3 years later...

Rhodonite was happy to finally get the chance to lounge around for a day. With the war won, Rhodonite and the rest of the Crystal Gems could finally live happily on Earth without ever worrying about Homeworld coming back again. It had been 3 years since Rhodonite last heard from her partner in battle and in romance, Moonstone, and she missed her. She enjoyed her company with Steven and the Crystal Gems, especially Garnet, who had taken a liking to Sodalite back in the day, but everything she did since Moonstone left felt empty. It was the same feeling she felt on her wedding anniversary with Howlite. All these thoughts rolled back and forth in her head as peacefully as the waves hugging the shore outside the small house she lived in with the Gems. She just stared out into the horizon from the cushioned seat by the front window.

Thud, thud, thud, thud! The loud footsteps of Steven running up the steps to the door startled the aloof Rhodonite. That was enough to draw her attention to him, but just to make sure, Steven called, "Rhodonite! Rhodonite! Rhodonite!" He burst into the door, sweating and panting. He stopped to take a breather before holding out an envelope in Rhodonite's direction. She got up from her seat and snatched it out of Steven's hands.

"A letter? Who would want to talk to me?" Rhodonite asked. She had never really made any friends in Beach City.

"Lapis and I found it at the Galaxy Warp, actually," Steven said.

"Hmm." Rhodonite stared at the envelope. There was no return address. It just had her name written on it. She opened it up and pulled out a long, folded piece of parchment that she recognized from Homeworld. It was the same kind of paper she and Moonstone used to write the letters that started it all. She smiled and looked back down at Steven, who was waiting for a response from Rhodonite. "Thanks for bringing this to me."

"No prob, Bob!" Steven smiled. "Who's the letter from?"

"It's from someone I haven't heard from in a long time," Rhodonite said, looking back down at the parchment.

"You mean, Moonstone?" Steven asked, starry-eyed.

"Yep. Now run along, I'm sure Lapis, Peridot, and Connie are out there waiting." Rhodonite rustled Steven's hair gently with one hand while she held the letter with the other.

"Okay, but you're showing me later!" Steven said before running out the door.

Rhodonite chuckled to herself as her eyes followed Steven all the way down to the beach. She couldn't see Lapis, Peridot, Connie, or Lion, but she assumed they were there waiting for him. He always had someone waiting for him. Now, she finally had word of the person waiting for her. Rhodonite sat down on the window bench and started to read the letter...

Dear Rhodonite, It began in Moonstone's signature cursive calligraphy.

I'd first like to say I'm sorry. I know it's been a while since we last spoke. I kept starting to write, but rebuilding Homeworld has always pulled me away from that weary piece of parchment on my desk. Things are running smoothly now, so I might as well give you a report. Just in case you were worried about me.

Homeworld is doing fine, better than before at least. With the help of Maw Sit Sit and Black Pearl we created a new government consisting of a three branch committee with representatives speaking for all Gems and walks of Gem life. With room for relaxation and pursuit of happiness guaranteed here now, Gemmanity has developed the same rich culture that it once had. We now are flourishing with artists, writers, and I'd like to think we model humans in a way. Compassion is even encouraged here! We still are the rising power in technology, but it looks like the ancient philosophers were wrong. We are capable of emotion and peace. Aura Quartz and I set up a theater a while ago, almost like human Broadway, and it turned into a success as well. Maw Sit Sit and Black Pearl, as much as she doesn't want to admit it, write plays for us a lot, and everyone goes to see them. Although we are a populated planet, we found safety and solace in a community. We're like a small town of comrades. It's not exactly like Earth, but it's close. There is still the occasional crime, but it's nothing we can't solve. Our war left its scars, but I feel like we did more good than harm.

I bet you want to know how the others are doing. Aura Quartz and Black Pearl married a few months ago, and they are slowly helping each other out of their pasts...slowly. Fire Opal is on vacation in the Dagobah system, and she's been there for almost a year. She says she's meditating intensely. Gaspeite is...well, we did promise all that money to her and Black Pearl. She's living here in the palace with me. We're like roommates! However, she does like to tinker and help out with the invention process here. Black Pearl bought back her Firefly class ship, Bug, and Gaspeite helped her give it the necessary updates. She and Aura go flying often. Oh! And you'll ever guess! Black Pearl won an acting award! Aura begged her to be in this year's production of Undertale: The Musical...and she was so good in her role! I'll have to send you a disc so you, Steven and the others can watch it!

I still think about you a lot. I think about Earth too. Do you think about me too? Maybe you could visit? Or I can visit you? How are Steven and the Gems? I bet you're glad to be there with them. You can watch Steven grow up now. I wish I could be there to do it with you. Looking back at all of this, I realize, that one part of my happy ending is missing. You aren't there. I guess that's fine, though, as long as you're happy. I just want to say thanks again, for helping me, and bringing color into my life. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be Blue Diamond and...the Earth would be...but let's not talk about that!

Instead, let's talk about what I discovered on my walk with Black Pearl the other day...

A flower! A Ruby Rose! Those are only native here! Maybe we'll grow a whole meadow and you can visit we can look at the clouds from it someday!

Till then,

Moonstone

Rhodonite set the letter on her lap and tried to block the tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. They spilled onto her hands when she did this, making them soaked. She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath, finally suppressing them. She folded the letter and placed it gently into the envelope. She looked back out the window at the beach, where she could see Connie, Steven, Lapis, and Peridot having a water balloon fight. Amethyst had even joined too. Rhodonite smiled and caressed the envelope in her lap before wiping the remnants of her tears and stepping outside to join the "battle".

And with the salty ocean wind in her hair, the sand between her toes, and the sun on her skin, Rhodonite stepped from a dark place of uncertainty and inner war to a place as light and free as the breeze that summer.

This was the beginning of a bright, bright, future...for everyone.

What? Pfft, I'm not crying! I just caught something in my eye!

Once again, I don't know what to say.

It's been an adventure, it most certainly has. This may be a fanfiction and it may be overlooked but this story helped me grow as a writer and a person and really there's no way I can say that I wouldn't do this again. I downloaded all of my chapters of this into my flash drive the other day, and looking at the first chapter all the way to the Apotheosis I have to say...wow. I love this story, and sure I have regrets (The first four chapters, Chapter 20 (I loathe chapter 20) and Pas De Deux could've been better) but I still see this story as a success. I waxed strong in character development, world building, and overall matured as a writer since I wrote Wind, Blood, and Stars over a year ago. (I wrote a whole monolog about how writing changed my life and yadda yadda for this but decided to spare everyone the trouble.)

Okay, some final words.

First, I would like to say that the thing I'm most proud of here is my characters. I freaking love them. My favorites have to be Rhodonite, Moonstone, Black Pearl, Aura, Sodalite, and Howlite. Gaspeite and White Diamond were fun to write too.

Second of all, I would like to thank you guys, because without your continuous support I probably would've stopped at Operation Orosu, or even earlier. I've made lots of friends through this experience, and that's just another thing that probably wouldn't have happened anywhere else.

That's all I have left. Thank you, and stay determined!

Reviews are so, so, encouraged! I have one question, what did you like and dislike about this story?

(Also, since my school provides my laptop, I may be on an involuntary hiatus for a bit.)