13. Mourning Star
The fusion turned down a series of hallways, each a different shade of blue on a spectrum from dark to light. It was like a symphony of color, every shade perfectly moving from section to section in perfect sync; every crescendo was another antechamber, every rest was another turn, and the instruments all tuned to the same pitch, the same tone of blue. It was breathtaking to behold, but it all zoomed by too quickly for Steven to appreciate. Plus, there was the problem of being trapped inside of a fusion, in the presence of murderous Homeworld gems, and the boy having absolutely no idea where he was going.
As the colors melted by, Steven considered the shifting in shades as an indicator of location. That being the case, as dark gave way to light, he figured his holding cell must have been located towards one end of the…ship?
Yes, a ship. Opalite knew where they were, even if he didn't.
There – yes, Steven's holding cell was located towards one end of the ship, but with their legs moving impressively fast he was unable grasp how massive the place really was. It felt big for sure, as they continually moving through a maze of chambers and hallways. Everything passed in a blur of color – navy and indigo, admiral and aegean and eventually cobalt. By the time Opalite had arrived at their desired location, the hallways had become a true royal blue. Somewhere near the middle of the ship, he guessed.
A sense of nerves crept up through them as they stood outside a single door. The door was shining white and glowed dimly, a welcome and conspicuous change in the sea of blue that enveloped the rest of the ship. It was marked by two triangles of blue coming from above and one yellow from below, where they met in the middle to form a small green diamond. The most noticeable part of their arrival, however, was the size of the entrance. Relative to the fusion, it was at least four or five times the height. Steven's best guess was the height of Sardonyx, maybe even bigger. That made Holly Blue grimace.
Don't compare this marvel of My Diamond's greatness to any of your horrible Crystal Gem cross-fusions.
Horrible cross-fusions? We're really not one to talk, though.
They approached a side panel on the door, annoyed that there was no Pearl present to unlock it for them.
A door? There's… someone behind it? Yes. No, wait — a group of people. Who…?
That thought was not accessible to Steven's half of the consciousness, though if he tried hard enough he could probably come up with an answer. He was too preoccupied with resisting every urge that moved his body, to untangle his mind from the spiteful consciousness that was Holly Blue Agate, hyperaware of his own weakness as he continuously failed to resist.
The fusion had driven him into an unspeakable sort of madness, and it reminded him of something Garnet had once told him about corruption: It's sort of like if MC Bear-Bear didn't tear the fabric of his arm, but the fabric of his mind.
The fusion laughed condescendingly at the memory, amused with his childish thought of MC Bear-Bear. Steven didn't care, trying to ignore the automatic sneer that appeared at their lips. That's exactly what this felt like, or as close as Steven could possibly fathom. The whole tangling sensation was as unsettling as the teacups ride had been to his sensitive stomach, but this time it was his brain that felt sick. The whole experience was like web of interconnectedness that shackled his own thoughts to someone he absolutely despised – he imagined the same thing probably occurred with Stevonnie and Smoky, but he must have never noticed. Now, as the ache of resistance wore against the fetters that bound them to each other, the presence of the disturbing web was clear and intense. Their minds were unified into a single channel that was embodied by conflict, held together by sheer force of will. The harder Steven tried to the resist, the more it felt like he was ripping his own mind in two; he knew that couldn't be right, because his mind was his, but that didn't make the experience any less painful. It was self-inflicted torture – staying together was uncomfortable and made him feel like every ounce of his privacy was being violated, but trying to leave was like searing his brain with electrical wires. The harder he tried to pull away, the hotter the wires burned, sending him scurrying back into the lesser of two evils that was Opalite.
Despite their internal turmoil, the blue fusion had crossed all four of her arms into a very awkward diamond salute just as the door opened and stood as tall as possible. The shapes that decorated the door in yellow and blue rescinded into the ceiling and floor respectively, revealing a dimly lit room with a single spot light, inviting them forward. Opalite was gripped with a nerves, and… what was it? Excitement? No, more like anticipation, maybe? Yes – that seemed right. Pulled through the doorway despite Steven's every instinct to run, the fusion's face fell into a frown as they were washed over with his mounting dread that disagreed with their pride and nerves.
Do not ruin this for me! This is exactly what I've been waiting for!
I don't even know what 'this' is.
You really don't know? We can tell you're lying. We all know what this is. It's your time to own up to the wrong you've done.
It's time to answer to the Diamonds.
There was nothing but the sound of their footsteps as the fusion entered the room, but an eerie tingle ran up their spine, sensing dozens of eyes watching them without really knowing from who or from where. One set of their own eyes darted around the room nervously as they held the diamond pose, the other looked straightforward into the spotlight.
The air was colder here, Opalite noted the unfamiliar sensation (although, there was nothing about their existence that really was familiar). It was accompanied by an uncomfortable stillness that felt oppressive and maniacal at the same time, as if daring the fusion to do something but hinting at the deadly consequences that would follow.
Standing under the spotlight, they studied the details of the room as best they could. The floor beneath them was a similar navy tone to the floor of Steven's holding cell, but it stretched into blackness. The room must have been large, given the door frame and the echoes of their footfalls when they approached. Opalite was pretty sure the room was circular or canonical, but they weren't sure how exactly they knew that. Perhaps from Holly Blue's familiarity with the ship? It reminded Steven of the pits that Romans would fight in that he had seen in movies.
Eventually, there was a commanding voice that made the fusion quiver in fear, the first time they felt at harmony. "Present your gemstone and your weapons."
Yellow Diamond that spoke down at them, her voice ringing from above. There was no ounce of amusement in her tone.
"Yes, My Diamond." The words felt dirty on his tongue, but Steven found some satisfaction in the notes of sarcasm in their strange voice.
Opalite snickered slightly but complied with the command. She turned around to reveal the gem on the back of neck and withdrew a whip, electricity tingling the part-human fingertips that gripped its base. The weight was familiar yet troubling, Opalite not sure what to do with the strange weapon in her hands. There was a desire to punish, yes, but something didn't feel right.
Wait, punish?
"Holly Blue Agate, My Diamond." Opalite dipped their head to better reveal the gemstone to the room.
The demonstration continued before Steven could grapple with their earlier cryptic thought. Next, Opalite formed a brilliant pink shield in spite of all Steven's resistance. It was two against one, really, Opalite's own presence growing strong with each passing minute. There was a low gasp in the room followed by chattering, a reaction they expected. The Rose Quartz shield had gotten Steven in trouble multiple times, although never quite like this.
They lowered the shield to their side and gestured at a tear in the fabric of their dress, revealing their naval. "And… Rose Quartz." Their voice was hard and flat.
The room erupted into suspicious chatter, watching the abomination before them draw not one weapon but two, and to brandish that symbol in this place…
"I am Opalite, My Diamond." Then, their arms came together in a flash of light.
The air crackled with electricity, hushing the chatty room, the atrocity of gemstsone and human and Rose Quartz having expected some outrage but, needless to say, no one had expected this. Whoever was in the room surely knew of the rebellion's disregard for Homeworld's rules about cross-fusion, but seeing something like this in-person was an entirely different story.
Opalite said nothing, simply standing under the spotlight, squinting in an attempt to make out their audience to no avail. The shield and whip had disappeared, replaced by a lethal morning star in their hands. The base was blue and longer than the grip of Holly Blue's whip with a pink electric current connecting the base to a deadly spiked pink. It was top-heavy, the ball and spikes as large as Steven's shield, but it more greatly resembled his bubble in this form with the Rose Quartz symbol engraved in blue beneath the spikes. Though Opalite had chosen to adopt a noncombatant stance, arms at their sides, the spikey end of the morning star crackled violently with electric energy against the floor.
There was nothing but the hissing of electricity-against-floor as the fusion looked outwards at nothingness, a stunned room staring down at them beyond their vision, intrigued and disturbed and unsure of what to make of their scandalous presence.
A familiar voice finally broke the stretching silence. "Well, are you satisfied, Yellow?" It was Blue Diamond, and she sounded absolutely furious, her voice seething. It was void of all the somber and lamenting qualities she had used when speaking about Pink Diamond the last time Steven had been in her presence.
"No… There is one final thing. As a reward for the loyalty shown by this Agate, I have agreed to grant her a special request. Guards, come forward."
There was a shuffling sound but no one spoke. At first, Steven had been prepared to be hauled off somewhere once again, thankful that he would at least be released from this fusion – any physical prison would be better than this, but he had been mistaken. Instead, another beam of light appeared from the above, illuminating more of the room and revealing a long line of gems standing next to each other, cuffed in the same fashion he had been only an hour before and chained together at the ankle.
Opalite gasped, too overwhelmed by Steven's surprise to stifle the instinct. There was at least a dozen Amethysts, Jaspers and even a few Carnelians standing about twenty feet in front of them. They all looked downcast, not looking at each other, not looking at Opalite, not looking at anything but their feet and the ground beneath them. There was such a sickening surge of emotions within the fusion at the sight of them, so sudden and intense that they almost became undone. They grunted in pain, Opalite shining brightly under the spotlight, but Holly Blue Agate forced them back together with her brute strength. Though stable, the emotions still made all three of them sick – companionship, hatred, trust, contempt, bloodlust and rage, appreciation,… it was even worse than when they first stood up and even when they saw their reflection. Now Steven understood what was happening, and his inner self began to cry and struggle with renowned might as the fusion raged internally.
Holly Blue's charade, the parts of her mind she kept tightly under lock and key, had broken at the sight of those that stood before them. It should have been obvious – why draw a weapon? Why had they felt the urge to punish earlier? Steven's heart would have beaten out of his chest if their body were able.
I am going to shatter them all.
"After all, Blue, we know how much Rose loves shattering. Almost as much as she loves Earth. Dealing with these traitors should be a breeze for her, compared to a Diamond." Blue Diamond could be heard releasing a small sob but did not protest. They could not be seen from beyond the two lights, but the edges of a raised platform could now be seen. Something told them that the Diamonds were seated above, perhaps the way their voices carried in the room, looking down at the show like a disturbing display at a carnival. This was just an act, a game, the Diamonds onlookers and Steven their puppet.
No, no. Please stop this! I'll do anything, please… Just don't. Don't hurt them.
A stream of tears flowed from Opalite's many eyes, overcome with the boy's grief. Their mind flashed with earnest memories, hearing the way his Amethyst laughed when they picked her up, the way they made her feel confident and like she belonged – like she really belonged for the first time. The way all of them had helped them to escape, kind and goofy. How mad he been, how deep his denial had felt, when he heard his mother had shattered Pink Diamond. When Bismuth tried to force him to shatter her… then, the way she turned the Breaking Point on him, prepared to end his life… just, please, he thought. Anything but shattering, this was wrong. So, so wrong.
We will be the one's shattered to against the orders of a Diamond.
Fine, go ahead and shatter me then! I don't care! Just stop this!
Don't you see by now? It's not that easy. It doesn't matter if you beg. They want this. They want you to suffer.
No one spoke, all eyes on the fusion as they madly gripped their head and tried to keep themselves from coming undone.
"Enough!" It was the ringing voice of Holly Blue Agate coming from his mouth but the tears kept flowing, rolling unceremoniously from their cheeks. The urge to protect was ultimately outweighed by the urge to attack, so the blue figure beneath one spotlight slowly picked up one foot and then another as she approached the stretch of gems that had slighted her and saved him.
Gritting their teeth, Opalite kept moving until they were right in front of the Famethyst.
"I'm… sorry… it's – " was all that they managed before violently bringing their morningstar down upon the first in line, a Skinny Jasper, who had just shut her eyes and braced herself as her form was crushed under the ball and chain's mighty weight. She poofed, electrical currents buzzing as a gentle pop and a puff of smoke released her from her physical form.
The whole group of Jaspers, Amethysts and Carnelians were looking at them now, too curious and horrified to look away. Many of them had all only seen a cross-fusion execute their impressive power once (Garnet, when she had punched Holly Blue). Now everything to them was backwards, this fusion that was half Holly Blue Agate, using its force against them. While the others watched on, Opalite rested a small foot upon the top of the gemstone as it clinked onto the ground in a sick sort of victory position. Then, a moment later, the Jasper exploded into dust and shards, flinging outward in every direction.
No. No no no, this can't be real, this can't be happening.
Every part of Steven's being wanted to bend down and bubble the shards, send them back to the Temple, keep them safe, protect them from these monsters. But now wasn't he a monster, too? Maybe he could one day heal her, apologize for everything, reunite her with the others that stood in front of him now. A childish part of himself tried to reason out how he would explain this to the Crystal Gems. That he had poofed Bismuth, so important to them, because she wanted to shatter gems… and now he was the one shattering gems. They would be so disappointed, he pictured them all standing in the Burning Room, his hands shamefully wrapped around a bubble filled with iridescent orange shards, trying to somehow explain that he didn't have a choice, he didn't mean to, he never wanted this…
Steven continued to do the only thing he could, trying desperately to splinter the connection that bound him to Holly Blue Agate, only for her to hold him back twice as hard. Is this what Malachite had been like? He couldn't help but think of Lapis and how she cringed at the mention of Jasper's name, after all this time.
Things had reached a breaking point for them now, the legs of Opalite quivering while Steven struggled for his freedom. The boy's identity may as well have been the shattered gem at their feet, not knowing what to think or feel or believe anymore. The world around them moved in slow motion, as if his brain wanted to carefully catalogue everything that was happening, not wanting to miss a single detail of the worst moment of his life: trapped in a body he couldn't control, his emotions and thoughts at the whim of this thing they had become, his existence totally at mercy of the Diamonds, who loomed threateningly just behind his vision, puppeteering them around as they smashed gems beneath their feet, as if Skinny Jasper hadn't even been worthy of a second blow from their weapon…
Opalite was sobbing openly now, shaking violently and body shifting hideously as face eyes and torso melted in opposite directions, but their arms were stable enough to raise the weapon a second time.
Please… just… no more.
With another sickening crack, the morning star came crashing down upon an Amethyst this time, her eyes so much like the Amethyst he loved back home, making contract directly with gemstone embedded in her cheek. The poof and shattering were simultaneous as Opalite ravaged another victim.
"No!" a voice echoed in the silence of room, Opalite dropped their weapon and clutched their head in agony. Steven felt like he was ripping up his own skin, daggers digging into his brain and cattle prods burning his eyelids. Then, there was a brilliant flash of light and the boy flew opposite of Holly Blue Agate and collapsed weakly onto the floor. Opalite had vanished, but their pain and hopeless had melded into Steven's body as he slipped quickly into unconsciousness, looking up at the amazed faces of the Amethysts and other guards that looked down at him, teary eyed and stunned.