The Crystal Gems were enjoying a peaceful afternoon in Beach City, Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl were having a relaxed game of volleyball on the beach, while Peridot was immersed in her technological studies, and Lapis sat quietly, enjoying the sea breeze with her feet in the water, The sun was shining brightly in the blue sky, and everything seemed in perfect harmony
Suddenly, the sky was overshadowed by dark and menacing ship, The Crystal Gems looked up, surprised and alarmed to see the strange emblem displayed on them, Pearl and Peridot wore worried expressions, revealing that these ships belonged to a powerful Sith emperor named...
"It can't be, but it's been so long!" Peridot exclaimed in fear
"huh... the Sith Empire?" Pearl said, looking up
There were ancient stories about the old Sith Empire and an individual formerly known as Darth Fury, He was feared and respected for his cruelty and relentless power, Now, the Crystal Gems were certain that some rumors were true, and Darth Fury was the new... immortal...Emperor, he was carrying mysterious and unknown objectives that frightened everyone
As fear and uncertainty filled the city, the dark clouds covering Beach City, three smaller ships slowly landed, The Crystal Gems quickly put on their original attire and assumed battle positions, An emissary of the current Emperor arrived at the Beach Temple, She had an intimidating appearance, with a dark cloak and a penetrating gaze, The emissary removed what seemed to be a mask and revealed herself to be a trained female in the Sith arts, with short blonde hair
"Crystal Gems... greetings, my name is Lord Raindall, the personal advisor of the new Emperor, we have come on diplomatic missions," said the advisor
"If you came on diplomatic missions, why so many ships?" Pearl asked gesturing her hand to the side
"I am well aware of the Sith stories, Diplomacy is not your point," Peridot retorted, irritated.
The advisor paced around, and the Crystal Gems could see her lightsaber, Peridot was fascinated by the technology, finding it very interesting
"The new Emperor invites you, Steven Universe, and your friends to a banquet as a sign of respect and to show that we speak the truth, Please, follow me," said the Sith, walking away without saying anything else
Curious and cautious, the Crystal Gems agreed to accept the invitation without complaints The battle ship headed towards the Sith Emperor's vessel, which turned out to be as grand and majestic as a palace, It was an impressive sight, and with every step they took, the feeling of awe grew stronger
Peridot had a certain smile on her face, as she could see the magnitude of the current Sith technology that the Gem Empire deemed forgotten for millennia. As they entered the banquet hall, the Crystal Gems found themselves in an extravagant environment, with tables adorned with exotic delicacies, desserts of all kinds, and unmatched presentation models, Robotic servants attended to every aspect and adjusted the table for the new guests, while the Emperor himself sat on an imposing throne at the top of the room
The Sith Emperor had a commanding presence, and his black attire shone in the altar's light. His eyes couldn't be seen due to an iron mask resembling fencing masks, and his power radiated with a dark aura. All the Crystal Gems still admired the place until they were just a few meters away from the Sith
"I present to you, His Glorious Majesty Kyler Grayhound, our beloved and immortal Emperor, protector of the new Sith Empire, and the most powerful Sith leader of all" concluded the advisor, kneeling
The Emperor greeted the Crystal Gems with a nod of his head but remained seated on his throne, emanating his air of supremacy, However, the Crystal Gems did not bow or even show reverence
Peridot stood behind Garnet next to Lapis
"A new name!" Pearl exclaimed incredulously
"A new face!" Peridot followed
The remaining Crystal Gems, including Steven, couldn't believe what they were hearing, How did these two know about the existence of this being? But they decided not to interrupt
"These tricks are not enough to hide from us," Pearl said
"The Sith Emperor at last, huh? It's been a long time, but your presence is unmistakable" Peridot said now a little frightened
Lapis suddenly nudged Peridot with her elbow
"Peri... who is this guy?" Lapis nervously asked
"He... is the Sith Emperor, The Diamond Court had agreements with the Sith Empire a long time ago, and I can say it didn't end well, this being in front of us is Darth Fury, He was a Sith so powerful that his strength was only compared to that of a supreme being" Peridot explained nervously
The Emperor slowly stood up
"We have more important matters at hand, shall we?" the Emperor said, finally revealing his somber voice and gesturing with his hand for them to sit
As the Crystal Gems approached the table, they felt a mix of nervousness and suspicion. Was this dinner a trap? Why would Darth Fury be interested in meeting them? What did he truly want with them?
The dinner began, and as time went on, tensions eased. Kyler Grayhound showed surprising politeness, asking questions about Earth, the history of the Crystal Gems, and the fight against White Diamond, He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know the benevolent side of the Crystal Gems
However, behind his courteous facade, the Crystal Gems remained vigilant, They knew a Sith never revealed their true intentions at the beginning, What was Kyler Grayhound plotting? And how would it affect their future?
As the night progressed, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, The Crystal Gems knew they couldn't be swayed by the Sith Emperor's courtesy, they all kept their watchful eyes, ready to act if necessary.
The future was uncertain, and they knew they would face even greater challenges ahead.