Episode 32: Confrontation

August 27th 1:00 a.m.

"Green Diamond. Are you absolutely sure?"

"I am. I have always known they would return. We've delayed their arrival, though only for a short time. I am not certain how much time remains, but we will do as much as we can to prevent another full-scale war from occurring." Green replied.

"Understand that most of us are very grateful of the Rainbow Gems and the Crystal Gems, but keep in mind that times have changed. The Corrupted have decimated our lands, took the lives of many, and have invoked fear among the people in every country. Humanity has done their part as much as you all have, but...we do not wish to suffer again from this chaos."

"I understand. I cannot make empty promises however. Be assured that we will prevent as much destruction as possible. I am already looking into the new technology my kind has developed." Green replied, holding a offline Robonoid.

"Words alone can only accomplish so much, Green. They do hold truth, but for how long?"

Green opened his mouth, but then immediately closed it. His eyes descended onto the Robonoid and back to the others. His eyes slowly narrowed, "We will do what we can."

From that statement the others merely took glances at one another. Soon after each transmission ended with each screen going blank. Putting the offline Robonoid onto his desk Green laid back in his chair as his hand came close to his face before his index finger and thumb touched the bridge between his nose.

"Don't push yourself too much."

Green's eyes expanded at the sound of that voice. Removing his hand he turned his body around to see none other than his beloved wife wearing her nightgown. Her expression was filled with concern as she approached her husband while he himself stood up.

"Honey, it's late. You should be in bed." Green said.

"I'll go to bed when you're there with me." Christie replied. "Right now, I'm here to see you and see if you're okay. A lot has happened after the past two days." She replied, worrying covering her voice.

Taking a step forward Green approached his wife, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to him. She wasn't wrong. Lapis Lazuli had managed to arrive back on Home World. That alone brings happiness and concern to him, but not only that the surviving members of the Rainbows are still alive, now calling themselves the Off Colors. Hearing them... Seeing them once more was too good to put into words. However...it also lead to a plethora of questions developing in his mind. So much to do... So much limited time available.

Feeling him gently tightening their embrace Christie looked up at the puzzled expression on her husband's face. The look in his eyes... That was enough for her to see what kind of thoughts he was conjuring up.

"Green." She said softly.

"Am I hurting you?" He replied, lightly loosening his grip on her.

"No. You can never hurt me. I know how devastated you'd be if that happened. You and our kids. I just want you to know that it's gonna be okay. I know it will. I can't promise you much, but please promise me one thing."

"I'm not sure if I have the ability to keep it, my love. But I will try. Tell me."

"Promise me that you and the others will always come home safely. I can't stop any of you from doing what is right and for the sake of our planet, but try and come back safe. I really wish I could fight by your sides, but I can't. And I couldn't live with myself if I were to lose any of you. I...I can't. I know it's selfish of me to ask this but...but..."

Her arms tightened around his body as small sobs exited her mouth. Her head placed onto his chest as tears developed in her eyes. Her hands latched onto his suit, gripping it as tightly as she could.

His eyes descended onto her as his arms held her closely to him. One hand went to the back of her head while the other was placed on her back, both slowly rubbing her simultaneously. The vulnerable state she was in...he didn't need to say anything at the moment. Right now, they just needed each other.

August 28th 5:30 a.m.

Dashing forward Pyrope jumped into the air with two axes in hand. As he got close to his target his axes were engulfed in flames as his body twisted and sliced right through it. His feet soon reached the ground until he sprinted ahead going for his next target. Coming up to him his eyes narrowed as the flames on his axes grew with large quantities of steam erupting out of his body. Raising his right arm he rapidly slashed it onto the target and quickly jumped, lowering his left arm to drag it through the target.

As he was doing this Citrine was nearby, raising his Barbarian Hammer high into the air with both hands before sending it straight into the ground, opening up large cracks into the crust of the planet and making his target lose it's balance before it could drop. Gripping onto his hammer the big guy's legs started moving. The momentum began to pick up as he was getting closer to his next target. Bending his legs he ascended into the air and swung his arms onto the sucker, breaking it apart with one swing.

Meanwhile in another part of the area Garnet and Bismuth were in the process of taking down their target. Taking a good look at it Bismuth transformed her hands into mallets and crashed them into each other as she walked up to it. Raising both arms up to her right side she quickly swung them. CLANK! Large cracks began to form onto her target as she raised them up again and sent them at it one more time. The cracks started to grow more and more until it started breaking apart.

Without a word Garnet stepped in and jumped onto Bismuth's shoulders before using them to gain some extra air time. Reaching high into the sky Garnet's body started falling as she leaned forward with her right arm sticking out. Getting closer and closer she crashed right into the target. She reappeared on the other side of it and turned her body around, witnessing it collapse.

"That should be the last of them, right Garnet?" Bismuth asked.

"Yes." Garnet replied, walking up to her friend.

"Good. Nothing wrong with a little warm up. And now these stupid machines are permanently offline." Pyrope said as he approached them.

"Truer words were never spoken better, brother." Citrine replied as they fist bumped. "Though I'm sure Home World might have some new toys that'll make these things look obsolete. And they'll be the next ones to get smashed." He added, placing his hammer on his shoulder.

"I've gotta ask. You guys had other Rainbow Gems on Home World and they've remained there for all these years?" Bismuth asked.

Pyrope and Citrine turned their head to each other. Their eyes narrowed as they turned their heads back to Bismuth, "They volunteered." Citrine said.

Bismuth's eyes blinked, "Volunteered?"

"We didn't want to leave them behind. Neither did our father, but they bought us some time so we could escape. We never saw them again until the transmission." Pyrope replied. Raising his arms he dismissed his axes before crossing them onto his chest. "I'm not completely convinced about them coming to Earth. Since Lapis said Home World has gotten advanced something might happen to them if they're going after the others."

"Like what?" Bismuth said.

"If they survive and appear here then we'll have more help. If it's a trap, then we'll take care of it. We'll see what happens when it happens. For now, let us focus on the here and now." Garnet replied.

Pyrope opened his mouth as he raised his right arm and pointed his index finger at her. His mouth then shut as he retracted his arm. She was right. The answer itself was important, but they didn't know what was going on back on Home World. As much as it sucked to not know and wonder if there was something they could do, they had other problems going on that needed their attention.

Just as anyone attempted to say another word a loud thud entered their ears. Bismuth and Garnet turned their bodies as the quartet took notice of a large cyan sphere near one of the destroyed machines. The sphere summoned multiple cyan cylinders around itself and stood up with them. It then started walking forward, but as it was coming closer to them Garnet dashed forward, raising her right arm and thrusting it forward, making contact with it.

The cyan sphere was pushed back and crashed into one of the destroyed machines. Large cracks started forming on it, but as it attempted to get up Citrine and Bismuth launched themselves into the air. As they were falling they both slammed their hammer and mallets onto the sphere, though the outcome wasn't exactly what they thought it would be. Upon impact the cracks on the sphere expanded until it ultimately burst, releasing a large strange cyan substance onto them, Pyrope, and Garnet.

"Ugh! What the hell is this stuff?" Pyrope groaned.

"Ugh! Not sure." Citrine replied. "Augh! There so much of it!"

"It doesn't matter. We destroyed it. Let's return home and get cleaned up." Garnet said.

"I'd go for that." Bismuth replied as her legs started moving. "Oooh, I hope this stuff comes off fast."

August 29th 7:30 a.m.

Jogging toward her target Amber pulled out her revolvers and rapidly pulled their triggers. Each shot aimed at a different section and angle, ranging from above to below as she got close to it. Reaching it she stopped dead in her tracks and rapidly fired her next shots at another angle. Looking up the sounds of rubble entered her ears as her target was slowly loosing it's grip. Raising her left arm into the air her index finger pushed the trigger, sending her next shot at a lower angle. The shot hit it's mark and the target began fall and crash, breaking into several pieces.

Lepidolite curved her body and quickly lifted herself off of the ground, throwing her fans at her targets. Each fan spun at high velocity speeds, slicing through their legs and aiming toward the skies. They flew right back down and separated, slicing through more legs until they were heading toward Lepidolite. Curving her body she pushed her hands to the ground and rotated herself until she was standing up straight, catching each fan into her hands.

Sprinting upwards Charoite made her way to her target, holding onto multiple kunais. As she got close she threw the kunais at the center of her target before pushing her legs off the wall and jumping off of it. As her body flipped she raised her head to see a whip coming right at her. Raising her right arm she allowed the whip to wrap itself around it right as she landed onto another target and perched on it's end.

Her eye descended below as she yanked the whip hard, pulling Amethyst up to her. Coming in close Amethyst leaned her body forward, wrapping her arms around her knees and continuously rotating herself. Further and further her momentum increased as she was coming in hot. Reaching the target she passed right through it, coming up to Charoite as she leaped from the perch. Amethyst's whip released itself from Charoite's arm as Charoite leaned her body forward, stretching her leg out, kicking Amethyst back. The momentum rapidly increased as she made contact with the target.

Hitting it the target lost it's footing, falling off of the wall and smashing into pieces on the ground.

From above both Charoite and Amethyst landed back on the ground in front of the damaged target. "Damn. We wrecked this bitch." Amethyst said with a smirk.

"I'd say we gave it some good punishment. And thankfully that was the last one." Charoite replied with a hand on her hip. She then walked away and caught up with her sisters, "You girls okay?"

"Yeah. Not as fun as target practice, but it's somethin'." Amber replied dismissing her revolvers. "Still can't believe those bastards found a way ta repair the Home World Warp. If they managed somethin' like that then I can't imagine what else they got."

"Totes." Lepidolite said, dismissing her fans. "I'm also worried about the Off Colors. Especially Cherry." She added.

"Who's Cherry?" Amethyst asked, dismissing her whip.

"Cherry Quartz. She was...one of my closest friends. She'd come see my shows and whenever I had time we'd talk and...look up at the stars together." Lepidolite explained. She raised her arms and placed her hands onto her chest. "I've thought about her every now and then, but seeing that she's still alive...it makes me happy. Hopefully we can see each other again in person."

A hand was placed onto her shoulder as she lowered her arms down. She turned her head to see her sister Amber giving her a solemn expression. "I don't want ta crush yer hopes, sis, but keep in mind that a lot can happen after five millenniums. A lot can change."

Lepidolite's smile slowly dropped. Her sister had a point, and she wasn't entirely sure how Cherry was around this time. But even so... Even if there was only a small percentage of it happening...she still wants to see her friend again.

Soon a loud thud entered their ears. Turning their heads the girls saw a large cyan sphere with small cyan cylinders holding it up. The sphere soon started moving away from them, making the girls go after it. Amber ran ahead of her sisters and Amethyst as she leaped onto a nearby rock and sky-rocketed into the air. Leaning forward her body spun multiple times until she landed on top of the sphere, making it stop in place.

"Lep. Char. Cut it's legs. Amy, give it a good strike." Amber called out as she placed her hands on the sphere.

Without giving her a response Lepidolite re-summoned her fans and spun her body before releasing them. Charoite summoned more kunais and threw them as they came out of her Gemstone. Both the fans and kunais sliced and pierced the strange cyan cylinders, dropping the large cyan sphere.

Staying back Amethyst summoned two whips and leaned forward, turning into a ball. With her whips around her body her ball form slowly increased in size and become engulfed in flames. Without another delay she hit the accelerator, storming forward at the sphere. Amber stayed, sending electricity onto it until she lifted her head seeing Amethyst coming in hot. Jumping off of the sphere Amethyst slammed right at it.

The sphere exploded, sending large quantities of a strange unknown liquid everywhere, including the girls.

"Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew!" Lepidolite cried, trying her best to get it off.

"UGH! I'm gonna need five bathes to get this off." Charoite whined.

"Same here. What the hell is this stuff?" Amber said, wiping it from her face.

"Aw, c'mon gals. It's not so bad. Look, I'm all gooey." Amethyst said, completely covered in the stuff.

"Yes, it is bad!" Lepidolite yelled. "I don't like getting all dirty!"

Amethyst blinked at her. Her lips then slowly stretched as she raised her arms out.

"Oh, no." Lepidolite whispered.

"C'mere. A hug will make you feel better." Amethyst said with a sinister voice.

Backing away Lepidolite turned around and ran with Amethyst going after her.

August 30th 9:30 a.m.

Gripping his blade with two hands Kameron closed his eyes. His Gemstone began to glow as his body was engulfed in a green aura. As he opened his eyes they glared at his targets. Raising his arms up he took a step forward, quickly lowering them and sending a large crescent shaped slash. The energy slash passed right through them like a hot knife through butter, slicing them in half.

Nearby Steven summoned his shield. Closing his eyes his Gemstone started to glow while he himself got engulfed in a pink aura. Opening his eyes they glowed bright pink as he raised his left arm out. Turning his body he began spinning it like a human top. At the fifth spin he stopped and launched his left arm out, firing his shield. The shield spun at high speeds, dashing straight ahead at it's targets. Coming in close to one it hit one of the legs and bounced off, hitting another leg and another.

Hitting it's last leg the shield slammed into the rocky walls before disappearing. Raising his left arm Steven's lips stretched into a smirk as he snapped his fingers. The echo of the snap broke the legs of his targets, making the rest of them lean forward and crash into each other.

On the other side of the area Onyx and Azurite stood side by side, gazing at their targets. Raising his right arm out a large black portal appeared in front of them. Summoning her wings Azurite flapped them, unleashing large barrages of ice into the portal. With the last ice shard sent the portal soon closed. Raising his left arm multiple portals then appeared around their targets and soon each one was hit by a small barrage of ice.

The ice hit every weak point on the targets and as they subsided the portals closed, leaving the targets to crumble and fall into pieces.

"Alright. That should be all of them." Kameron said with his sword on his shoulder.

"Guys. I've got a question." Steven said as they gathered together.

"What is it, Steven?" Azurite asked, retracting her wings.

"Is your dad sure that Home World might be able to reactivate the Kindergartens?" Steven asked.

"That is a possibility. Because of it we must eliminate the remaining Injectors. Most of them are already damaged, but we are unaware of the possibilities of them being able to repair them, just as they did with the Galaxy Warp Pad." Onyx answered.

Steven hummed. Yeah...they were able to do that.

"With the injectors now completely damaged it'll give us more time and prevent them from reactivating the Kindergartens, though I am not so sure myself." Azurite said.

"Me neither. And lately these new Home World machines keep appearing day after day. Dad's been studying the duds we've collected, but maybe you think we could-" Kameron said before getting interrupted.

A loud thud entered their ears. Turning around the quartet took notice of a large cyan sphere with cylinder legs.

Summoning his scythe Onyx sliced the ground beneath him and jumped right into it before it closed. As the sphere traversed around the area a large black portal erupted underneath it, sucking it in until it closed.

Bringing out her wings and staff Azurite took flight. Up above her a black portal erupted and the sphere came right out of it. With her right hand she twirled her staff and pointed it straight into the air, sending a surge of high-pressured water at it. As the sphere was caught in the water the water itself began to change, engulfing the sphere in ice.

Taking their chance Kameron and Steven brought out their swords and sprinted forward. Leaping into the air the duo came in close and Steven slashed the sphere first followed by Kameron, leaving a large X mark on it.

Distancing themselves from it the sphere soon exploded, releasing more of the substance within it.

"Now that was close. What is this stuff?" Steven asked, walking up to the goo.

"Not sure. Possibly a fuel source for the sphere?" Kameron asked around. "On the bright side, neither of us got splashed."

"Indeed. It would've been a hassle if all of us were covered in this substance. Furthermore, it doesn't seem harmful, yet disgusting." Azurite replied.

Without a word she raised her left arm out as her Gemstone glowed. Coming out of it was a small test tube. Holding it she bent over and scooped the substance into it. "I believe it would be best to learn and understand what this is to further prepare us for the unknown. And if it is a fuel source then it could have some purpose for us."

Kameron and Steven blinked at her as she handed them and Onyx more test tubes to use.

"Are you sure you're a medical doctor? Were you a mad scientist at one point in your life?" Steven asked with a smirk.

Azurite blinked at him before her eyes looked at the test tubes. Her eyes lightly expanded as small chuckles left her mouth. "Oh, I get it now. And no, Steven I was not. I took a lot of chemistry and biology when I was in school."

August 31st 12:00 p.m.

Erupting from the Warp Pad Green and Pearl arrived at the Alpha Kindergarten. Stepping off of the Warp Pad they slowly descended to the ground and slowly took a step forward.

Pearl raised her arms and slowly held them as her eyes locked onto multiple destroyed Injectors. "It appears we don't have to do much here."

Turning his head Green looked to his left and right, taking notice of multiple Injectors already beyond repair. "I am assuming Amethyst must've came here after learning the truth about Rose?" Green asked

"Yes. When she came back home she went straight to her room without a word. The next day, she returned to her normal self. I've tried talking to her about it, but she kept dodging the question." Pearl replied as they walked.

That was to be expected. No-one could blame her for that since Amethyst was born after the Rebellion was over. Rose was important to her, to the rest of the Crystals, and learning hidden secrets about her wasn't too pleasant to witness and hear. As of now, it would be best to just let her bring it up and speak with her about when need be.

"Green." Pearl said.

"Yes?" Green replied.

They both stopped walking and she turned around to look at him. Her grip on her arms tightened as her eyes started to shake. "I... I want to ask. Neither of us regretted what we did back then. And...if neither you nor Rose started all of this then the Earth would've been colonized. Kameron and Steven wouldn't have been born. You and Rose wouldn't have met Christie and Greg. And I would've gone back to White Diamond. I never read your Rebellion Book, so I want to ask you directly. With everything that's happened, do we still have a chance in protecting our home?"

Her expression... Tears began to form in her eyes as she narrowed them at him. Her body slowly began to shake and rupture. How many times has he witness someone like this? Too many. Way...way too many times.

Closing his eyes his hands slowly balled themselves tightly. He slowly reopened them, locking them onto Pearl, who remained silent as tear started falling onto her cheeks.

"I do not know." He said softly.

Pearl's eyes slowly widened before she blinked at him. "You...you don't know?" She asked, her voice slightly breaking.

He shook his head. "I do not know. It is very painful for me to see you in such a state, and I am sure that wasn't the answer you wanted to hear. I will not sugarcoat things for you Pearl, nor will I lie. With all my being, I do not know the outcome of what is to come. Surely, Garnet can create such an outcome for all of us, but that alone will not help. Nothing is ever set in stone. Destiny and fate do not exist in this world or in any universe. Those are merely concepts beings of any race create to make themselves comfortable and feel special.

We and only ourselves can determine how our lives should be. And I can be a hypocrite at my own words, but I would never lie about that. I've even sent my own Pearl away so she wouldn't have to experience such a bloody and traumatizing display of violence and war. It was selfish of me to do it. Never giving her a choice, but she understood and I don't know whether she's alive or has perished.

For now, I will be damned if I allow our home to be colonized. The Diamonds have caused enough catastrophes across the universe for far too long. We must do as much as we can so our home may survive." Green replied strongly, raising his right arm up.

A light gasp exited out of Pearl's mouth. The look in his eyes... She's seen it on multiple occasions throughout the beginnings of her life, and it's been a long while since she'd seen him like that.

Her lips slowly stretched into a smile as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Sure, what he said wasn't what she wanted to hear, but what she needed to hear. To make her remember why she became apart of this in the first place.

She opened her mouth to speak, but soon a loud thud rang in their ears. Turning their heads it was yet another of those spheres. Without a word Green and Pearl dashed straight toward it and leaped into the air. As they were falling they landed straight onto the sphere as it tumbled from the extra weight.

"I'm not so sure about this, Green." Pearl said.

"I am not either. But giving them constant destruction isn't going to give us any information. Observation is our next solution." Green replied, tapping his hand onto the sphere.

The sphere began to move on command. Going forward Pearl held onto Green as they rode on the sphere.

Further and further they traversed deeper into the Alpha Kindergarten until the sphere came to a complete stop. From it's center a compartment opened up, firing a laser from it. The blast hit a certain area on the ground before the compartment closed and the sphere went up to it. The sphere then jumped and it's body started to take on the form of a cone. It then began to drill it's way downwards as Green and Pearl stood up.

Going down the duo witnessed large cyan tubes and cables within the planet's crust. Strange... What were these things connected to?

Deeper and deeper the duo remained silent as the sphere soon came to a complete stop. Turning around both of their expanded. Right in front of them there were keypads, large machines with exposed wires, and massive screens that were completely undamaged. Up ahead looked what appeared to be an access panel. As they stepped forward a small sphere walked passed their legs, heading straight for the panel. It jumped and formed a hand, activating it.

The entire area soon began to reactivate. Lights came back on, most of the tech began to function again, and the screens started to form static.

Pearl stood by Green's side as giant mechanical hands rose from each side of the central screen. Placing their eyes on it the screen started forming more static until it became completely clear, showing an imagine of Peridot.

'A Peridot?' Green thought to himself.

The Peridot slowly looked around the area until she stopped at the sight of Green and Pearl. A light gasp left her mouth as her eyes expanded upon her visuals. "You..." She said quietly.

"Are you the one who has been deploying sphere-like being onto the planet?" Green asked, stepping forward.

"Green Diamond... White Diamond's Pearl..." Peridot said in awe. She then shook her head and narrowed her eyes at them. "So you're the ones who have been destroying my Robonoids?"

"We have." Pearl replied as she summoned her spear.

"Ugh! I have put so much effort into my creations! You will deeply regret that. And further, have you both forgotten The Cause?" Peridot said angerly.

"No, we have not." Green replied as he summoned his broadsword. "The Cause no longer concerns us. This planet shall not and never be colonized."

Growls soon left Peridot's mouth. Her eyes then expanded as her lips stretched into a smirk. "We'll see about that. Don't think you'll be able to protect that backwater planet for much longer."

Green soon cocked an eyebrow. "What are you implying?"

"That information is classified. Do what you must. But we will pick up where we left off." Peridot replied.

"Not as long as the Crystal Gems and the Rainbow Gems are here." Pearl said, pointing her spear at the screen. "We're still alive and are the guardians of this planet! And all of it's living creatures!" She added strongly.

"Hmph! Hard to believe White Diamond's Pearl has been reduced to this." Peridot replied. "We'll just have to see how much punishment you all will have to suffer from. Like it or not, Earth will be colonized." She added as the screen turned to static.

End of Episode 32.

I apologize to you all for another delay. I am the kind of person who takes his time into his craft. If I keep you all waiting again, I will apologize once more.

Hope you all enjoy this episode and shall be left to wonder what is to come. That's for me to know and for you to find out. (No Spoilers) :)

See you all next time.

Next time:

Double Trouble