing they do." Black Pearl said before walking out of the temple. A few seconds later, the three Gems could hear the only speeder they owned go off into the distance...
Deep in the armored boot of Black Pearl was a very special letter for a very special general...
Dear Carnelian & The Militia of Flames,
You are likely aware of a new era shining through the dark tunnel of this timeline. A new era proposed by a mysterious group speaking in letters. You have likely heard our plight, so we'll just get right to the point.
We need your help.
It has been made known to us that you are the strongest team on Homeworld and throughout the galaxy. If you believe in our cause, please, step up and fight for us. If you choose to oppose us and use the coordinates of our base to attack us, then we will defend. We request that you bring a small party of your troops to our base to negotiate, there we will discuss further decisions.
(50° North, -120° West)
- MS R G BP Fire Opal,
I hope you've been taking care of them for me, I always had a feeling you'd turn out well. Prove it.
-H
When writing the letter, Rhodonite felt the need to tell Fire Opal the news of her mentor's corruption but knew that she couldn't convey such a message in a letter. She went under the alias of Howlite and wrote a small note based off of the words that stuck out the most to her when she told Sodalite the story of her augmentation. "Take care of them for me."
Rhodonite, Moonstone, and Gaspeite were eagerly waiting for the militia's response and knew that giving off coordinates was a death sentence. However, they had faith in Black Pearl, despite their knowledge of her algorithm for trust.
"Are you ready, Master Carnelian?" A tall, curvy, yet agile and nimble Gem with fiery, opalescent orange skin and hair asked, waving her hands methodically. A large fireball materialized in the space between her two waving palms. Her eyes were kind but hidden by the sheen of determination. Her bare toes curled on the concrete, wishing it was rich, massaging sand.
"I'm always ready." A beefy Gem of the same fiery skin and bushy salmon hair, Carnelian, replied. Her eyes were like the flame her partner was mustering. Neither Gems were wearing armor, the beefy Gem wore nothing but harem pants and a loose vest that was able to show off her abs, and the firebender wore an outfit of harem pants and a tight tank top.
"Don't go easy on me, Fire Opal. I need to become fireproof." Carnelian grunted, grinning a smile of pointed teeth.
"You know I won't." Fire Opal smirked before doing a flip in the air and kicking the fireball as though it were a soccer ball. She landed on her feet gracefully, her long, tight braid which resembled her previous master's whipping behind her.
The inferno hurtled towards Carnelian, who caught it in her muscular hand and extinguished it with a clench of her fist. "Hit me harder." She growled, blowing the smoke off her hand.
"With pleasure." Fire Opal smirked again as she waved her hands even more to create an even larger flame. She clutched it in her hands, whirled around and threw it at Carnelian. The large fireball seemed to go through Carnelian at astonishing speeds, leaving a few new burns on Carnelian's already scarred skin. Carnelian and Fire Opal practiced these kinds of pyrotechnics every day.
"Harder," Carnelian said before wincing in pain at a new burn on her shoulder.
Fire Opal did several aerial flips before landing on her feet and making a pushing movement with her calloused hands, creating an intense flame attack, a giant, fiery blast that looked like an orange comet. It surged towards Carnelian at high speeds, but she was able to summon a large shield and block herself. The flames sprayed away from Carnelian in every direction before eventually dying out.
"Harder! Use the dragon attack!" Carnelian shouted.
Fire Opal smiled. "Hmph." She slammed her fist into her palm and screamed with all her might. Her voice quickly got lower as a wall of flames surrounded her, her braid whipping around as though there was a powerful wind inside the flame vortex, her scream eventually ending in a loud roar. The wall of flames quickly moved together to form a giant dragon made entirely out of fire. It was almost 20 times larger than Fire Opal, and it stomped its clawed foot and snorted angrily. Fire Opal was certainly one to be able to channel her anger...her anger at the past, her anger at her superiors, every little thing that made her mad was channeled into her powerful dragon persona.
The dragon's white eyes glared down at Carnelian before it leaped over Fire Opal and breathed fire onto Carnelian, who blocked it with her shield. She held her ground, but the dragon lifted its paw and whacked Carnelian several feet in the air.
A Ruby ran to the training site, just dodging a flying Carnelian. She followed after the flying Quartz. "Master! I have just received a letter for you!" She shouted before noticing the fire dragon. She gasped and called for Carnelian again.
"Master! If you could just-"
"Out of my way, Ruby! This is my fight!" Carnelian yelled as she ran back towards the dragon, shoving the Ruby with her broad, muscular shoulders in the process.
The shove almost knocked the letter out of the Ruby's hands. She grunted as she fell on the concrete. "I wasn't asking to fight it, I was asking to-"
"Got you now!" Carnelian summoned a morning star that only she could lift and ran into the flaming dragon's chest, cutting through it and destroying it. It let out a final roar of agony, then dissolved into smoke.
"Master!" The Ruby called.
Carnelian turned and dropped her morning star. She took a minute to acknowledge her burns and bruises before acknowledging the Ruby. "What is it? Couldn't you have just waited?" Carnelian shouted in frustration, although it wasn't as frightening due to her gasping breaths.
"You have a letter!" The Ruby said through gritted teeth, emphasizing each word.
"A letter? From whom?" Carnelian asked, approaching the Ruby. Fire Opal followed reluctantly after her.
"It was delivered to us by a black Gem wearing armor. She didn't seem armed." The Ruby said.
"Fire Opal! Get over here!" Carnelian yelled only to be surprised by Fire Opal standing behind her.
"I'm right here." She said calmly.
"We have received a letter," Carnelian said, her voice back to its usual loud and boisterous self. She unfolded the letter and the two began reading. Carnelian's eyes wandered from the paper to the Ruby, who was still standing there. "What are you waiting for? Death? Go back to the barracks and await orders!" Carnelian shouted, pointing sharply in the direction of the barracks.
"Aye, sir!" The Ruby said, saluting obediently and running back to the barracks.
Carnelian got back to reading. It was a rather short letter, and both Carnelian and Fire Opal were mostly silent except for the occasional "Hmm"s and "Oh"s. Fire Opal gasped at the note at the bottom of the letter but decided not to make a big deal.
"Won't Yellow Diamond be pleased that we took care of their little problem?" Carnelian smiled in wry amusement as she playfully punched Fire Opal on the shoulder.
Meanwhile...
"How are you coming along, my Diamond?" Maw Sit Sit asked as she placed a tray of tea on the nightstand beside White Diamond's bed. She had been laying there for several days, not even thinking to change outfits, which wasn't like her at all. Maw Sit Sit and White Diamond's Pearls worked for her hand and foot during her time of grief.
"I'm doing fine." White Diamond replied coldly.
"Maw Sit Sit suggests you turn on some lights. It would brighten the tone in here." Maw Sit Sit said, looking up and around the dark bedroom. Even the curtains were closed.
"What's with you and speaking in the third person? You did so well last time we met up...do I have to whip you again?" White Diamond growled.
"No, no, my Diamond." Maw Sit Sit flinched.
"Wonderful...My court is no place for social and speech imperfections such as that." White Diamond said, her voice returning to its calm tone, the tone that was still scary for her servants. One mishap can turn that calm into a killing mood.
"Anyway...I was wondering when you would like to get started on the response to the assassination of Blue Diamond...your subjects are anxiously awaiting it." Maw Sit Sit said.
"Anxiously awaiting my response? Hah! My answer is simple, the assassins and all who are associated with them shall die by my hands and burn in hell...no one gets away with killing a goddess!" White Diamond shouted, sitting up abruptly in her bed.
"But, weren't you and Yellow Diamond always abusive to her?" Maw Sit Sit asked.
"We never had any intention to kill her, we just had to whip her into shape. In battle, Blue Diamond is valuable. Together, the three of us would create the Alpha Diamond, Black Diamond...the ultimate goddess of power...a Gem Titania! The divine queen of Gems! Now she's gone, and my sister and I will only create a slightly weaker Alpha Diamond...Brown Diamond. Nevertheless, once the Cluster and the Moonstone discover their true power, we'll have to form an Alpha Diamond." White Diamond explained. Maw Sit Sit's eyes widened and she trembled at the thought of an Alpha Diamond.
Maw Sit Sit pulled out her notebook and a pen. "Please, what would you like your citizens to hear?"
"Well, let's start by addressing those dirty sister killers, shall we? Maybe throw some dirt on 'em?" White Diamond said, smiling evilly.
Dear Citizens of Homeworld,
As most of you have heard, a tragedy has happened here on Homeworld. One that will likely be recorded in the records and told of for centuries. A fragment of our sovereign trifecta, Blue Diamond, has been murdered. News has spread of the identities of our murderers. Blue Diamond's blood was spilled at the hands of a Gem named Moonstone, a deviant responsible for helping write the letter that shook Homeworld and made the citizens aware of this future war. Alongside her is sentient Cluster, Rhodonite, who after our efforts to restrain and civilize her has lost control of her instincts and plans to destroy our way of life from the inside. Their escape pilot was a defective Peridot named Gaspeite, who cleared the scene for them to escape.
There will be no evacuations.
By the power of the Great Diamond Authority, a second Gem War has been declared on the rebels who dared kill Blue Diamond and strike terror in the hearts of our citizens. Our great armies will soon train and gather, and a final battle will be fought. All citizens that are not ranked to fight must come underground to our bomb shelters. However, shelter must be reserved in order for it to be used. No exceptions.
May the light of our great government bring the hammer of justice down on the deviants who have tarnished the peace and morals of this land...May we protect our beloved planet from the Cluster and her sinister followers.
Hail Homeworld,
Hail the Great Diamond Authority
-Maw Sit Sit
Representative of the Great Diamond Authority
Black Pearl ran into the temple, panting. Her armor made small metallic clinks as she moved. Her bangs had come out of her originally tight ponytail and dangled tauntingly over her nose. It was night, and Rhodonite had assumed that she took the long way back.
Moonstone, however, had assumed the worst. "You're back!" She ran over and hugged Blackie.
"Yeah, I'm back." Black Pearl looked down at Moonstone, who had buried her face in her chest, and pushed her away as if she were a stranger.
"How did it go?" Rhodonite asked.
"I don't know. Guess we'll figure out later." Black Pearl shrugged. "But, I did find this getting passed around on the way back." Black Pearl pulled another letter out of her boot. "It's from the Diamonds."
"Lemme see that." Moonstone grabbed the letter out of Black Pearl's hand. "Oh wait, have you read it yet?"
"Every excruciating word." Black Pearl replied.
"Oh." Moonstone skimmed the letter quickly. "No way...she told lies about you, Rho!"
"What?" Rhodonite ran over to look over Moonstone's shoulder. Gaspeite followed.
"Oh phew, I'm in the clear," Gaspeite said with a sigh of relief.
Rhodonite shot a glare at Gaspeite before looking back down and reading. "What? That was never my plan! Now I'm sure not even Carnelian will want to join us!" Rhodonite shouted.
"But...Fire Opal still might." Black Pearl said.
"Hmm?" Rhodonite turned to Black Pearl.
"You wrote that note. She'll obviously want to see her old master again." Black Pearl replied.
"Ah...but the citizens? What will they think?" Moonstone cut in.
"They'll probably think the worst, but that won't stop us from doing our best." Black Pearl said, clenching her fists in determination.
"You've gotten quite good at encouragement, I guess Moonie's rubbed off on you." Gaspeite winked.
"What?" Black Pearl scoffed and turned away. "No, she hasn't!"
Hey, ya'll! So, I know most of you guys hate me for taking so long on EVERYTHING, yes you can hate me all you want it's a free country (Or, at least everyone here on this Earth deserves to be freeee)
I had a gigantic block, but over the block time, I became an otaku. Yay. I basically just watched a ton of anime to get ideas and I became obsessed in the process. My family is already sick of me for making constant references, and the strange creole of Japanese and English that I speak in most of the time.
Strangely enough, I seriously thought of giving up fanfic completely. I did, along with a lot of other crazy transitions that I ended up not doing. I went to check Fanfiction to reply to a PM and I read through reviews to find a reference someone made. After reading through the reviews, and thinking about all the plans I had, I was filled with DETERMINATION to keep writing!
Back to this chapter, things are finally getting set. These last two letters set the stage for the very first battle of the second Gem War!
How was this chapter? Let me know in the reviews!
Edit: Okay since I have gotten several reviews about the author's notes, I have removed them so reviewers can focus on the story. Lesson learned! Happy reading!