Steven Universe-Crystal Gems Momswap

by 444teme444

Have you ever wondered what the world of Steven Universe would be like, if Peridot, Lapis and Jasper were the ones to raise Steven? If you have, then there's something deeply, deeply wrong with you, but luckily that also means that this will be the perfect story for you to read, so please give it a try :) First SU fic.

13. Jailbreak

Like aliens, Steven! Aliens who invaded Earth!

There is no more hiding Rose Quartz

Steven, RUN!

"Ah!" With a jolt, Steven shot himself up right, gasping in a cold sweat as though he had just woken up from a nightmare. And for a brief second, he honestly thought maybe it was just a nightmare.

Steven suddenly winched and touched the right side of his face. His right eye was painful to touch, and he couldn't seem to open it fully. Not to mention his head was still pounding like a drum as his mind scrambled process a single, burning question; what happened to him?

Slowly Steven began to recollect on everything that had transpired over the last few hours, from the appearance of the giant spaceship in the sky, to the evacuation of the Beach City townsfolk, the argument with his father, the battle between the Crystal Gems, Garnet and Amethyst and then…

Steven gulped as he remembered what happened. Black Onyx happened. A Gem Steven had never met before had come to Earth, wanting to settle some kind of ancient vendetta against Steven's mother over something she had done in the past, something that happen before Steven was even born. And what was worse is that Onyx was convinced Steven was in fact Rose Quartz once he had seen Steven use his shield.

He remembered how Crystal Gems had all tried to defend him, but one by one, Onyx cut each of them down. Jasper, Lapis and…

"Peridot" Steven whispered, terrified. He now recalled the very last thing he had seen before he blacked out, Peridot's gemstone. Steven's thoughts soon turned to worry as he knew that Peridot would be completely helpless while in her gem form before she regenerated. He had to find Peridot's gemstone and make she was ok, as well as Jasper and Lapis. He had to get moving.

It was then that Steven then finally took notice of his own surroundings, quickly realising he had no clue as to where he was right now. Standing up right, Steven saw that he was now in large square shaped room, much like an oversized box. The room itself was completely barren without so much as a bed or chair. The walls, ceiling and floor were made of some strange black coated metal, thin red lines stretching along each surface, with the exception of a single wall, which unlike the others, was coloured yellow. Curious, Steven moved closer to the yellow wall as it seemed to be humming and saw that it was not actually a wall. It appeared to be some kind of transparent sheet or filter, made out of pure yellow light, emanating between the floor and ceiling. If Steven had to guess, he reasoned that this must be some special force field designed to keep him inside the room, which would mean the room was in fact a jail cell.

Regardless, Steven couldn't let whatever this wall was stop him from helping Peridot and the others. Cautiously, he approached the field and lightly touched it with the tips of his fingers. There was no pain.

Taking that as a sign of reassurance, Steven closed his eyes and stuck his index finger though the field and felt a strange vibration run through his body as yellow coloured veins appeared along his arm. It didn't hurt but it did seem to tickle, which was enough to make Steven laugh again

"Cool" he chuckled, sticking his entire hand under the force field, absorbing the current and creating a small gap in the field below where his hand had penetrated, much like if he had placed his inside of a waterfall. Now knowing it was safe, Steven stepped through the field and out onto the other side.

"I'm out. Woohoo!" For a moment he felt a renewed sense of accomplishment. It wasn't much but this was definitely a start. Next item on the agenda was to find his friends. Steven looked around as he now stood alone inside a wide, rectangular shaped corridor, aligned with a dozen more of the same cells just like the one he was in. If Steven was placed inside one of these cells, then he knew that Peridot and the others must be here somewhere too. Picking one direction, Steven ran down the hallway, checking each of the cells as he passed, hoping that one of them would contain his friends.

Steven reached the end of the corridor and rounded the corner, when he came upon a large window. He stopped to take a look outside and let out a small gasp of astonishment at what he was seeing.

Directly below him was the Earth. The literal planet Earth, with its green landscape, blue oceans and white clouds, all sitting in the middle of outer space. This did answer Steven's question about where he was right now, realizing that they all must have been brought on board Onyx's ship after he had passed out.

While this may have complicated things slightly in regard to escaping, Steven couldn't help but take a second to stop and admire the Earth below in all its glory. It was a spectacular sight to say the least, one that might only have come once in a lifetime for human being. But right now, Steven couldn't let that distract him. He had to find his friends and make sure they were safe. That was all that mattered. Sprinting again, Steven continued down the black coated corridor, following the red lines etched on the floor, hoping they might lead him somewhere as he rounded another corner. Steven was halfway through an open door that lead to another room before he came to a complete halt, and with a startled gasp, pulled himself back from the doorway at once, throwing his back up against the wall, praying that he had not been seen. Gulping, Steven peered his head around the doorway, looking into the room again, wishing he hadn't seen what he had just seen.

The room was a wide, circular chamber, with a domed ceiling. In the middle of the chamber was some kind of giant glass tower raising up out of the centre of the floor and up toward the ceiling, a strange red substance, either liquid or light or something else entirely, streaking up and down the tower. At the base of the tower was a ring of computer consoles and screens, the red veins on the floor converging into the base of the pillar.

But what was most frightening for Steven wasn't what was in the room, but who was in the room. The very last Gem Steven had wanted to see again: Black Onyx.

Onyx was pacing back and forth, his hands folded behind his back, appearing to be deep in thought. Standing in front of him was Ruby and Sapphire, both of whom had their heads hanging, neither of them speaking. Sapphire appeared just as dour and aloof as ever, showing no hint of resistance to her impending fate, while Ruby was twitching nervously, likely having to use all her willpower not to burst out screaming.

After another moments, Onyx ceased his pacing and turned to address the two smaller Gems in front of him.

"We will be departing for Homeworld shortly" he said, his voice ringing with the same sense of authority and power as before. "I have been considering what needs to be done regarding the two of you when we arrive"

"Please, please, please don't punish Sapphire!" Ruby cried, dropping down to her knees, her hands clasped together, literally begging. "It was all my fault, shattered me instead!"

"Ruby, please, you need to calm down" Sapphire said quickly, placing her hand on Ruby's shoulder as she continued to cry loudly. Onyx did not respond to Ruby's outburst with any sign of anger. Instead, he sighed heavily and raised his hand to silence them.

"It is alright" he said, calmly. "You will not be shattered"

Ruby ceased her crying and blinked in surprised, almost entirely certain she had head that wrong. "We….won't?"

"No, you will not" Onyx repeated, just as calm as ever. Ruby let out a huge sigh of relief, while Sapphire maintained her posture of indifference.

"In the end, it was my decision to bring you here" Onyx said. "And it was my decision to allow you to fuse, so I must take full responsibility for what has happened. Therefore, I will appeal to the Diamonds to show leniency to the two of you. Sapphire, you will be returned to your respective court and resume your service to your Diamond. And Ruby, I'm going to recommend that you be reassigned to a squad under my command directly. This will all be probationary of course, assuming there are no further incidents. But one thing must be made clear."

Onyx voice suddenly turned colder as he leaned forward slightly, clearly wanting to ensure that this next piece would not be misunderstood in any way. "The two of you will never come into contact each other again. Whatever you two experienced together in that….form, you both must forget it. Never think of it again and return to your duties. Do as I say, and all be well. You have my word. Is that understood?"

"Yes" Sapphire said at once, bowing her head. "Thank you for your mercy Black Onyx"

"This is not mercy" Onyx replied flatly. "I told you, it's my responsibility"

It was then that Ruby cleared her throat and meekly stepped forward. "Um, can I just ask something?

Onyx turned to Ruby, causing her flinch slightly as she met his eye. "Yes?" he asked, still sounding perfectly calm and patience.

Ruby twiddling her two index fingers together, looking rather bashful. "Since we're never going to see each other again…. could maybe….Sapphire and I stay together until we get back to Homeworld? To, you know, say goodbye?"

Ruby blushed deeply and shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself, obviously expecting something terrible to happen once she had finished, but Onyx did not appear to be angered by her request, regarding her with a blank expression.

"I… did see that Ruby would ask you that" Sapphire piped up. "And I also saw that it would easier for us when we part if we use this time to come to terms with it"

Onyx turned to look down at the small blue Gem, his expression still unreadable as ever. Sapphire bit her lower lip, thin shards of icicles beginning to appear under the helm of her skirt as she anxiously waited for his answer.

Finally, Onyx glanced up to ceiling before closing his eyes and letting out a tired sigh. "Very well. You may have this remaining time to spend together until we arrive. But that will be all. Now, say your goodbyes"

"Thank you, Black Onyx" Sapphire said, bowing her head gratefully. "You truly are the most noble and magnanimous of-"

"I said you can spend this time together" Onyx said, cutting over Sapphire, now with a slightly biting note of impatience. "Don't waste it talking to me

Still hiding behind the doorway, Steven watched as the scene played out before him, unsure of what to make of it. Onyx said he would separate Ruby and Sapphire from one another once they got back to Homeworld, which to Steven sounding nothing short of horrible as he knew how much Ruby and Sapphire meant to each other. But on the other hand, Onyx was allowing them a chance to say a proper goodbye and from what Steven could tell, it seemed like he was genuinely trying to help them avoid a harsher punishment. He almost seemed kinda…nice. Or maybe just less cruel than before? Whatever the case, Steven soon reminded himself once again of his own mission. Finding Peridot's gemstone. That was all that mattered

Turning on his heel, Steven sped down the corridor heading away from the circular room and from Onyx. Steven took a single cautionary glance over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed, just as he rounded another corner, when he suddenly collided into something, almost knocking himself to the floor. Once he corrected himself, Steven looked up to see what he had run into and then felt heart jump so far up his throat it likely was never going to retreat.

Standing directly in front of him was Pearl, who appeared just as surprised to see Steven as he was to see her. Steven's body tensed up, as he now felt much like a small prey that has been cornered. For a moment, he tried to open his mouth, hoping to say something, anything, no matter how futile it would sound, that might get him of this situation.

"Pearl?"

Steven wheeled around, hearing Onyx voice approaching from down the corridor and knew he would be upon him in seconds. There was no doubt any longer. Steven was doomed.

Just as Steven began to contemplate the regret of his own failure, he suddenly felt Pearl forcefully grab him by the shoulder with one hand while her other hand slapped over his mouth before he could utter a sound.

Without warning and at an alarming speed, Pearl pushed Steven into a small crevice in the wall next to them, that was just barely wide enough for him to fit into as he felt his arms and shoulders pressed together uncomfortably. Steven grunted slightly as he tried to move, but quickly ceased his efforts once he saw Onyx walk into his line of sight, standing in front of Pearl, who stood up straight, her hands folded at her waist, acting as though whatsoever had happened. Steven placed his hands over his mouth, covering up the sound of his own breathing as Onyx had yet to notice him.

"Pearl, is something wrong?" Onyx asked Pearl.

"N-nothing is wrong my Onyx" Pearl said, very quickly, her voice briefly rising to a slightly higher pitch as she spoke. "I was…just coming to inform you that the preparations are in place and we can soon set course for Homeworld on your command."

"Hmm, good work, Pearl" Onyx replied, appearing satisfied. "Where is Amethyst? She has not been answering her communicator"

Pearl cleared her throat in a rather awkward manner. "I'm not… sure. I haven't seen her since we came back onto the ship. She seemed very…..displeased with how the mission turned out"

"Yes, I will need to speak her regarding her performance" Onyx said, sounding somewhat weary. "Perhaps, I placed too much responsibility on her too soon"

"Well, she did disobey your order by not taking the Gem Destabiliser." Pearl said, her voice now becoming a little more judgemental. "If she failed to follow protocol, it's no one's fault but her own"

"I selected Amethyst to be part of this mission" Onyx said, with a slight note of anger, which enough for Pearl to fall silent at once. "If she failed, then it is my fault"

"Of course, my Onyx" Pearl said, bowing her head again. There was brief moment of silence between them, before Onyx spoke again.

"Pearl, I wanted to talk you about what happened earlier. With the Gem Destabilizer"

"Oh, I was just returning it to you" Pearl said, with a very wide smile. "You dropped it on the ground, and I thought I'd better bring that over to you in case you needed it"

"I am grateful for what you did" Onyx said, sounding both sincere and respectful. "It was most helpful. If you hadn't intervened when you did, I would have been several injured by Peridot's attack"

"Well, I'm sure you of all Gems would have been completely fine, my Onyx" Pearl said, with a tone of voice than resembled something more akin to flattery than genuine kindness.

However, Onyx merely shook his head in disagreement. "No, it was my fault. I was careless". His tone suddenly become displeased, almost bitter sounding as he turned his head away from Pearl. "I should not have lowered my guard like that. To make such an obvious mistake at such a crucial moment is inexcusable. I'm sure that you must think I'm incompetent."

"I don't think that at all" Pearl said, shaking her head at once, looking up at Onyx with an expression of sympathy. "I think you did absolutely amazing!" Pearl's exuberant smile slowly began to falter as her words hung in the air as if she inadvertently said something offensive or unpleasant in her complement. "In that… particular context"

"I should have done better" Onyx said flatly, evidently unmoved by Pearl's encouraging statements. "Nevertheless, our work must continue.

"You mean with the Cluster?" Pearl asked, sounding interested.

Onyx shook his head. "No. The Cluster must wait for now."

"But we never actually checked its current status. If we leave now, something may go wrong and-"

"We must bring Rose Quartz and the Crystal Gems back to the Diamonds" Onyx stated firmly, raising his hand to silence Pearl. "That takes precedence above everything else. And I must also do what I can to alleviate the situation regarding Ruby and Sapphire. It was my mistake to allow them to come. Once I make my full report, they should be reassigned without any further issue. After that is done, we will return. As for Amethyst, I will need to speak with her myself. Go and wait for me at the bridge, I will be there shortly, after I have spoken to Amethyst"

Pearl gave Onyx a quick bow of her head and remained where she was. There was another moment of silence as Pearl and Onyx stared at one another. Steven suddenly felt his shoulders beginning to cramp.

"The bridge" Onyx repeated clearly as Pearl remained standing in front of him. "I said go to the bridge, Pearl"

"Oh, oh, yes, yes of course! The bridge!" Pearl threw her head back and let out a loud, incongruous burst of laughter, as if she had just discovered the punchline to some unseen joke. She quickly moving around Onyx, heading down the corridor but stopped when he placed his hand on shoulder.

"And one more thing, Pearl" After standing stock still for a moment, Pearl slowly turned around, looking Onyx in eye without any hint of fear.

While it was difficult to see from his hiding spot, Steven thought he saw what might have been the brief smile on Onyx as he spoke to Pearl, but he honestly couldn't be sure.

"There is no need for to worry" Onyx said, still holding Pearl's shoulder. "Nothing will go wrong. I won't let anything happen to you"

With that, Onyx released Pearl and walked off out of sight down the corridor in direction where she had come from. Pearl waited until the sound of his footsteps could no longer be heard, before she too disappeared down the opposite end of the corridor

Once he was sure they were both gone, Steven pulled his hands away from his mouth and let out a long gasp and then managed to pry himself out of the gap in the wall, standing alone in the corridor again. What was that about? He couldn't even begin to wrap his head around what had just happened. For some reason or other, Pearl had actually helped Steven, but he couldn't understand why. Maybe Pearl was afraid that Onyx would be angry with her if he had seen Steven wandering the ship? Or maybe she had just panicked and acted without thinking? In anything case, that little mystery would have to wait. Steven still needed to find Peridot, as well as Jasper and Lapis. That was still the priority.

Now that the coast was clear, Steven resumed his search running into another corridor filled with empty cells. Just as came to the end of the corridor, he spotted one of the cells which unlike all the other had a force field activated. Moving in closer, Steven could see a familiar triangle shaped head of hair sitting in the darkened cell.

"Peridot!" Steven exclaimed.

"Steven?" Peridot said turning around in surprise, kneeling down on the floor.

Without pause for an invitation, Steven stepped right through the force field, briefly experiencing the same tickling sensation as before, wasting no time in throwing his arms around Peridot's neck.

"Peridot, I'm so happy you're ok and not hurt, and you…you…"

In all the excitement, Steven only just now realised something was very different about Peridot. He knew that the Gems would sometimes look different after reforming. Her outfit was much the same as before, the only difference being her visor had changed shape, becoming more pointed. But what was most significant was the fact that rather than kneeling on the floor as Steven had initially assumed, Peridot now stood at almost the exact same height as Steven himself.

"Oh my gosh" Steven whispered; he placed his hands to his cheek, his eyes now literally sparking in joy. "You're so cuuuuuuuttteeeee!"

"Steven, this is not the time for that" Peridot snapped, a bright green blush appearing on her checks as Steven continued gushing over her, circling around her wanting to take in her entire appearance. It was then that Steven noticed her hands were different as well; they were no longer just a set of detached metal digits, but actual hands like how own. Tiny, adorable little hands.

"What happened to you? Did they shrink you? What kind of evil monsters would make you so adorable!?"

Peridot groaned, sounding both embarrassed and frustrated as she spoke through her gritted teeth. "I did not shrink, ok? This….this is what my actual form looks like. The rest of the time I've just been wearing limb enhancers, which aren't part of my body. But more importantly, how are you even here? How'd you get out of your cell?"

Rather than tell her, Steven elected to show her, demonstrating how he could pass his arm through the field without discomfort. Peridot, now looked rather intrigued, watched carefully as the current passed into Steven's body.

"That force field is a destabilisation barrier that with disintegrate any Gem's form" she said, thoughtfully. "It must not affect you due to your human nature"

"Come on, let' get out of here and find Jasper and Lapis." Steven stepped further into the field, using the length of his arm to create a gap in the flow of energy for Peridot to step under , while absently waving his other hand at Peridot to come forward as he checked for any signs of anyone in the corridor. But when Steven looked back into the cell, he saw that Peridot remained exactly where she was, still looking miserable and frustrated.

"I can't" she muttered, crossing her arms.

"What do you mean?" Steven said, pulling himself out from the force field. "Of course you can"

"I can't help you Steven. Not like this" Peridot gestured down to her short stature form with disgust. "I have no weapon, no powers. I can't even shapeshift. That's why I needed my limb enhancers. I can't do anything without them"

"That shouldn't stop you from trying" Steven said in earnest.

"Steven, I won't be able to protect you in this form" Peridot said, dejectedly. "I'll just be a liability and get in the way. You obviously couldn't understand what that feels like"

"Um….yes, I can?" Steven answered, honestly. "I mess up and get in the way all the time. You guys are always the ones to bail be out of trouble. So now, you can just let me bail you out of jail"

"But even if we get out of this cell, we don't stand a chance against Onyx. He's too strong"

"Then we don't have to fight him just yet" Steven replied. "He doesn't know I'm out. And when we find Jasper and Lapis, the three of you can fuse together and form a super-giant woman

Peridot winced again and the atmosphere in the cell became even colder, as Steven quickly realised he had unintentionally hit another sore spot.

"That's not going to work either" Peridot said quietly.

"Why not?" Steven asked.

Peridot sighed, rubbing her eyes and when she spoke her words were belaboured and angry. "Because I can't fuse. I've never been able to successfully do fusion before. It's hard to accept I know, but even for someone as great as me, there some things even I can't do"

"Then don't think about what you can't do" Steven said, still sounding as motivational as ever. "Think about what you can do. There's like a million things I can't do either. But I still figured out how to get out of the cell. Even if it's a little bit, I still wanna help anyway I can, because I know I'm supposed to be selfless all the time for the sake of other people"

"Oh, Steven, that's really touching" Peridot said, sweetly. "And also kind of unhealthy. "

"I'll worry about that part later" Steven said dismissively, refusing to get off topic. "Please, Peridot. I overhead them saying this ship heading for Homeworld. And you're the only one smart enough to get to the bridge and figure a way to fly us back home."

"That's technically true," Peridot said, nodding in agreement. "But without my limb enhancers, I don't know if…"

Steven reached out and grasped Peridot's hand in his own, not realising that he was touching her hand for the very time in his life.

"Even if you don't have your limb enhancers, you're still the same Peridot and you can still do the one thing you're best at. Fixing problems. You're always the one coming up solutions. And you never quit no matter how hard the problem is. And I'll be there to lend a hand in case you get stuck"

Steven smiled warmly at Peridot. Peridot pulled her hand away from Steven and turned her back to him. She began pace up and down the cell, with her hand over her over her chin, occasionally stopping every few second while making a slight humming noise in her throat, appearing thoughtful as though weighing any number of options in her mind.

"Maybe it's not totally impossible" she said, finally. "If you can us out of the cell, and if I can figure out how to navigate this ship, we could, at least hypothetically, make it back to Earth". A wide grin broke on Peridot's face as she turned to face Steven again, showing every bit of her usual self-confidence. "Between my expert mechanical knowledge and your expert….Steven knowledge, maybe we do still have a chance! We can fix this mess together!"

Steven smiled again at Peridot and embraced her in another hug, pleased to see her back to her usually productive self, knowing they could fix this situation no matter the odds. As he detached from her, Peridot quickly cleared her throat, adopting a more serious and stern expression.

"But you have to hold my hand the whole time"

"That's ok with me" Steven replied happily. Taking Peridot by the hand, he walk back to force field, placing the length of his arm underneath the electric current, creating a small gap for Peridot to safely step through, before he joined her on the other side of the cell.

"Ok, we're out" Peridot said, glancing up and down the corridor, which appeared to be empty save for the two of them. "Now, the next step is to find the bridge"

"Onyx told Pearl to meet him at the bridge. I saw her go down this way." Steven said, pointing in one direction of the corridor.

"Alright, let's go" Peridot said, nodding in agreement.

Steven and Peridot sped down the corridor, while trying to move as stealthily as possible. They were soon passing along the door which Steven knew lead into the circular chamber he had seen earlier, when Steven suddenly heard a familiar set of voices coming from inside, forcing him to skid to a halt, realising only now that he had completely forgotten about them.

"I guess, this is really it then, isn't it?" Ruby said, sadly.

"I know that it doesn't seem fair" Sapphire said, her voice strained, holding back emotion. "After everything that happened, but maybe it's for the best"

"It's Ruby and Sapphire." Steven whispered, turning back to the doorway. "We gotta to help them"

"Steven, we don't have time for-WAH!" Peridot yelped as she felt Steven abruptly drag her by the arm with oblivious strength and ease, her feet skidded along the floor desperately trying in vain to prevent Steven back from entering the room as he sprinted toward Ruby and Sapphire, who were standing in front of one another next to the crimson tower of glass, holding each other's hands.

"I'm really going to miss you" Ruby said quietly, squeezing Sapphire's hand tightly. She then forced a very strained smile. "And who knows, maybe we'll see each other around some time. That's still possible, isn't it?"

"Let's not worry about the future right now" Sapphire said soothingly, caressing Ruby's cheek with her other hand. "For once, I don't want to think about what comes next. Let's just enjoy this moment together. There's only one possible thing that could ruin this for us"

"Ruby, Sapphire!" Steven exclaimed, running up next to them with Peridot in tow.

"Oh, we're so cracked" Sapphire said, deadpanned

"What are you guys doing here?!" Ruby cried, jumping at the sight of Steven and Peridot

"We got out and now we're here to save you" Steven replied, entirely certain that Peridot shared his feelings on this subject as well, despite the fact she currently pulling madly at his arm in an effort to drag him out of the room, undeterred by the fact she was unable to make him budge so much as an inch.

"Please, we don't need any saving." Sapphire said, her voice rising fearfully.

"We just got off the hook" Ruby said, looking around the room in panic. "We can't risk doing anything to get us in more trouble"

"But Onyx said you two were gonna be split up. You can't possibly be ok with that"

Ruby grimaced painful and rubbed her arm. Sapphire maintained her posture, yet shards of icicles were forming underneath the helm of her skirt.

"It doesn't matter what we feel" Sapphire said, as apathic as ever. "We just need to forget about it."

"Yeah….we should totally forget about all it" Ruby muttered, sounding as though she couldn't have possibly been further away from the concept of joy.

"But that's just wrong!" Steven exclaimed, distraught at what he was hearing, while still not even noticing Peridot digging her feet into the floor as she pulled furiously at his arm. "Onyx can't force you to be apart"

"He's trying to help save us from a worse fate" Sapphire said, her voice rising slightly. "Even if this hurts right now, it's worth it, so long as Ruby will be…I mean, so we can be safe". Ruby groaned wearily, burying her face into her hands.

"But isn't what you feel for each other worth it too?" Steven asked. "Isn't Garnet worth it?"

Ruby and Sapphire briefly turned to look at one another, but then turned away just as quickly, neither of them willing to answer Steven's question. The silence was broken as Peridot let out an exhausted groan, finally giving up in her attempts to pull Steven out of the room.

"Steven, please we need to go" she said, desperately.

"No one is going anyway"

Everyone in the room froze with horror and turned to the entrance of the chamber as Black Onyx strolled into the room, glaring intensely at Steven. Ruby immediately grabbed Sapphire by the arm and hurriedly pulled her to the other side of the room, getting as far from Steven and Peridot as possible.

"I don't know how you got out of your cell" Onyx said, standing from across the chamber. "But there is no escape for you Rose Quartz. I defeated you once and it'll be no achievement to do it again"

"Please, listen to me, I'm not Rose, ok?" Steven said, gesturing with his hands for extra emphasis. "I'm Steven. Ste-van"

"You can call yourself whatever you want, I honestly don't care" Onyx said coldly. "It's still not going to save you"

Realizing that trying to explain himself would be pointless, Steven opted for the next best thing, taking a step forward, moving in front of Peridot. "Look I care what you do to me, just don't hurt my friends"

No sooner had Steven said this, Peridot pushed past him and ran out into the middle of the chamber, standing between him and Onyx.

"If you want to get to Steven, you'll have to go through me first!" she said fiercely, spreading her arms out wide.

"Peridot Facet-2F5L Cut-5XG, stand down" Onyx said, quite calmly. "I have no desire to harm you"

Peridot momentarily balked at that statement, before she let out a loud, derisive scoff. "Oh, I'm sorry, I must have totally misjudged your subtle intentions when you were swinging that giant sword at us! And just in case my inflections are too convincing for you, that was sarcasm!"

Onyx paused for a moment, with a brief look of uncertainty. "I…still don't know what that means. But my main intention was to eliminate the two traitors, Jasper and Lapis Lazuli. The question now is, are you a traitor, Peridot?"

Onyx pulled a small, spherical device from inside his cloak and pressed a button on its side. A holographic screen projected out from the sphere, showing an image of Peridot's crash spaceship in the middle of the jungle.

"Despite your interference, Pearl and Amethyst were able to recover enough data from your ship's archives for me to run a background check. My research showed that this ship and the Peridot that it was assigned to went missing roughly 5000 years ago, meaning that you arrived on Earth after the war had concluded."

Onyx pressed the sphere again. The screen changed to display jumbled image of a desperate and frightened looking Peridot speaking directly into the camera, her words cut off by random intervals of static.

"This is Peridot Facet-2F5L Cut-5XG ….I'm stranded on the abandoned Earth colony…..this planet is….highly dangerous and I need immediate extraction…..someone, anyone please help…."

The recording had ended, the holographic display retracting back into the sphere in Onyx hand, before he placed it back inside his cloak. Peridot averted her eyes down to one corner of the floor, looking much like a person who had just been forced to relive a compromising and shameful moment from their past.

"I only could decipher some partial log files" Onyx continued. "But I saw enough to surmise that after you had been stranded on Earth, you must have eventually joined together with Rose Quartz and the Crystal Gems, either for your own protection or because you had nowhere else to go. Until now"

"What do you-?" Peridot said, looking up at Onyx, confused.

"I am offering to take you back to Homeworld with me" Onyx said. "You haven't committed any serious crime as of yet. If you stand now and come back with me willingly, I will see that you be exempt from any punishment, you'll be reassigned to your original post and be given a new set of limb enhancers."

Onyx paused, likely waiting to see what kind of reaction his offered would create. "Consider what your next decision carefully. You are a Peridot, so use your logic. You have no chance of beating me, no Gem does. You've seen what I can do. The Crystal Gems cannot stand against the might of Homeworld. And when once they learn that Rose Quartz still lives, nothing will protect you from their wrath. This is the only way to save yourself."

Peridot said nothing, as she appeared to be weighing in everything Onyx had just said, but there was clear sense of desire in her expression that suggested she was tempted. Steven glanced back and forth between Onyx and Peridot.

"Peridot?" he whispered, feeling an uneasy twinge of certainty as he waited for her to respond, not entirely sure what she would say anymore.

"Come home, Peridot" Onyx said, offering his hand in the air. "Simply step aside and everything will be alright. I give you my word that I will vouch on your behalf. Isn't that what you want?"

Still, Peridot said nothing, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor, until finally she took a deep breath, speaking in a soft whisper. "I want… to go home"

Steven's felt his heart sink, realising that Peridot had made her decision, and for a fleeting moment he truly lost all sense of hope. Luckily the moment was fleeting. Had this newfound feeling of despair carried any longer, then Steven would have been certain that he misheard Peridot when she spoke again.

"And the Earth is my home!" Peridot exclaimed boldly, pointing an angry finger at Onyx. "So how about your turn this stupid ship around and take us back, you overcooked, poorly designed, insufferable-triple-mega clod!"

Steven raised his head up and burst into an ecstatic smile, never having been so happy to hear Peridot insult someone before. Ruby and Sapphire appeared completely shocked, both looking at Onyx at with terrified expressions.

Onyx made no immediate reaction, other than to narrow his eyes very slightly as he glared down at Peridot. "Do you have the slightest idea who I am?"

"Pff! I don't care who you are." Peridot sneered, with no trace of fear present. "I care who I am! I'm a Crystal Gem. I'm Peridot! I can fix anything. And I'm not going to just stand by while you destroy everything and everyone that I care about. So, I'm not going to move. I won't back down because…"

Peridot glanced back to Steven, smiling at him with pride and satisfaction. "Because what it is worth it. My friends are worth. And I'm worth it. So, go ahead" Peridot said, her voice dropping to a low whisper, clenching her fists as she held her head up high. "Do your worst"

Onyx regarded Peridot for a long moment, with something that might have been disappointment. "If that's your final word"

In flash of light, Onyx pulled his sword out from within gemstone and slammed the edge of the blade down against the floor, creating a small gash in the solid metal. Raising the sword, he marched toward Peridot, who closed her eyes and braced herself, ready to accept whatever was about to come. Steven, however, was certainly not ready.

"No!" Steven ran forward and wrapped his arms around Peridot's neck, embracing her in tight, unrelenting hug.

"Steven, get away!" Peridot cried, trying to push him away, as Onyx now raised his sword aloft, preparing to strike at them both. "You have to be the one to save the others!"

"I can't, not without you!" Steven cried, shutting his eyes tightly, tears beginning to trail down his checks, refusing to let go of Peridot. "You said we'd fix this mess together, so let's do it together then!"

Peridot sniffed slightly, her own eyes beginning to water as though she could not believe what she had just heard. "Whoa…"

In that moment, two things happened at the same time. First Onyx brought his sword upon where Peridot and Steven were standing, smashing down into the metal floor. The second was a massive explosion of light that enveloped the area where Onyx had struck, momentarily blinding him. Once the light had disappeared, Onyx watched in confusion as both Peridot and Steven had vanished from where they had been standing, leaving nothing but a huge slash in the floor.

Glancing up again, Onyx saw a tiny orb of light the size of a tennis ball, bouncing up and down across the floor. In a split second, the orb took shape and with small popping sound, transformed into a strange, four armed figure, wearing Steven's trademark pink shirt, which was clearly too large for their body, falling down past their waistline, the helm of each shelve was big enough for the extra pair of skinny arms sticking through it. The figure's legs appeared identical to Peridot's, their skin a much lighter, pale green colour. Their hair appeared as string of five little brown balls of puff lined up together in the shape of an uneven triangle, and a pair of goggles that covered their two sets of eyes. The Gem landed down the floor, with a brief look of surprise, as they snapped their goggles on to their lower eyes, taking the moment to survey their own body.

"Ok, how in the heck did that just happen?" The Gem tapped the triangle shaped gemstone on their forehead and pulled up their oversized shirt to see a second gemstone on their belly. A broad grin formed on their face. "Oh, of course they fused together! With all their combined skill, hard work, charisma, raw talent and natural good looks, there could be only one possible outcome: me! Alright, Black Onyx, prepare to face the wrath of…uh, Prasiolite! Yeah, that'll work!"

Prasiolite grinned devilishly at Onyx, eager to do battle and achieve nothing short of victory. Onyx, who was momentarily caught off guard by this unexpected occurrence, soon composed himself again and bent his neck forward slightly as he stared down at his new opponent, who just barely reached up past Onyx ankles. Somehow, Steven and Peridot's combined height had resulted in an even smaller Fusion.

From the far end of the room, both Ruby and Sapphire watched with a mixture of disbelief and amazement as Prasiolite faced off against Onyx without a hint of fear. Neither of them seemed to be aware of the fact they had been holding each other's hand for quite some time now.

Without pause for conversation, Onyx twirled his sword in his hand, before striking down at Prasiolite once again, appearing to obliterate them in a single hint.

"Did you get them?" Prasiolite squeaked, popping up behind Onyx's ankle. "Did you? Did you, did you, did you? Oh wait no. Looks like you missed by like huge margin"

Moving just as fast, Onyx swung his backhand, grazing the floor as he swiped at Prasiolite who casually flipped up in the air, holding their hands behind their head, with a look of complete relaxation.

"Hey, maybe instead of swinging where I am, you should swing where I'm going to be?"

As Prasiolite landed to the floor, a small green bubble that appeared at the base of their feet, acting like a cushion. Balancing themselves perfectly on the tiny sphere, Prasiolite began to roll along on top of the bubble, like a train circus performer, circling around Onyx, their mouth beginning to run at full speed as they were not even pausing to take a breath in the middle of their increasingly rapid speech.

"You know I gotta admit, this ship is pretty impressive. Say, where's the bridge, I think I might go there. You know check the view, mess with your seat settings, steer us back to Earth. Life's short. I gotta live a little. I mean I just started existing like two minutes ago. I wanna try some stuff. Hey, do you have a cup holder at the bridge? If there's not, can I put one in? Oh, oh, can this ship do loop de loops in the air? I wanna try one!"

Onyx grunted as he swung again and again at Prasiolite who jumped and flipped over his blade, dodging each attack with ease and landing back on their ball without breaking the pace in their momentum as they continued circling around Onyx.

"Oh, I get it, I'm being rude. Here I am talking all about me, but what about you? I actually don't really know that much about you, Mr Onyx. Hey, you wanna take the next eleven minutes to exposit your whole backstory to me and then maybe we can find some common ground, have an arc about healing unhealthy mindsets and ultimately grow more as people? Personally, I think that be way better than us have a typical by the books, climactic, high octane, big budget, duel for the fate of the universe showdown. Which I would totally win of course but that's beside the poi-"

Prasiolite was finally forced to stop talking when a dark shimmer appeared around their body, holding them in position. Now that his target was held in place, Onyx pulled back his sword.

"Hold. Still" he said.

Onyx brought his sword down upon Prasiolite, but in the moment before the blade made contact, two orbs of light appeared in the middle of the air, converging right between Onyx and Prasiolite, and a second later, the only thing that Onyx sword hit was a pair of rock-solid gauntlets. Onyx gaped in surprise as Garnet pushed him back. Garnet turned to Prasiolite, who was now free of the dark shimmer and able to move freely once again.

"Go help your friends!" Garnet said. "I'll hold him off"

"You got it!" Prasiolite exclaimed, saluting Garnet. Garnet returned the gesture with a thumbs up, watching with a smile as Prasiolite scurried off, jumping onto the nearest wall, ripping off a panel of metal and disappearing inside of the wiring. Garnet then tuned back to face Onyx who glared at her with fury.

"What do you two think you are doing? Get out of my way"

"No" Garnet said, simply. "I'm not backing down, not this time."

"Have you both lost your minds?" Onyx snapped, angrily. "This is treason. Think about what you are doing. Every Gem exists to serve a purpose. A Ruby is a guard. A Sapphire is a diplomatic. But this form has no function. You have no reason to exist"

"I have the only reason that matters" Garnet said. "I'm tired of running and I'm tired of hiding. This is who we are together, and I won't like you take that away from us. Not without a fight"

Onyx furrowed his brow, before letting out a long and frustrated sounding sigh.

"You are not my enemy" he said, flipping his sword around and thrusting the tip of it into the floor, leaving it to stand there. Onyx raised his empty hands in the air, as though in a gesture of diplomacy, as he tried to maintain control of the situation. "I do not want to fight you. We can still correct this. Just step aside. You are making a huge mistake"

"I am not a mistake" Garnet said, shaking her head, a strange, peaceful smile forming on her lips. "I never was. I see that now. I am made of love. And it's stronger than you!"

Raising her gauntlet in the air, Garnet charged forward and punched Onyx across the face, his head rolling back with the hit as she made contact. Garnet pulled her arm and for a moment did nothing as Onyx remained frozen in that same position as if he had become a statue. His lack of a response seemed to unsettling Garnet as much as if he had outright retaliated. Just as Garnet began to tether on what to do next, Onyx slowly turned his head back to face he with a look of pure, unyielding rage.

"Uh-oh" Garnet said, suddenly expecting a great of pain.

Moving with blinding speed and hitting with impossible force, Onyx struck Garnet with the back of his hand, sending her flying across the room, her body breaking against the wall. Garnet groaned, feeling the wind thoroughly knocked out of her, struggling to find her feet again as Onyx slowly approached her.

"No Gem is stronger than me" he said with cold fury. "If this is only way to make you understand, then so be it"

---

In another part of the ship, Lapis screamed loudly as she continued to throw her fist at the force field, each time her hands disintegrating upon contact with the field and reforming as she pulled away. Yet no matter how times this happened, Lapis continued to strike at the field, determined to break free, refusing to acknowledge the futility of her own actions. She summoned her water wings and struck at the field, but they too had no effect whatsoever.

Jasper was in the cell across from Lapis, sitting curled up the wall. Unlike Lapis, she was making no attempt to break out, instead looking thoroughly dejected and miserable, resigning herself to whatever fate had in store for them.

"What is wrong you?" Lapis said angrily, finally pausing in relentless assault of the force field. "Are you really just going to sit there? We need to escape!"

Jasper said nothing, not ever turning to look at Lapis as she continued to yell at her desperately. "Jasper, come on! Steven and Peridot need us!"

"There's no point" Jasper muttered quietly. "Even if we could escape, there's no way we can win. Not against that monster"

"So, that's it?" Lapis snapped, sounding even more furious. "You're just going to give up?!"

Jasper leaned back against the wall, staring up to the ceiling of her cell, resting her arms on her knees. "All my life, I was either the strongest Gem or I followed the strongest Gem. I followed Rose because she was the strongest Quartz ever. After she was gone, I thought I needed to be the one that others could follow because I was the strongest. Not anymore." Jasper grimaced, clenching her fist tightly, as though her own words were like bile in her mouth as she said them. "I… can't beat Black Onyx. There's nothing else I can do except to bow to that strength"

"Oh, give me a break!"

Jasper was brought out of her melancholy state when she heard a voice that was obviously not Lapis. She turned in surprise and saw Amethyst standing in front of her cell, arms crossed, looking both angry and disgusted.

"What do you want?" Jasper grunted. "Come to gloat, have you?"

Amethyst did not appear to want to gloat. If anything, she looked as though she had even more right to unhappy with Jasper than Lapis did.

"What's the matter with you?" she said. "How can you just sit there and feel sorry for yourself? You're really gonna let Onyx just walk all over you like that?"

Jasper gave no response, except to arch an eyebrow at Amethyst, not entirely sure what the smaller Gem was hoping to achieve by having this conversation with her.

"You don't get to whine at the mouth like that after you beat me!" Amethyst said angrily. " o, it's not enough that you had to humiliate me, now you think you can also upstage me by acting like the biggest disappointment on this ship? Well, too bad, cos that's still me. By a million miles!"

"Leave me alone" Jasper said, rolling over on her side so that her back was facing Amethyst.

"You lose one little fight and suddenly you act like it's the end of the world?"

"Like you could do any better" Jasper muttered

"I have done better" Amethyst snapped. "I fought Onyx too. And I knocked him flat on his butt!"

Jasper finally turned back to Amethyst, looking at her with an expression of disbelief and perhaps some slight intrigue. "No way"

"Yeah way!" Amethyst replied, nodding excitedly. "Onyx was looking for Quartz soldiers who had been made on Earth and held contest to pick out the best ones. He spared with a bunch of us and in the end, he chose me for the mission because out of all the Quartz, I was the only who managed to knock him on his butt"

"Seriously?" Jasper said, smirking slightly as she held back a small chuckle. "Like on his actual butt?"

"Uh, yeah!" Amethyst said, a wide, eager smile on face as if she had been waiting for any opportunity to bring up this story. "You wouldn't believe. At first, I couldn't believe it, then I thought, oh curd, I'm so getting shattered for this, but then he said the Earth is the most unpredictable planet in the galaxy, I'll need a Gem with unpredictable qualities for this mission. And that was me! You should have seen the look on the other Quartz soldiers' faces. They were totally freaking out!"

Jasper chuckled again, regarding Amethyst with a look of mild scepticism. "Wow, they must have been pretty lame Quartz soldiers if you were the only one to win"

"Guess that means you have something else in common with them" Amethyst replied dryly, before sticking her tongue out at Jasper, who snarled back at her through the force field.

Lapis watched from her in cell in silence as the two Quartz gems who had tried to kill each other not an hour ago had now begun to talk and banter with one together as if they were old friends. Under normal circumstance, this would almost be a rather endearing albeit usual sight, if not for the fact there were literal lives currently on the line.

"Amethyst, you've got to let us out, please!" Lapis said, interrupting her. "Jasper, tell her to let us out"

"Don't tell me what to do" Amethyst snarled, glaring daggers at Lapis

"Can you open our cells?" Jasper asked, in a surprisingly more placid and unenthusiastic tone than Lapis.

"Sure, but I'm not gonna." Amethyst replied indifferently, crossing her arms. "Why would I?"

"If we escape, then maybe you could come with us back to Earth" Lapis suggested. "You were made there, right, just like Jasper? Look I know you must be scared of Homeworld, but you can't let that-"

"I'm not scared of anything" Amethyst snapped heatedly. "And I don't want to help because I don't want to have to hear anybody else tell me about how badly I screw everything up."

"Uh…?" Lapis glanced at Jasper, realising that this might have gone to a different tangent as Amethyst continued her tirade.

"It's always the same thing. Ever since I popped out of the ground, everybody has always been saying how wrong I am, that I was so useless. But Onyx gave me my mission. He gave me a chance to prove myself and to be something more than what I was. And I then I go and messed up everything. Now he's probably gonna send back to Holly Blue". Amethyst scrunched her face in frustration at the mention of that name, angrily kicking her foot against the floor. "What are the rest of them going to say after I get sent back? They'll think I'm a disappointment too. I'm just so sick of people telling how horrible I am. And I am sick of being told what to do."

"Quit, your whining" Jasper said, leaning her back against the cell wall, looking sour. "Honestly, I'm sick of being in charge. Look where that got all of us. All my power and I can accomplish nothing worthwhile with it. I wouldn't mind having someone to order me around again"

Amethyst stared at Jasper, looking at her as though she had said something offensive and beyond reproach. Before any more words could be exchanged, there was a loud beeping noise emanating from a small circular device attached to Amethyst waist, followed by Onyx own voice speaking loud and clear inside the corridor.

"Amethyst, the prisoners have escaped their cells. Pearl is at the bridge. I need to you to go there at once to protect her and defend the bridge until I arrive, do you understand? Amethyst, respond"

Amethyst held up the spherical communicator, listening as Onyx continued to bark at her for a reply. Then, Amethyst threw the sphere to floor and smashed it under her foot. She then placed her hand on the panel next to Jasper's cell, deactivating the force field. Surprised, Jasper step out from her cell.

"You can go be Onyx's new favourite Quartz for all I care" Amethyst muttered bitterly to Jasper. "Me? I'm done taking orders"

The force field in front Lapis cell deactivated as well, allowing her to join Jasper and Amethyst in the corridor.

"Thank you" Lapis said gratefully to Amethyst

Amethyst turned around to Lapis, looking rather surprised at the sight of her. "For what?"

Lapis ignored Amethyst and turned to Jasper. "Onyx said that the prisoners had escaped. That must be Steven and Peridot. We have to find them"

"Wait" Jasper said, grabbing Lapis by the arm as she was fully intent on taking off down the corridor. "We should head to the bridge and see if we can steer this ship back to Earth. That's our safest bet"

"If you want to get to the bridge, follow the path here and take the third corridor on the left" Amethyst said, turning her back on the two Gems. "I'm not helping you any more than that"

"Where are you going to go?" Jasper asked.

"Wherever I want" Amethyst replied in a low whisper, before she took off, leaving Jasper and Lapis behind as she ran down the corridor and out of sight.

---

"Amethyst, I said respond!" Onyx bellowed into the spherical device in his hand, expecting Amethyst to reply back any moment, yet she did not. Furious, Onyx stowed his communicator away, getting back to the task at hand, as Garnet came at him once again, her gauntlets swinging, striking him twice in the chest and once in the abdomen. Onyx barely even flinched from her blows and quickly followed up with his own attack. However, Garnet ducked her head to side, dodging Onyx punch by less than an inch and used the opening to hit him with another quick jab in his side.

The two Gems continued with their exchange. Garnet dancing around Onyx, dodging, blocking or parrying his blows, intercepting each one with impossible precision, predicating where each one would come from, and then using whatever opening she could to hit back.

But fight was taking its toll. Garnet appeared ragged, her clothes ripped, more and more cracks appearing on her gauntlets every time she hit Onyx, while Onyx looked to be more agitated than wounded over the course of the battle, barely showing any sign of fatigue or pain. Garnet's movements soon became more lethargic and was unable to dodge as Onyx gave her a powerful kick in her abdomen, sending spiralling across the room. Shaking violently, Garnet stood up and took up another stance, her visor now split down the middle. Refusing to give up, she charged at Onyx once again.

"Enough"

Onyx brandished his hand at Garnet; a dark shimmer of energy forming around his palm and a second later Garnet toppled down to the floor at his feet, her body surrounded by the same darkness that acted like a unbearable weight, pinning to the floor. Garnet struggled to push herself back up but was unable to shake off the dark shimmer. Although Garnet seemed completely immobile, Onyx did not seem to be finished just yet, clenching his palm tightly, the dark energy around his fist intensifying like a small flame.

"I said enough!"

Garnet let out a howl of agony as she felt the force of the crushing pressure doubled down on her body, the floor starting to crack underneath her, until finally, her strength gave out and her body reverted back into light, splitting apart into the two Gems who made up her form. Both Ruby and Sapphire were now lying sprawled out on the floor, Ruby flat on her stomach, Sapphire on her side, neither of them moving, their gem embedded hands barely an inch from the other.

Apparently satisfied, Onyx unclenched his fist, dark shimmer disappearing from his hand as he turned on his heel and began to walk toward the doorway. Onyx was so confident in his success, so sure that he had won, he didn't bother taking a second glance behind him. If he had, he would have seen Ruby and Sapphire slowly reach out and clasped each other's open hand, becoming whole once more.

Onyx stopped and wheeled around, looking astonished as he saw Garnet reformed and rising to her feet once more, still battered and torn beyond belief, yet remained standing, nonetheless.

"How….how can you still have the strength to maintain that form?" he asked, gaping at the Fusion For the a moment, he appeared truly dumbfounded, as though he had never seen anything like Garnet before.

"I don't understand, if you just did as you were told you wouldn't have to endure all this pain and humiliation" Onyx said. There was no hint of mockery or contempt in his voice, as he held Garnet's gaze, but rather a kind of admiration, mingled with confusion. "How can you still keep going despite everything you've been through?"

"Because… I am feeling" Garnet said, gazing down at the two gemstones in her palms. "Everything they care about is what I am. And I am proud of who I am. I am here and I am not going anywhere no matter what you say. So, go ahead, do your worse. If you think can that is"

Onyx glowered dangerously at Garnet. He raised his right hand in the air and there came a loud creaking of metal as his sword pulled itself free out from the floor, flying straight to his hand.

"I will do what I have to" Onyx said, taking up a stance with his sword, the tip of the blade pointed at Garnet. "Stand down now. Final warning."

Without any hint of fear, Garnet grinned, forming her up gauntlets and raising them aloft. "Make me"

She charged once again at Onyx. Sword still raised, Onyx flung his free hand out, creating another coat of darkness around Garnet's body just as he as he did previously, but before it could immobilize her completely, Garnet's form suddenly turned back into light as she split apart into separate blobs, breaking free from the dark shimmer. Onyx had only enough time to register a brief look of shock, as Sapphire flew right over his head, while Ruby skidded across the floor going underneath his legs. Ruby then turned to catch Sapphire in her arms as she landed, the two of them fusing back together in an instant to become Garnet once more. Onyx spun around, swinging his arm wide, but Garnet ducked beneath his blade and thrust her open palms into his chest. A second later, her gauntlet shot off her arms like a literally pair of rockets, propelling Onyx away from her, his feet skidding over the floor until he crashed into the crimson tower of glass in the centre of the chamber.

Onyx quickly recovered and took a run at Garnet but came to an abrupt halt just as a yellow coloured force field shot up out from the floor, inches in front of his face. Surprised, Onyx threw his hand at the barrier and grunted in pain as his hand disintegrated on contact with the field, reforming again as he pulled away.

Garnet regarded the now trapped Gem with a deadpanned expression as her normal hands reforming in place of her gauntlets. "I wouldn't trying get out of there were I you" she warned, briefly adjusting her visor. "It's really not going to do you any favours"

And with that final word, Garnet sped toward the doorway and exited the chamber, leaving Onyx trapped in his newfound prison.

---

The hexagonal shaped door to the bridge was blown off its hinges, courtesy of Jasper charging into the room like a bull, followed closely by Lapis flying in behind her, formed her wings into a set of fists and she stood back to back with Jasper. They glanced around the room, expecting there to be some kind of resistance, but all they found was a large throne like chair in the centre of the floor, surrounded by a chain of computer terminals and screens.

"There's no one here" Lapis said, dissipating her wings.

"Incorrect!"

Jasper and Lapis practically jumped in surprise as a piece of metal popped off the front most terminal and a small green coloured Gem hopped out to greet them. With a mixture of disbelief and caution, Jasper and Lapis approaching terminal, lowering themselves down to get a proper look at the tiny Gem in front of them, who somehow invoked a different feeling of familiarity between them.

"Steven?" Jasper said, slowly

"Peridot?" Lapis said, surprised.

"Correct and equally wrong!" the small Gem replied. "It's Prasiolite. Funny story, I was about to set you free, but then I realised you were already out of your cells and on your way here. I should have expected no less from my seasoned teammates. Now stop pestering me, I need to concentrate. This is delicate work"

Returning their attention to the computer terminal, Prasiolite wiggled their fingers in excitement, before they scurried along its surface, moving in all directions at incredible speed. Prasiolitle's hand began to move so fast they became literal blurs as they dismantled the terminal, ripping apart the metal and wring with ease, reshaping the complex machinery in matter of seconds. Once they finished, the surface of the terminal was now nothing a smooth sheet of metal with a single, shiny red button resting in the centre. With a slightly maniacal laugh, Prasiolite pressed the red button. There was a small clicking sound and hatch opened on the underside of the terminal as small metal hoop came jutting out of it.

"What is that?" Jasper asked.

"A cupholder!" Prasiolitle said, beaming proudly at their success. "I just installed it"

Jasper stared at the newly christened upholder, evidently not sharing in Prasiolite's sense of achievement. "…Why did you build that?"

"To hold cups" Prasiolitle replied simply.

"But there are no cups here" Lapis said slowly, taking a cautionary glanced around the room.

"Well, why would they have cups when there was no cupholder?" Prasiolite asked, not seeing the least bit of logic in Lapis' question.

"Stop talking about cupholders!" Jasper snapped, losing what little patience she had left. "Can you get us back to Earth?"

"Oh, we're already on the way" Prasiolite said, nonchalantly. They pressed a single button on the adjacent terminal, activating a dozen computer screen projections, one of which showed an encroaching image of the Earth's surface.

"I sorted that out like ten minutes. We should be landing shortly. I also, with the help of my good friend Garnet, managed to trap Onyx in a destabilization field, so we won't have to worry about him anymore." Another screen now showed Onyx pacing back and forth inside of a yellow column of energy. The screen to immediate right of that image showed what happened to be a small object launching out from the side of the ship, flying down to the surface of the Earth.

"Looks we have all our bases covered" Prasiolite said, happily. "Although I am a little concerned about this strangely high energy output coming from the ship's engine"

"Strange how?" Jasper asked, already getting a bad feeling.

"Well, after I programmed the ship take us back home, a warning display appeared. Seems like one of the ship's three main power regulators was malfunctioning and the ship couldn't distribute the nesscessary power to from the main engine. So, I fixed this problem by deactivating the limiters on the remaining two power regulators, doubling their power output in order to compensate! But it looks that may also had the side effect of burning out the regulators, thereby overloading the ship engines. Which are now going to explode"

Lapis and Jasper stared at Prasiolite, both of them looking aghast

"Why didn't you fix it?!" Jasper demanded.

"I was busy putting in the cupholder" Prasiolite said with a shrug, clearly not registering the same level of urgency as Jasper and Lapis. Jasper looked as though she had to suppress a powerful urge to do something very painful to Prasiolite, likely by reminding herself this Fusion was at least one half of Steven.

Prasiolite smiled pleasantly back at the two of them. "But don't worry. By my calculations, I should be able to fix this new problem in exactly…."

There was suddenly a loud booming noise and violent tremor rocked the ship, throwing everyone off balance, as every screen turned to statics and a loud alarm began to blare.

"Less time than what we have" Prasiolite finished calmly, still smiling. At that moment, Garnet appeared in the ruined doorway.

"This whole ship is about to go!" she cried. Garnet quickly rushed to over Prasiolite, ignoring the wary looks of surprise Jasper and Lapis were giving her. Another explosion ship, which was now tilting downward, the full force of the downward acceleration in effect.

"Everyone, huddle!" Jasper shouted. Wasting no more time, she outstretched both her arms, pulling both Lapis and Garnet into a tight embrace, as they all kneeled down the floor, bracing for the inevitable impact. Prasiolite briskly hopped off the terminal and perched themselves on top of Jasper's head. After making sure they were comfortable, they snapped their fingers and a second later a huge green bubble formed around the entire party. Everyone opened their eyes and stared at the bubble incredulously.

"Didn't I mention I could do that?" Prasiolite asked, innocuously

---

In the circular chamber, Onyx paced up and down along inside the force field, methodically scanning every inch of it as if trying to discover some means of escape. He stopped and clenched his hand, a brief shimmer of dark energy forming around his fist. For a moment it seemed as though he was going to blast his way through the force field but then hesitated as he glanced back at the crimson glass tower behind him, still brimming with the unknown red substance. Onyx lowered his hand, the dark energy disappearing from his palm.

Onyx rubbed his chin, looking frustrated by the impossibility of his predicament. He paced the tip of his finger inside the force field, watching as it was erased by the yellow, electrical current. Onyx furrowed his brow with a look of concentration as the tip of his finger began to reform and maintain a stable shape within the field, though only for a brief moment as it continued to flicker and break apart. Onyx pulled his finger away from the field and examined it carefully as it fully reformed. Onyx then remained still for another short while.

Finally, after taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders, Onyx stepped forward and walked straight into the force field, the electric energy washing down over his shoulders and onto his body like a waterfall. His body contorted and arch backwards as it appeared to disintegrate within the field, leaving nothing but his gemstone hovering in the air. But the gemstone glowed brightly as light seemed to force its way back out, creating the vague outline of what was once Onyx's own body. For a brief moment, he appeared much like a ghost, a distorted blob of static.

Then with a final push, the static blob toppled out from the force field, reforming completely as Onyx once again. After straightening himself as though he had done more than tie a shoelace, Onyx took only a single step forward when his legs suddenly began to wobble and he lost his footing, dropping down to one knee.

A great wave of fatigue struck his body as his breathing became very haggard, as if he had just run a marathon, his body trembling violently, with sweat dripping down from his forehead to the floor as he appeared unable to stand back up again. To Onyx, this was a strange experience to say the least, as he had never once known his body not to move when he willed it to.

Eventually after taking some quick, deep breaths, Onyx appeared to recompose himself, the trembling in his shoulders subsiding. He rose back to his feet, but sooner than he did, the entire ship rock with a powerful and violent tremor. Surprised, Onyx quickly glanced once the tower, which began to crack, streaks of light now beginning to pour out as the red substance glowed brightly.

Moving with a profound sense of urgency, Onyx rushed toward the door leading out of the room but came to an immediate halt just as Pearl walked right through it at the exact same moment. Pearl froze up at the sight of Onyx, who appeared just as surprised to see her.

Before either Gem could try to make sense of what was going on, there was another tremor that rattled the ship. The crimson tower in the centre of the room gave another shudder, fracturing to the breaking point. In that very brief instant before the tower ruptured completely, Onyx grabbed Pearl and pulled her into a tight embrace, curling his arms around her as he kneeled down, just as the glass tower rupture completely, releasing a wave of crimson light as everything was then engulfed in a massive explosion that destroyed the room.

---

In the skies above Beach City, a black coloured sword the sky of a skyscraper came hurtling down from the clouds, the air burning around it as it pierced through the atmosphere, heading toward the Temple. In the brief seconds before the it made landfall, a crimson explosion erupted in the centre of the sword, splitting it half between the blade and the handle. The blade section slammed against the cliffside along the Temple, while the broken handle and pommel crashed down on the beach along the edges of the water, flames spreading out among the wreckage.

Thankfully, since the town have been evacuated, there were no bystanders around that could have been injured from the impact, save for one particular, pink coloured cat who had been patiently waiting where he had been told to. Lion bounded through wreckage of the ship, unafraid of the surrounding flames, his nose raised in the air as he began to sniff about, searching for a familiar scent. He stopped at a large pile of metal and released a mighty roar, blasting the metal away in a burst of pink energy, revealing a green coloured bubble, which had safely shielded Prasiolite, Lapis, Jasper and Garnet from the crash without so much as a scratch.

"Hiya Lion!" Prasiolite greeted, lowering the shield and jumping onto the pink cat's head, giving him a small rub. "Good boy. Well looks like the day has been more or less saved, thanks once again to the Crystal-oh what's that?"

Something small and shiny underneath another piece of wreckage caught Prasiolite eye and they quickly jumped off Lion's head, rushing over to where the mysterious object was buried, digging it out from under the pieces of scrap metal, determined to get on their hands on it

"I still can't believe it. Peridot actually fused!" Lapis said, with an expression of pride, managing a wry chuckle as she watched Prasiolite literally began to zip back and forth across the beach, now collecting other random bits of materials and items that seemed to catch their attention, collating it all into one big pile.

"I can't believe they turned out so puny" Jasper said, sounding as if she was doing her best to appear as unimpressed as possible, watching Prasiolite effortless dragging a huge piece of metal several times their own size.

"I think they're perfect the way they are" Garnet said casually, with a happy smile. Jasper and Lapis both turned to Garnet, looking at her with some reservation, apparently forgetting that she even present.

"So….are we cool now?" Lapis asked, throwing a cautious look at Jasper, who looked to be in half a mind about whether or not she should punch Garnet very hard.

But whatever the group's feeling regarding Garnet were, they would have to wait, as a loud rumbling noise sound drew everyone's attention over to opposite end of the beach as something began to stir and raise up from underneath a huge pile of debris. The broken metal cleared away to reveal Onyx, clutching Pearl tightly to his chest with a single arm around her slim figure. She appeared unharmed, while Onyx had obviously taken the brunt of the damage. His clothing appeared filthy and torn, his shoulder cape in tatters. The hair bun on the back of his head was coming loose, barely holding together, with strands of long black hair falling down the side of his head.

Pulling himself up straight, Onyx released Pearl from his grasp. "Pearl, are you alright?" he asked, with obvious concern, holding her face in his hands as he examined her for any sign of injury.

"Yes, I'm fine" Pearl replied with a slight cough. Onyx glanced widely around the flaming wreckage, with a brief expression of alarm.

"Where is Amethyst? Is she…?!"

"I saw her getting away on one of the escape pods" Pearl said at once. "I was coming to find you when the ship….it all just happened so fast"

Onyx stared down at Pearl, his hands gripping her shoulders so hard she seemed to wince slightly. "You could have been killed. How?" Onyx whispered, hanging his head down low, his voice laden with disgust and contempt. "How could have I allowed this happen? I should have done better than this. I am supposed to be better than this"

"It wasn't… your fault, my Onyx" Pearl said, avoiding his eye, almost shamefully. "You…"

Onyx suddenly pushed Pearl to the side and strolled past her, his eyes now locked onto the Crystal Gems in front of him. "Pearl, stay here and keep out of harm's way. That's an order. I'm finishing this"

"Wait, my Onyx, you're hurt!" Pearl exclaimed. "You can't fight in your condition"

Onyx did not appear to be listening to Pearl as he clenched his fists tightly and continued to march forward. "Nothing has changed" he whispered under his breath, to no one but himself. "This is nothing I can't handle"

From the other beach the Crystal Gems and their allies readied themselves for battle, with the except of Prasiolite, who was too busy tinkering with the giant pile of metal, electronics and wiring that they were amassing. Lion let out a deep growl, lowering his body to the ground as though preparing to leap at a moment's notice. Garnet summoned her gauntlets and slammed them together. Lapis unfurled her wings, raising her fists in the air with a fierce expression. The only one who did not appear eager to fight was Jasper. She watched as Onyx made his way toward them, her face uncharacteristically livid with fear, shivering as though struck by an ominous cold wind, barely even aware of herself as she took a half a step backwards.

Lapis glanced around to Jasper, not looking surprised by her display of hesitancy. Lapis lowered her wings and walked closer to Jasper, offering her hand to her. Jasper did nothing but stare down at Lapis hand, completely taken aback by the gesture.

"What are you-?"

"We have to win this." Lapis said, cold and merciless, her eyes lowered to the ground. "I can't afford hold back this time. I need to let everything out. This is the only way"

Jasper's eyes widened, as she finally seemed to understand what Lapis was asking. "Lapis, I-" Jasper began, but Lapis quickly cut over her.

"I am willing to do this" she said, now looking Jasper right in the eye, and in that instant Jasper knew how serious Lapis truly was. "Please, you're the only one I can do this with"

Jasper stared down at Lapis, with no trace of excitement or eagerness at her proposal. Instead, she simply bowed her head, solemn and respectful as she approached Lapis. "When this is over, I promise, I'll never let you have to go through this again"

Jasper took Lapis' hand and no sooner than she did, the two Gems transformed into pure light and merged together into a massive ball of energy. Garnet and Lion quickly backed away from the glowing orb as it began to expand and take shape. Prasiolite paid absolutely no attention to this new development as they were too busy taking apart a broken Gem Destabilizer.

Onyx stopped walked and craned his neck up, his mouth agape, looking as close to frightened as he may ever had been at the sight of monstrous Gem that had now towered over him. Once she had fully formed, Malachite pulled her head back and roared her head up to the sky, slamming her two fists onto the sand as she bared her fangs Onyx.

"For the last time" she bellowed furiously. "Get. Off. Our. Planet!"

Malachite pulled her head back, summoning Jasper's helmet and swung her body forward, delivering an earth shattering headbutt down to Onyx. There was loud ringing noise like gong being struck as Onyx caught the brunt of Malachite's helmet with both hands. For a moment, he appeared to have halted the attack, but Malachite continued to press down as Onyx began to visible struggle under her weight, eventually taking a knee in the sand. For a moment it looked like Malachite was about to overpower Onyx, but in a sudden burst of strength, he managed to throw Malachite off, her gigantic body slamming against the cliffside.

Pushing herself off the cliff, Malachite thrust her palms forward in the air. On either side of the beach a towering arm of water rose out from the ocean, each hand clenching into a fist as shards of icicle in the shape of pointed cones formed along the knuckles. The two icy clad fists came down upon Onyx from either direction, who quickly raised his palms upwards and created a spiralling vortex of shadows that surrounded his body, acting as shield. The ice knuckles broke apart upon contact with the mass of shadows, the air vibrating strangely as the water broke apart into tiny, practically invisible particles. Onyx then lowered the vortex, momentarily wobbling on his feet, shaking his head as though he was dizzy.

With another roar, Malachite charged forward and swung her gigantic fist directly at Onyx who matched the punch with his own fist, a black coloured shockwave erupting from the point of contact between them. Malachite swung again and again at Onyx who was now swatting away each one of her fists as they came at him, each deflection releasing another burst of the same dark pulse.

Garnet and Lion watched from the side lines as Onyx and Malachite continued to trade blows with one another, while Pearl remained where she was on the opposite side of the beach looking horrified and helpless.

"Not yet" Garnet whispered, rubbing her hand on Lion's mane without even looking, as the pink cat took a step forward to join the fight.

Malachite and Onyx had landed another blow against each other, both combatants knocking themselves back at least ten feet. But they had no intention of stopping as they both pulled their arms back for another punch.

"All done!"

Malachite and Onyx abruptly paused, fists still raised in mid-air, simultaneously turning their heads in the same direction as they heard Prasioilte's voice ring out across the beach. Both Onyx and Malachite had been so absorbed in their battle they didn't notice what Prasioilte had just constructed.

For reasons that may forever remain beyond comprehension, Prasioilte had built a massive and imposing looking cannon, several times the size of the Light Cannon, somehow using the wreckage of Onyx's ship. The cannon was mounted on a four-pronged stand, with a long barrel as thick as tree trunk, a pair of steel pistons sticking out of the backside and a small red laser sight mounted at the end of the cylinder-shaped muzzle, aiming directly at the centre of Onyx chest.

"Um Prasiolite, what is that supposed to do?" Malachite asked.

"I'm curious too!" Prasiolite replied happily, sitting on the main body of the cannon, as they flicked an unnecessarily small switch. The cannon came to life, humming loudly, jets of steams firing out from the sides of the barrel as it the pistons contracted and extended, readying to fire and then….

Pop

That was the only made as the cannon released nothing but a tiny, feeble puff of smoke from the tip of the barrel. Onyx, who appeared completely unharmed just stared at the cannon in confusion. Onyx then slowly looked down to his chest and saw a tiny metal rod in the shape of fork sticking out of him. Before he could even consider what to do next, the rod suddenly released a burst of electricity that enveloping Onyx entire body in less than a second, yellow veins spreading across his body, originating from of the tip of where the rod had struck him. Struggling Onyx, managed to pull out the rod before it could fully destabilize him, but no sooner than he had there was another chorus of popping as a dozen more rods were fired into his body. Still on the cannon, Prasiolite was lying flat on their belly, casually flicking the tiny switch back and forth, so completely enraptured in the simple act that they didn't seem to notice whether or not the cannon was hitting its intended target. Soon, Onyx's entire body was covered in the tiny destabilisation rods, yellow veins of electricity spreading all across his body, which was buzzing and flickering like static, yet he did not poof, his face contorted into a mixture pain and determination as he seemed to be using all his concentration to hold himself together.

"Ok, now" Garnet said to Lion.

Finally having permission, Lion charged at Onyx and opened his jaw, releasing another pink coloured roar, blasting Onyx back. Garnet then rushed in and hit Onyx with a solid uppercut under his chin, sending him straight upwards, where he was greeted with a heavy blow from Malachite's crash helmet, knocking him back down. No sooner than Onyx had hit the ground again, did Malachite began to release a flurry of consecutive punches, relentless smashing her fists down on top of Onyx who had no time to dodge or block each blow.

Pearl continued to watch in silence, looking horrified as Onyx was mercilessly pummelled into the ground by Malachite, her body trembling like a frightened child. But just as Malachite finally stopped her punching, something changed in Pearl as she ceased her shaking, her eyes narrowing, and her expression began to harden as she slowly rose to her feet.

Panting and groaning in pain, Onyx tried to push himself back to feet but could do nothing fall down to knees again, the destabilization rods still in full effect and taking their toll, as he hugged his arms around his body trying to cease his trembling, letting an out an occasional gasp of agony as a spontaneous surge of electricity passed throughout his flickering body.

Garnet approached and now stood over Onyx, raising her fists over her head preparing to strike the finishing blow. But for a moment she hesitated. Something held her back as she stared down at Onyx in his dishevelled and beaten form, no longer able to even defend himself; he was nowhere near the threat he had posed earlier. But that moment quickly passed. Garnet knew she had to put an end to this once and for all.

Or else…

There was a sharp and fierce cry that rang throughout the air as Pearl leapt forward and in a single blinding motion, pulled forth long, teal coloured spear from her gemstone, slashing in front of Garnet who just barely had enough time to jump back.

Pearl now stood between Garnet and Onyx, spear in her hand as she twirled it in the air. Her stance, her demeanour, her eyes were not that of a mere frightened servant; they were the eyes of a warrior.

Onyx turned his head up, watching in stunned surprise as Pearl charged at Garnet, thrusting her spear at her neck. Garnet guarded and deflected the oncoming with her gauntlets, but Pearl spun, lowering her body and swiped at Garnet's legs using the bottom half of her spear, knocking the Fusion off her feet, pointing the tip of the spear to her throat.

With another roar, Malachite swung a massive hand down at Pearl as if to swat her. Pearl flipped backwards, dodging the attack. Once she landed on her feet, Pearl sprinted toward a large piece of the debris that was jutting upward out of the ground at an angle. Moving an impressive speed, Pearl ran up the full length of the debris, using it as a makeshift ramp before launching herself off from the very top of it, seconds before Malachite's arm came swinging at her again. Pearl flew through the air, momentarily landing on the centre of Malachite's forearm, using it as a steppingstone to launch herself forward with another powerful and graceful bound, her spear outstretched and aimed directly at Malachite's face. A moment later, a small, white arrow of light shot out from the tip of the spear, hitting Malachite right between her eyes, blinding her, as she stumbled back.

As Malachite stumbled back, Pearl performed one last spin through the air and hurled her spear like a javelin, down into the barrel of the Prasiolite's cannon. For a moment nothing happened as Prasiolite eyed the spear with curious expression before the cannon backfired upon itself and erupted into a huge explosion, launching a screaming Prasiolite into the air. Just as they began to descend toward the ground, Prasiolite scream diverged into two distinct voices as they literally split apart, reverting back into Steven and Peridot who flew off in different directions. Garnet jumped up into the air and caught Steven in her arms, landing safely back on the ground, followed by Peridot who smacked first onto the sand behind them.

With one final elegant flip through the air, Pearl landed gracefully back down in front of Onyx and stood there, strong and proud, her figure illuminated by the flames of the ship's wreckage. Onyx, who had fallen backwards onto his hands, was staring up at her with wide eyed awe, looking much like a child witnessing some kind of natural wonder for the very first time.

"Get up" Pearl said, moving towards him. Onyx did not seem to have heard her, merely continuing to stare.

"I said get up!" Pearl snapped, with a powerful sense of authority, which only left Onyx even more stunned. Growing impatient, Pearl grabbed Onyx under his arm and roughly pulled him back to his feet.

"Pearl, you…how did …?"

"Lean on me!" she said, securing him over her shoulder. "We need to retreat"

Onyx made no attempt to argue with Pearl, either because he was still taken aback by her sudden command of the situation or because he may have genuinely agreed with her suggestion to retreat. Pearl reached up to her gemstone and summoned an object out from the beam light; a fully intact Hexahedroid.

The floating cube chimed in a strangely happy sounding tone and nuzzled up close to Pearl, who quickly ushered the little robot away. "Warp us somewhere far away and safe. Now!" she ordered.

The Hexahedroid beeped in response and hovered in front of Pearl and Onyx, it's red eye glowing brightly as it prepared to warp. In the brief moment before they vanished, Pearl cast one last look at Steven, who stared back at her, wide eyed, wondering if he should call out to her or voice some kind of protest. But Steven never had the chance, as Pearl's expression hardened once again, turning away from him as she and Onyx were enveloped in a beam of crimson light, and a moment later they were gone, along with the Hexahedroid, leaving nothing behind but a scorched ring of glass in the sand.

Everything on the beach went quiet, save for the crashing waves and blistering fires. Malachite unfused, shrinking down to the beach as Jasper and Lapis took her place. After a brief struggle Peridot, managed to pry her body out of the sane. Garnet set Steven down on the ground again as the rest of the Crystal Gem moved over to join them.

It was over. Somehow or someway, it was over

"Did we…win?" Lapis whispered, looking around the beach cautiously, as if expecting another attack to happen at any moment.

"Well, we didn't lose, so yes, I think that counts as victory" Peridot said, looking quite pleased with herself. "Also, I FUSED!" Peridot jumped so high she nearly reached up to Jasper's head, earning her an amused smile from Lapis. "Look out, Homeworld! The Crystal Gems are back and we're unstoppable!"

"We survived." Jasper said, gruff and cynical as ever, staring out over the ocean. "That's all"

For a long moment, Steven had nothing to say as he stood there on the beach. Nothing to say about any of what had just happened. He could barely comprehend everything that had just occurred in this one day and yet it felt like every detail was etched permanently into his mind so that he would never forget it.

"Is that it? Is that the end? What happens now?" Steven glanced around the beach, expecting and hoping that someone would answer him.

"I'd be more worry about that phone call right now" Garnet said, making a brief adjustment to her visor.

At first Steven did not understand what Garnet meant, until he felt his phone vibrate and began to ring. He pulled it out and quickly recognised the number which belonged to the first and last person Steven wanted to see right now.

Steven, I got your message. Are you okay? What's going on? ... Steven?...

---

Ok. That's the end…..I think? Well the end of this season I suppose. Again, I'm on the fence about keeping this going. I have loved writing this, but at the same time I feel worn out in so many ways. I may just take a break from writing, but doing that I may run the risk of never getting back into it again. And I'm always worried about starting again but giving up halfway through, which I think is even worse. I'm still considering what to do next as this seems like a good as place as any to just end things. But nothing's set stone yet.

That said, I am planning to do at least one more chapter, which would work something like an epilogue. That hopefully won't take too much time.

All I can say is I appreciate everyone who has liked and followed this story and I thank you for your patience. I am happy that my story can bring some joy to others.

So for now, peace out and I urge everyone to be keep safe during these uncertain times.