Gem of War

by Cowboy Alchemist

For as long as he could remember, he's always wondered about his mother. The only thing he was ever told was that she gave him her gemstone. That's why he's traveled to the small beach town of Beach City: to find answers. This is no longer just Steven's story. This is the story of Isaac Infinite, son of Onyx—the Gem of War. What will change and what will stay the same? R&R PLEASE!

16. Act Zero:Chapter 1

AN: Happy Pride Month everyone! And to celebrate, I've decided to return to "Gem of War" for another update.

Now, I know that in my last chapter for "Weirder Things," I said that each day I'll work on one story before working on a different one the next day. But since I've gotten a summer job, I don't have as much time to work on a story for certain days. That's why I'm extending the amount of time I work on a story to a week. It works great for me because that's the same amount of time I usually need to do a chapter for most of these fanfics.

What is it with people thinking Isaac and Lapis would be a couple? Just because he and Steven saved her, it doesn't mean that the two are going to fall in love all of a sudden. Besides, what about all the time Isaac and Pearl had? Whereas the show doesn't have a lot of time with Lapis, Isaac would have more time to grow connected and attached to Pearl as he learns more about his mother, the Crystal Gems, and the Rebellion/The Old War.

And honestly, unlike with Rose/Pink, I like thinking that Isaac could bring out the best of Pearl and the two could have a much healthier relationship than anything she had with Steven's mom. It just seemed to bring out the worst of Pearl at times. Seriously, Pearl definitely deserves better than to keep clinging onto a girl that didn't love her back in return.

Plus, I'm a Lapidot fan! Oh, don't look surprised, I love the two of them together and we've all wanted it to happen. And this isn't the fandom talking for me. I like the relationship these two have, even though its just really good friends in the show.

So, no. Isaac will not be paired with Lapis.

So, as you know, Steven Universe portrays Rose in a kind of reverse character development way, as a way of deconstructing her. However, when we're going through these flashback stories, it's kind of all over the place and out of order. Kind of like American Horror Story's continuity, even though I haven't seen the show. But I'll try and make Rose a much better character while also keeping to canon.

In the end, while she did to a lot of horrible things, caused a civil war, abandoned Spinel, and left a lot of things unfinished, she ended her life a changed person. A good person.

Onyx is voiced by Jennifer Lee Taylor (Cortana from the Halo games)

---

20 years ago

If there was one thing that police officer Alex Infinite loved more than anything, it would be the alien he had with him. She was as beautiful as the Diamonds as she was deadly with how she fights, cunning in all military strategies as she was brutal in destroying those that stood in her way and compassionate to all who followed her as she was wise. These would be what many who knew her would say about Onyx, known to all as the Gem of War.

Such a title like that, however, was lost to the Gem. All she was now was a soon-to-be mother. To a child that will be part human and Gem. Even though Onyx knew that she and Isaac could never exist together, the Gem of War was ready and willing. She loved her unborn child with all her heart, just as her lover, Alex, that she was ready to give her life to bring the baby into the world.

But before that, there was just one thing that needed to be done. And that's why the two of them were driving down to Beach city in the rain. As they entered into the state of Delmarva, Alex said, "Onyx, all I need to know is can we trust this person?"

"I think we born know the answer to that," Onyx said looking out the window while sitting in the passenger seat of Alex's truck.

Alex sighed. "Noted," he said. He knew that she never really liked talking about her past, as she just said it wasn't a happy one. Given that she was thousands of years old, was part of a species that tried to invade Earth, before turning against her people in a massive war that shaped the world, it didn't take a genius to know that she wouldn't want to say much else. "It's just, you've never really talked about this Rose Quartz before. You've told me about the rebellion and what the other Gems were going to do to the planet, but I didn't think there were still other Gems on the planet."

"There are. Rose was the one that started it all. She started the rebels, the Crystal Gems. Pearl and Garnet were the first to join her and remain loyal to her. Amethyst was a late Gem that emerged after the Old War was over, and they took her in."

"You know, for someone that doesn't stay with them, you sure do know a lot about them," Alex joked.

Onyx chuckled. "You never really stop being a Crystal Gem."

"And that's what you want for our kid?"

"The choice of whether or not he becomes one of them is all up to him," Onyx said, before looking down sadly. "As is the choice of knowing the truth."

"The truth?" Alex asked.

"Yes," Onyx said. She then looked at her lover and placed a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "I love, Alex. I what you to know that, even when I'm gone. But believe me when I say that it's best that the things I leave for our child are things that are best left unknown, until the time if he's ever ready."

"I trust you. And I love you too," Alex said with a smile. And that was the truth. "May I ask you something? I know that you trust Rose, but what's the story between the two of you? What made you become a Crystal Gem?"

Onyx fell silent for a moment. She took her hand off her lover's shoulder and placed both hands on her stomach and leaned back. Then she closed her eyes. "The events which forged our bond were... complicated. It was when I learn the truth about who I am. What I am. But all I can say is this: she was once my enemy. In time, I named her ally. But most of all, she was my friend...my sister..."

---

Act 0: The Reason

Chapter 1: Scars

---

5,300 years ago

At the height of its power, the Homeworld Gems' rule was vast, stretching to 43 colonized planetary bodies and 2 star systems. Growing more Gems in order to expand their empire.

All of which lived and died under the rule of their matriarchal body; The Great Diamond Authority.

But there were some that resisted. On the planet Earth, a rebel faction fought back against Homeworld to free the planet and for Gem independence. They were led by a Rose Quartz into a standstill conflict that killed millions. As the Rebellion dragged on, the Crystal Gems were on their last legs. Onyx, general of Pink Diamond's army, had led a campaign against the rebels and was victorious in all their battles. She was now drawing the conflict to a climatic end.

Just one final stronghold stands in the way of Homeworld victory and the promise of peace throughout the empire. And this general was going to bring the traitors to justice. But for the moment, until the time had come, she would take in the scenery of the flower fields.

The planet Earth was such an interesting planet. The life that grew on the planet was nothing like any Gems had ever seen. It had the potential for resources that were otherwise unobtainable. The creatures were always changing and had so many variates that it surpassed the number of Gem types there were on Homeworld. But then there were the inhabitants of the planet; the humans. They were a fascinating species that were always growing, changing, and redefining themselves before dying.

These creatures were something that Onyx found the most fascinating. Sitting on top of a hill, she stared down at a village of humans as they went about their lives. Some were bringing back killed animals that they ate, while some crafted their homes. Smaller humans ran around playing, and there were a few that were practicing combat.

They are intriguing beings. From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue and live their lives with a sense of finality and blissfulness.

Suddenly, the peaceful silence that Onyx enjoyed as she watched the humans was cut short when her communicator started to beeping. She reached into her armor and pulled out the octahedral object with the facets colored white, light yellow, light blue, and light pink. She activated it by twisting it 180° and tossed it in front of her. Standing up, she faced the communicator as it projected a screen that showed another Gem.

The Gem was a Hessonite. There were tall commanders of the armies of Homeworld. But with Onyx taking over command of all of Pink Diamond's armies and leading them in many battles against the rebels, they were demoted to follow the Gem of War's commands.

This Hessinate, nicked named Hess, was one of the few that followed her without question. One of the only few Gems that she called a friend. She had a light orange complexion and pale yellow hair in a large curly afro drawn back to a widow's peak. She had a dark burgundy unibrow and a light yellow marking in the shape of the Prism over her left vermilion eye. She wore a sparkly high-collared cape over an orange-red jumpsuit, thigh-high white boots with jaffa-colored soles, and white elbow-length gloves. Hessonite's gemstone was located in the center of her chest and a rounded rectangle with rectangular facets.

Onyx sighed and crossed her arms. "Just once, Hess, I wish you'd call me when you don't have bad news," she said with a smirk.

"But then I wouldn't be doing my job," Hess said with a smirk. The two chuckled for a moment, before Onyx's face turned more serious.

"Let me guess...you found her," she inquired.

"That's right. We don't think that it's their main headquarters, but Rose Quartz has been spotted there. Ever since our last battle with them, they've been resorting to these hidden bases. Now they're hitting us from the shadows," Hess explained.

"They're going back to using guerilla tactics," Onyx said, rubbing her chin with her fingers. "Before, Rose Quartz could fight us on open ground. But now she doesn't even have a third of her old army."

Hess saw another screen pull up in front of her and read it. After finishing, she turned to Onyx and said, "Blue and Yellow Diamond are seeking an audience with you, General."

Onyx sighed out in aggravation. She and the Diamonds were never known to be on each other's good side. She saw the Diamonds as egomaniacs that saw ever Gem expendable, and the two only saw Onyx as a rebellious Gem. But they couldn't get rid of her if they wanted to win the war. "Await further instructions," she commanded.

"By your command!" Hess gave her a Diamond salute and the communicator turned off. Onyx then turned around and started walking back in the direction she came.

---

The Moon Base was a Gem tower that served as the headquarters to plan the colonization of Earth. On the first floor, there are murals of Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, and White Diamond. The second-floor contained an observation orb that could be used to monitor the colonization efforts. The top floor was covered by a geodesic dome that allowed a scenic view of the Earth. In the center of the room, there was a raised platform with a single chair and a dashboard. The chair had a diamond communicator embedded in its left arm while the right arm had some of the controls used to access the computer and adjust the position of the chair.

It was in this control room that sat Pink Diamond herself.

As her name stated, Pink Diamond had pink skin, magenta eyes with diamond-shaped pupils, and shoulder-length yet large, fluffy pale pink hair. She also appeared to wear lipstick. Her physical form's projection was smaller than the other Diamonds, but she still towered over lower-ranking Gems. Her gemstone was located on her navel and displayed in a large pentagon-shaped opening, being an inverted-side view of a round-cut diamond.

Pink Diamond wore a rose-burgundy top which was cropped in the middle to reveal her midriff and gem with large puffy pink-and-white shoulder pads and rose gloves. She also wore a small pink and white skirt, short puffy rose-pink pants, white stockings, and a pair of pink slippers with white pom poms floating over each of them.

Standing next to her was her Pearl. Pearl wore a dress that resembled Pink Diamond's. The top half has puffy blue shoulders, an amber-colored top with a V neck, a diamond-shaped cutout at the bottom, and a light yellow trim along the bottom. The bottom half has a pink skirt with transparent drapes over it and pale blue ballet flats. Her hair was still in its pixie-cut but was a little longer.

She stood by her Diamond as she furious typed away on her console. Putting together every file she wanted before finishing. Pressing a key, she watched as a small, pink, rectangular object formed from the dashboard. Pearl saw it and asked, "Are you sure that this is a good idea, my Diamond?"

Pink plucked the rectangle out of the dashboard and stared at it for a moment. "She is our last hope. I've finally gathered all of the data that I can get. This could finally..."

She was interrupted when they both heard the Warp Pad activating. Pink Diamond quickly stuffed the device into her fluffy hair and pretending to be working.

When Onyx climbed the stairs, she stopped after the last step and waited for her Diamond to acknowledge her. Pearl looked back and gasped when she saw the Gem of War. Pink noticed this and looked around, only to grin with joy when she saw the black Gem.

"Onyx!" She exclaimed, skipping out of her chair and ran over to her. Onyx smiled before being picked up and pulled into a crushing huge by the Diamond.

Onyx struggled to smile as she felt her form being crushed by the strength of the Diamond. "Yes, it's good to see you too..." she said, before shoving herself out of Pink's arms and landed on the ground. Ignoring the looks of jealousy that she got from Pearl. It was a well-know fact that Onyx and Pink Diamond were best friends. Pink rejected the Gem hierarchy and was extremely informal with her servants. She treated everyone equally, which Onyx found to be welcoming. Pink found Onyx to be a very down to earth and supportive Gem that she could talk to and the two would share moments of friendship with one another.

"So, what brings you here, old friend?" Pink asked, excited to spend time with her. "Oh, are ready to finish where we left off in our game?"

"I'd love to continue, but I've been told that Blue and Yellow sought an audience with me," Onyx told her.

Pink was a little surprised by this and sighed. "And of course they didn't tell me about it," she grumbled and walked back to her chair. Tapping the blue and yellow sides of her communicator, she sat back and watched as they displayed two screens.

Onyx stood at attention with her arms behind her back next to Pink on her left and Pearl stood on Pink's right. The general looked up at the yellow and blue screens display a Pearl on both of them. These were the Pearls of Blue and Yellow.

Yellow Pearl sported a beige singlet, having a neckline that was cut into a diamond shape in the middle and exposing her legs. She also wore puffy, sheer yellow sleeves, as well as long, pale tangerine stockings and canary yellow flats. She had a yellow pixie haircut that is styled up to a point with puffy sides, and one diamond-shaped lock in the middle of her forehead. She had pale yellow skin, and, unlike other Pearls, her head was seemingly more oval-shaped than circular. Her gemstone was a very pale yellow cabochon pearl and was located on her chest.

Blue Pearl was altogether very lean, with long legs and arms, and had a tall oval-shaped head with a prominent and pointed nose. She had sky blue skin and messy, chin-length periwinkle hair. The upper portion of her face was covered by her bangs, similar to how her owner Blue Diamond covered her face with her hood. Her outfit consisted of a periwinkle bodysuit with an open diamond-shaped keyhole neckline, a sheer, frost-blue, knee-length skirt, and pale blue flats. Her gemstone, a powder-blue cabochon pearl, was located on her chest.

"This is the Yellow Diamond control room," Yellow Pearl said with a no-nonsense tone.

"And this is the Blue Diamond control room," Blue Pearl said with a shy tone.

"This is Pink Diamond control room," Pearl said to the two Pearls. "The Diamonds has requested an audience with the Gem of War, Onyx."

Both Pearls on the other side of the screens looked at their Diamonds, before their communication devices were picked up, and both of the massive Gems that dwarfed almost all other Gems were shown.

Yellow Diamond was a giant yellow being with black markings around her eyes, bright yellow eyes with diamond-shaped pupils and black eyebrows, and short, helmet-like bob yellow hair with two spiked tips. Her gemstone was located in the center of her chest. Yellow Diamond wore a dark yellow and olive bodysuit, a yellow coat with enormous shoulder pads and a cutout for her gemstone, yellow gloves, and olive-yellow, high-heeled boots.

Blue Diamond, like her sisters, was a giant blue being, but her somewhat hunched posture, combined with her long, sweeping cloak, gave her a relatively smaller and more despondent silhouette than if she were standing straight. Her complexion was azure, and she has long, straight, alice-blue hair that curled inward at the ends. Two noticeable and symmetrical locks of her hair curl and point inwards towards her face just below her cheekbones. A unique feature of her hair was two lengths of that lead from each side of her head and physically connect on her chest just below her gem, giving it an almost shawl-like appearance. She had a long ovoid face, a full upper lip, and a straight nose. She also possessed large, sad, downward-slanting eyes with bold mascara on the lower lashes, giving the appearance of a weeping woman. Her gemstone was located on her chest above her sternum, and she wore a long navy blue cloak that touched the ground. Underneath the upper part of her cloak, she wore a navy blue hood.

At first, the Diamonds didn't say anything to Pink. Only sending looks of disappointment at the Diamond that's failed to keep her colony in order. They then looked to the Gem of War and their expression turned to frowns, and the General returned the expression. "General. Report," Yellow Diamond demanded.

Without even a salute, Onyx said, "My Diamonds, my second-in-command Hessonite reported in. It's not their main headquarters, but we believe we've found the last stronghold of the rebels. And Rose Quartz is sure to be there."

Both of the Diamonds looked at one another, before turning back to Onyx. "You know what to do," Blue said, looking down on the Gem of War. "I do not need to remind you how vital the success of this mission is, General."

"The best plan of action is to not go in with overwhelming numbers, but instead, have a small team drop behind enemy lines," Onyx told the Diamonds. "It'll lessen the number of casualties we have on our side."

"Whatever Gem we lose will be an acceptable loss," Yellow said dismissively. "All that matters is that we end this battle with Rose Quartz finally captured or shattered."

Onyx took in a deep breath to not object to their blatant disregard for other Gems. "I understand. Then I'll have my best Quartz soldiers ready to fight, my Diamonds."

"Leave personnel decisions to us, General!" Yellow Diamond snapped harshly. "All of your armies will converge on the stronghold. Just do your job. It's time to cut the head off the enemy once and for all!"

"Yes, my Diamond," Onyx said through gritted teeth. "By your command."

The screens turned off and the communications ended. Onyx sighed in frustration as Pink looked at her with sympathy. "I'm so sorry about my sisters," she said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But perhaps they're right."

"If we go in with a massive army, then Rose will just easily get away from us again. Then she'll gain more followers and the rebellion will continue on," Onyx protested, leaning on the console with her hand. She thought for a moment. Trying to think of a way to ensure total victory and finally put an end to this war. As time wore on, any admiration and respect for Rose Quartz were lost to Onyx, with more and more of her soldiers, many of her friends, being shattered in the fighting. Stopping the rogue Gem was the only way the war would end, Onyx was sure of it.

No more Gems would have to die, tearing each other apart.

Then an idea came to her, and she turned to Pink. "Your sisters said that all of Homeworld's armies will converge on the stronghold, right? And for me to do my job?" Confused, Pink nodded her head. "Then that's what I'll do. This war as gone on long enough and it's time to finally bring it to an end, and I'm going on us everything in my power to take down Rose Quartz. Despite if she believes her intentions are just, her actions have brought death and destruction to not just to Gems, but to the world that she's desperately trying to defend. This stronghold is the last safe haven left on the planet for Rose and her Crystal Gems, and it's time to bring her into the light."

Pink was silent for a moment, clenching her fist tightly for a moment, before letting it go. "Then what is your plan?"

"My army will surround the stronghold, cutting off all avenues of escape. I'll go in alone behind enemy lines and attack, while the army attacks from the outside, and close the gap," Onyx explained to Pink, making her eyes widen.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" she asked worriedly. "How will you even get into the stronghold?"

"Leave that to me. By tomorrow, this will all be brought to an end," Onyx said with a smile, touched by her Diamonds concern. But she was the only one that could do this.

She then looked down scoffed.

"Strange. I coulda swore we ended this war yesterday."

---

Thousands of pink-colored Homeworld dropships orbited around the earth as they moved towards where their destination laid. Homeworld dropships are large circular spaceships and look similar to flying saucers with three extendable landing legs. At the front of the dropship, there was a triangular entrance.

A few seconds into the mission, they all started dropping down to the surface. Like a swarm of bees, these dropships descended from the earth's atmosphere and entered into the clouds. Visibility from the Nephrite pilots of each ship was blocked by the cloud. They then broke through the clouds, before pulling up and flew straight over the ground of the earth, heading towards the rebel stronghold.

Inside one of the lead dropships, Onyx stood in front of a console in the control room with serval other Gems. She was wearing a scouter, an all-purpose computer that took on the form of a semi-transparent colored monocle that covers the left eye and ear with an earpiece (AN: Just think of the Scouters from Dragon Ball Z). "The time is now!" She told Hess on the screen. "Circle around the stronghold and surround it, then deploy the troops and have them attack the base. I'll handle Rose Quartz and any other Gems that are with her."

"Yes, ma'am!" Hess said, before the screen turned back to give Onyx a 360-degree view around the ship.

The ship then went over a mountain ridge and the stronghold came into view. It was a simple manufacturing plant in the middle of nowhere. It had a distinct urban/industrial appearance to it with old buildings and quays. The basis of its design included two symmetrical sides separated by a building complex in between them.

Onyx watched the screen and kept her radio on to call out orders. She knew they were ready for them, so they have their defenses up and ready to fire at them. But her ship moved fast enough, then was one point of direction that they wouldn't be looking.

Just as expected, beams of lights fired from Light Cannons came right at them.

"EVASIVE ACTION!" She called over the radio. The dropships separated and went to the right or left, with some getting hit and shot down.

The stronghold came to life as Laser Light Cannons fired in all directions as the dropships moved to surround it. Flying in circles above the ground as the rebels charged out of the stronghold to face the enemy. The ships then stopped and started their descent to the ground. Landing with their three legs extending to touch the ground. The triangular entrance then opened and a ramp extended down to the ground, and the Quartz Soldiers all exited the ships. Fighting began, with Gem forms being destroyed and gemstones being shattered.

However, the Laser Light Cannon gunners were too focused on the surrounding soldier that they didn't notice the dropship still the air. By the time they did notice it, it was flying hide over their heads. In the center of the stronghold.

The entrance opened, and Onyx looked down at the rebel base. With a serious expression, she smirked. "Let's end this," she said.

The Gem of War then fell forward and descended towards the ground. Landing between rebel soldiers and into the battle. Summoning two of her katana swords, and with precise precision, Onyx cut and slash the Gems surrounding her. Cutting their gemstone in half like better. Shattering them.

When the other Gems realized Onyx was inside the base, they were frightened. One of the gunners aimed a Light Cannon and fired at her, only for Onyx to dodge it and formed her swords into a giant shuriken. She threw it at the cannon, cutting it in half before it exploded into a hundred pieces. Sending Gems around it flying in all directions.

Other Gems then charged at her. Onyx charged at them. Two got head of the pack with spears and lunged at her, but Onyx dodged one of them and jumped onto the other. Stepping on their shoulder and kicking them down to the ground. She landed with a front roll, before seeing another Crystal Gem charging at her.

Summoning a dagger, she pushed the rebel's weapon away when it took a swung at her, and stabbed her in the gemstone. Located on her neck. As the rebel died, Onyx jumped through the smoke of her poof, before kicking another Gem in the face, destroying her form. She then took the spear and got into a spear fight with another Gem that had an ax. Seeing another Gem coming at her from behind, she threw it and hit her in her gemstone, before grabbing the ax when it came down on her, and then with a single punch, shattered the second rebel.

Taking a hold of the ax, she swung her body around and hacked into the stomach of another enemy. Destroying her form, before seeing another Crystal Gem charging at her with a sword. Letting go of the ax's handle, the general grabbed the rebel's arm, twisting it around and using her blade to block another attack from a second Gem. Onyx kicked the second Gem away, before twisting the sword out of the first Gem's hand, and then stabbing her through the back, shattering her.

Turning around, Onyx ducked down under a war hammer that went for her head. The Gem of War then grabbed the Gem's head and snapped it. She was then grabbed from behind by another rebel as one charged to attack. Onyx threw her head back into the nose of the Gem holding her, getting free, and placing the Gem in the way of the weapon. Poofing her before her fellow Crystal Gem could stop herself.

Onyx roared as she punched the Gem in her gemstone nose, shattering her. Then she kicked away another Gem charging at her. Then another one charged at her, and Onyx turned her own weapon on the Gem. Grabbing her arm and twisting it to stabbed the rebel in her gemstone stomach.

Finally deciding that this was taking too long, she summoned her two katana and held them in reverse grips. She then charged at the remaining rebels.

---

Deep inside of the underground tunnels of the stronghold, Garnet looked at the severance screen as it showed Onyx cut through Crystal Gem after Crystal Gem with ease. In the room with her was Pearl, who was now in her rebel outfit. "I didn't think she be here so quickly!" Pearl said with a slightly scared tone. "She's killing them all so easily!"

"It was only a matter of time," Garnet said to the slim Gem. "We just need to hold out long enough for Rose to arrive with reinforcements." She then pressed a button to get on the intercoms of the base. "All hands topside! Any Gem that isn't out there defending the base, Onyx is inside the perimeter! Take her out! Now!"

---

Onyx dodged under a swinging hammer that was going for her head, before turning her sword into a spear and threw it at the head of the rebel, poofing her before seeing that there were still more Gems coming out to fight and were charging at her from an entrance that opened. She noticed one of the many Fire Salt crystal formations growing around the base and formed another weapon in the form of a knife. flicking it up and grabbing it by the blade, she hurred the knife at the Fire Salt and it stabbed into it, creating an explosion that took out all of the soldiers coming out to fight her.

With the rebels taken out on the inside, Onyx placed her hand on her scouter. "Hess, I've taken out the resistance inside the facility. What's the situation outside?"

"We're still fighting against the rebels but we're still holding...wait, what's that?" Hess said over the communicator. A warning signal appeared on the lenses that said that there were multiple enemies coming from the north.

Onyx rusted over to a gap between two builds and looked out onto the open field and her eyes widened. Charging from the north was a massive army led by Rose Quartz herself. With her sword and shield, she led the charge of about a thousand rebel soldiers.

Then, suddenly, a particle barrier started to form in front of Onyx, startling her for a moment. The barrier formed all the way around the stronghold in a dome that trapped the Gem of War inside it.

"General! What's going on! Are you alright!" Hessonite exclaimed over the communicator.

"I'm fine," Onyx told her with a scowl as she stared at the approaching rebel army as her troops rushed to engage in fighting the enemy, from both the stronghold and Rose's army. "This is what Rose Quartz planned all along. Separating me from you all and then take out the army from two fronts. She knew we were coming!"

"How's that possible?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to be deactivating the barrier to get out there. Hold off the rebels for as long as you can, but if you most, get out of here."

"But, General!"

"No buts! I'm going to stay and see this mission is complete," Onyx declared with determination. She then turned towards the building and walked towards it. She had to move quickly. Rose was out there, and she had to be there to see the completion of this mission.

But before she could enter into the complex, she was suddenly punched in the side of her face. Sending her flying back into a wall and crashing through it. Onyx groaned as she sat up from the rubble. She placed a hand in her head and then looked at her palm. Seeing blood coming from it. The Gem of War still couldn't understand it. Why was she leaking organic fluids? Shaking her head from any distractions, she stood up and saw the two Gems that attacked her, and currently in her way.

It was none other than Garnet and Pearl, Rose's two second-in-commands. The Gem of War narrowed her eyes and glared at the two. "Remember, Pearl, we have to hold this potion," said Garnet, summoning her gauntlets and punching them together.

"Right," Pearl said, summoning her spear and twirling it around.

Onyx was not impressed or intimidated at the very least. She's fought these two in the past and always won. "How do I shut down the barrier?"

"You're asking the wrong Gems, general," Garnet said, glaring at the black Gem through her visors.

"That's right. We'll never surrender!" Pearl said with passion as she pointed the tip of her spear at the enemy. "Because we are the Crystal Gems!"

"And for that, you will die," Onyx growled. She then summoned her twin katanas.

Pearl looked a little frightened until Garnet turned to her. "Let's not get scared, Pearl. Are you ready to fuse?" She asked. Pearl looked a little hooked. They've only practiced fusion for a few months, and this would not only be their first time doing it in battle, but also against the Gem of War herself. But, seeing as it was going to be their only chance of staying alive and defeating Onyx, she nodded.

Onyx raised an eyebrow when she saw the two Gem stepped away from one another. Both of their gemstones glowing brightly. And then, to the Gem of War's puzzlement, they started dancing. Slow and elegantly, both Gems slowly and smoothly danced their way towards each other in front of the general. She raised an eyebrow as Pearl linked her arms with Garnet as she stood in front of her, both of their expressions intimate, seductive almost. And then at the last moment, Garnet grabbed Pearl and then threw the slim Gem into the air, where she spun in mid-air before falling back down into Garnet's arms. Garnet caught her and they begin fusing together.

The Gem of War's eyes widened as she watched their bodies turn into glowing light. Their size growing as they reshaped and united. A pillar of orange light began to emanate from the Gems' prior position, and a fusion Gem emerged from the light pillar, pulling it apart like curtains, and dissipating it into small lightning dragonflies.

"Good evening everyone!" the new fusion declared bombastically. This was Sardonyx. She had vermilion skin and pale apricot-colored hair, styled into a tetrahedron with very rounded corners. Her torso and legs greatly resemble Garnet's, but with less mass. As a fusion, she has four arms and inherits the same locations of her gemstones as her components. "This is the lovely Sardonyx! Coming at you for her first combat day-view from the soon-to-be-former Crystal Gem stronghold! How are y'all doin' tonight?"

Onyx's shocked expression turned back into a glare as the over the top fusion looked down at her. "Oh, my stars! Look at who we have to challenge us, today! Let's all give it up for the Gem of War herself, Onyx!" She exclaimed, but the Gem of War never stopped glaring. "Oh, there it is, babe, the universe famous scowl. So what do you think? Was I worth the wait?" She looked confused at first, before following it up with an ecstatic expression. "What am I saying? Of course, I was!"

The fusion hollered laughter before Onyx said, "Hardy."

"Ouch. Harsh. I'm sorry, but you don't have full backroom access, babe," Sardonyx said, summoning Pearl's spear on one of her four arms. Then another hand tapped herself on her shoulder, and the theatrical fusion pretended to be distracted for a second. Then she threw the spear into the air. Sardonyx then summoned Garnet's gauntlets and punched them together, catching the spear in the middle just as it was falling down. The two weapons combine together and transformed into a giant war hammer.

The head of the hammer was light red-orange with both sides shaped like a fist to represent Garnet's gauntlets. They were joined by a grayish-purple rectangle with a black handle going through it. The base of the hammer had a pommel similar to Pearl's spear and the top had a yellow star connecting the head to the handle. It is considerably large as the head is taller than Sardonyx herself.

Sardonyx hoisted the war hammer over her shoulder as she smirked down at Onyx. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to remove you from the premises!"

"You're welcome to try," Onyx said.

"Then I shall certainly try!" Sardonyx rushed towards Onyx, jumped into the air. Her bottom arms holding the war hammer as her torso spun a full 360 degrees. Then, as she started coming down onto Onyx, she raised the hammer over her head, before bringing it down. Onyx reacted by crossing her swords over her head in an X.

When the two weapons collided, it sent a shockwave that shook the ground. The dirt under Onyx's feet caved in as it as she grunted from the force of the hammer's weight and the power of Sardonyx's swing.

Onyx then jumped back, slipping out from under the hammer. Letting it smash the ground below it. The Gem of War landed on the ground again, before jumping away from Sardonyx swinging at her again.

But when she landed on the ground again, she was head on the right side by the hammer. Sardonyx grinned and swung her hammer around to send her flying across the stronghold. But to her shook, Onyx held on. when Sardonyx stopped moving, the black Gem swung onto the head of the hammer and laughed herself at Sardonyx's face. Driving her knee into her nose with enough force to break it and her visors. The giant fusion was knocked over on her back, and Onyx hung on as she toppled over. She was about to grab Pearl's gemstone stone in Sardonyx's forehead to break it when the fusion quickly swatted her away. Onyx spun around in the air for landing on her feet. Sword summoned.

"Well, that was rather rude," Sardonyx exclaimed, looking like she's was insulted.

Onyx then charged at her, and Sardonyx swung at her. But this time, Ony was ready and she jumped high into the air, back flipper in mid-air as she flew over Sardonyx's head. The fusion turned around as Onyx spun around to face her before landing on the ground, and swung the hammer at her head again. But the Gem of War already saw it coming and ducked down to avoid the hit. She jumped back when the hammer swung at her again, before charging at Sardonyx. The fusion, now getting frustrated, used her articulated body to swing wildly a the Gem, but every time she did, the warrior dodged all of her attacks with grace and skill.

Seeing an opening, Onyx jumped at Sardony's barrel and sent a powerful punch into her stomach. Sardonyx's eyes widened in pain as bail was released from her mouth. The Gem of War jumped back as the fusion tried to regain her fighting composer. She glared at the smaller Gem and swung her hammer down at her. Onyx stepped and spun out of the way as the hammer created a large imprint in the ground and kicked up dirt and sand. Onyx then jumped on the poll of the hammer and ran up it. She then launched at her face, swinging her feet to plant them into two of Sardonyx's eyes, and then using them as a launchpad.

While the fusion lets get on her hammer to cover her face, while screaming in pain, Onyx threw her sword while in midair. The blade stabbed into Sardonyx's chest, making her stumble back a bit, before her body exploded in a giant poof cloud.

Onyx landed on the ground, before covering her face when the cloud of smoke came blasting at her. When it was done, she lowered her arm to see the results.

Garnet and Pearl were no longer there. There was no sign of their gemstones. Confused, Onyx looked around to see where they could have gone. But then she saw an open hatch.

Just then, Hess called over the radio. "General, we have to fall back! There's too many of them!"

"Roger that. Go on ahead and get the troops out of here. I'm going to end this battle, Hess," Onyx said.

---

Down in an underground tunnel, Garnet and Pearl were struggling to make it to the underground command complex of the stronghold. They were fools to think things would be different. Even if they fused. The Gem of War was too powerful. Nothing could stop her. They had to get out of there and under the barrier to get back with Rose. Rose's plan was to trap Onyx inside the stronghold, weakening the army of Homeworld, and then take out as many Gems as possible to force them to retreat. Them fighting wasn't part of the plan, and they paid the price.

When they arrived at the large command room, Garnet opened the door and allowed Pearl to go in ahead of her, before slamming the door behind her and locking it. "That was a terrible idea," Pearl exclaimed, breathing rapidly as the terror of what they've just survived set in.

"It doesn't matter," Garnet said, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. Frustrated that she couldn't make Onyx pay. "We just need to get back to Rose before Onyx gets down here."

"Garnet! Pearl!" The two Gems gasped in shook when they see Rose standing there behind them. Entering through one of the escapes tunnels of the stronghold, she rushed over to them.

"Rose!? Rose, what are you doing here?!" Pearl exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Homeworld's forces have left," Rose said, standing in front of them. "I've come to get you out of here!"

"No, Rose, you've got to get out! Onyx has shattered most of every Gem in the stronghold!" Pearl exclaimed with a look of desperation and dread. "Sardonyx couldn't beat her, and now she's on her way down here!"

At first, Rose looked shook before giving them a look of disapproval. "I told you not to fight her!" She scolded the two.

"She needed to pay for what she's done," Garnet heatedly argued.

"And how were you going to do that? Shattering is not our way," Rose stated firmly. Even though, in the back of her head, she knew that not all Gems of her rebellion followed this code. She learned that when she bubbled Bismuth. She shook her head and gestured for them to follow her. "Come on. We don't have much time!"

"Actually, you don't have any time." The three Crystal Gems gasped and turned around to see Onyx standing behind them, swords out and ready to cut down the Gems.

"Onyx!" Rose gasped. "How did you..." Onyx pointed one of her swords up at the ceiling. The three Crystal Gems looked up and saw one of the stronghold's ventilation vents was open. Meaning that the Gem of War crawled through it to get into the room.

"It's over, Rose. You'll face judgment for your crimes," Onyx said. She took a few steps towards them, making Pearl and Garnet summon their weapons. "Surrounder now, and I promise I can guarantee your safety and a fair trial."

"You're a fool to think the Diamond will allow a fair trial," Garnet snarled with disdain for the monarchs of the Gem race. "Did you give the Gems you shattered out there a fair trial?"

"This is a war, and in a war, there is nothing but death," Onyx said coldly. "Isn't that right, Rose?"

"But it doesn't have to be like that!" Rose exclaimed desperately.

"It's far too late for that," Onyx said, glaring hatefully at her.

"Took the words out of my mouth," Pearl said, pointing her spear at the general. Rose stopped her from attacking by placing a hand on her shoulder and pushing her back gently.

"We're not the enemy, Onyx. We're not your enemy," Rose insisted. Wanting desperately for Onyx to understand what she's saying. "You don't know what the Diamonds have done. They've committed atrocities and broke major laws set in place by themselves; atrocities that have led to this war starting. Please, I know that you don't what to see this world destroyed, just like all of us."

Onyx felt the corners of her mouth twitch up. She could almost laugh at her. "Really? Do you really think I'm so easily swayed? After how long you've dragged out this conflict? The Gems shattered by both of our forces? You wanted this war to happen! And at this point, there is only one way to this war ends, Rose. Last. Gem. Standing."

Rose sighed in shame. "You're right. But if you knew what they've done, then you'll know why I stand against Homeworld."

"You need to stop talking, Rose!" Onyx snapped, already starting to grow impatient.

"No. I know what you are, Onyx. I know what you really are. And I know who you used to be, before you became this shadow, hunter."

Onyx eyes widened slightly when she heard that. "What, did you just call me?" She growled.

Good, she's gotten her attention. All Rose needs to do is just try and talk to her. "You really don't know? You don't know the truth, do you? Perhaps you should ask your sisters."

Sisters? What was she talking about? However, Onyx shook her head, chalking it up to Rose trying to get into her head and mess with her. "Enough! Surrounder now! This is your last chance."

"She's not going anywhere," Garnet said, stepping in front of Rose.

There was silence in the room before Onyx grinned. "Funny, I was hoping that was your answer."

She rushed at Rose and was about to slice her gemstone when she summoned her shield. Blocking her sword, before pushing her back. Onyx landing and skidded across the floor for a few feet before stopping. Garnet ran straight at her, tackling Onyx, and grabbed her arm to pin it behind his back before punching her in the back. Sending her flying towards Pearl, who strikes Onyx in her eye. Destroying the Scouter.

The Gem screamed in pain, before falling to the ground. With red blood leaking out of her eye, she glared up with her good left eye as Pearl jumped in for another attack. Onyx, even with one, grabbed the spear and swung the slim Gem around, before throwing her aside. She then pulled out the spear as her eye healed and her face still stained with blood.

With both eyes, she summoned two swords. Rose, Pearl, Garnet all attack her once. Rose swung her sword at her, Pearl thrust her spear, and Garnet punched forward.

Quicker than a blinking eye, Onyx blocked Rose and Pearl's attack with one sword and Garnet's punch with the other. In the middle of the room, the Gem of War fought off attacks from the three rebels. Onyx got the upper hand and grabbed Garnet's fist, before throwing her across the room. Her body slamming against the wall.

Rose then came in for a swing, but Onyx parried the attack, rolled around her enemy, and kicked her in the back of her head. Flipping Rose on her back.

Seeing her leader go down, Pearl started attacking wildly. Onyx blocked all of her attacks with ease. When your opponent got angry, then they were easy to read and counter. She then jumped up and dropped kick Pearl away. Onyx flipped in the air, before landing back on her feet in a fighting stance.

Movement in the corner of her eye made her turn her head to the right. Rose charged at her and tackled her with her shield, sending the black Gem off her feet and back a few feet before she landed. Suddenly, Garnet grabbed her from behind and tried to crush the Gem of War. Onyx let out a cry of pain as she was almost crushed, but then threw her head back into Garnet's face. Garnet let go of Onyx as she grabbed her face in pain. She would then rushed at Onyx and threw multiple punches at her. Most of them she dodged or parried, until one of those powerful hits struck her.

She glared at Garnet, before catching her next punch. Garnet gasped and that was all she could do before Onyx punched her in the face. Her body poofed and Onyx's eyes widened by what she saw.

On the ground on her back was a Blue Sapphire. They were slender Gems that were slightly taller than Rubies. She had blue skin, prominent lips, a large eye with blue iris and pupil upon her forehead, and pale blue; wavy hair with bangs that cover the top half of her face. Her facial structure resembled Garnet's. Her gemstone was in the palm of her right hand. This Sapphire was a dress with a floor-length gown with white, rounded, puffy sleeves, a navy top with a blue pinafore, and a blue skirt with several frilly layers in several blue shades resembling an open geode. She also wore white elbow-length evening gloves.

Onyx then looked at the fist she was holding and her eyes widened even more.

She was holding the fist of a Ruby. Look all other Rubies, she had bright scarlet skin, burgundy irises, and dark burgundy, dark red eyes, and square-shaped hair. She is shorter than the Sapphire and has a thick build. Her gemstone was located in the palm of her left hand. This Ruby wore a maroon and brown tank top and a matching maroon headband tied around her hair. Her ensemble also included mid-thigh burgundy shorts, and short, pointed maroon boots.

The two stared at one another, as Ruby feared for her life. Onyx then heard the sound of feet and looked to see Rose charging at her. Thinking fast, Onyx threw Ruby hard into Sapphire, destroying both of their physical forms as their gemstones fell the floor.

Onyx then turned to Rose and the two fought. They were both evenly matched. Making the fight a stalemate for a minute or two. But the Gem of War was stronger and more skilled. She swung and sliced at Rose multiple times before the pink Gem lost her grip on her shield. Onyx grabbed it and tore it from her arm, throwing it across the room before raising her sword to continue attacking.

Suddenly, Pearl jumped in front of Rose.

"Pearl, no!" Rose exclaimed, but Pearl didn't listen.

Onyx stared at the slim Gem with a glare as she glared back at her. Was she serious?

The Gem of War simply punched Pearl in the face. Sending her crashing back into Rose, and the two hit the wall. Pearl's body poofing away into nothing as she retreated into her gemstone. Rose groaned before gasped when she saw Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire's gemstones laying the ground together in front of her.

The sound of footsteps coming towards her brought Rose back to reality and gasped when seeing Onyx approaching her. Two swords summoned to finish the job. "It's over, Rose Quartz. Surrender now, or be destroyed."

"Onyx, please, you have to believe me," Rose said. She held her saber in one hand and the gems of her friends in another. "The Diamonds. I know the things they've done to make you. I know the horrible experimentation they enacted to turn you into what you are."

"What are you blabbering on about?" Onyx growled.

"I know you wouldn't listen to me, but the Diamonds view you as a threat. I don't know what their plan is, but what I do know is..." she paused for a moment, before sheathing her sword and then reaching into her hair. From it, she pulled out a small rectangular device. It was a data stick. "I know you wouldn't listen to me, but at the very least watch this."

Rose tossed her the data and Onyx caught it. When she looked up, she gasped to see Rose swinging open the door to the escape way. Onyx charged and kicked the door open.

Just to see Rose warp away with Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire.

"Damn it!" Onyx yelled, hitting the wall next to her. How could she let Rose distract her like that? Now she was going to be punished for letting Rose Quartz slip by and failed to put an end to the resistance. Again!

That's when her communicator to the Diamonds activated. Floating in front of her and displayed Pink on it. "Onyx? I saw that the mission didn't go so good," she said with a tone that sounded as though she was apologizing.

Onyx sighed and nodded her head, hating to let down her friend. "Indeed. Can you track where she is?"

"No. I've looked all over, but she's nowhere to be seen. I'm really worried about how Yellow and Blue will react."

"Tell them I take full responsibility." The Gem of War ended the call. She then looked at the hard drive. Inspecting the device, she questioned why Rose was so determined to tell her what she knew.

"What is that?" Pink asked, looking curiously at the drive.

"Something Rose wanted me to see," Onyx said. She stored the drive away and looked up at her Diamond friend. "I'll look it before returning to Gem City." Onyx ended the communication device and looked at the hard drive. She was getting suspicious about what Rose wanted her to know. What if there was something the Diamonds were hiding. What could it be? There were so many questions that she had to know, and with the base now abandoned by the Crystal Gems and with her troops gone, she had the privacy to see what Rose had for her with interruption.

She walked back into the command room and walked over to one of the monitors. Onyx plugged in the data unit. On the screen in front of her popped a prerecorded message from Rose Quartz herself. She tapped the console to play the recording.

"Onyx...If you're reading this, then that means I escaped. Or, well at the very least, I'm probably not around anymore. I wanted to leave behind all the data I've been collecting about you. I never could shake the feeling that something was different about you. Something that made you so special. So unique...So dangerous. But when looking for information, I found nothing on the development of Onyx Gems. As if you were the only one that was ever made and then Homeworld just...stopped. I did some digging, and now I know what the Diamonds have been hiding. What they've done. What I have here is the truth. You can't imagine the atrocities they've committed, Onyx. Things that are far worse than anything they've done to this planet. This is the original data that I've collected. Nothing was tampered with. I leave this for you not because you deserve to know the truth, but because I hope that when you see it, you'll finally make a stand and join us. After reading these files you will understand why when I wanted you with us. Good luck. Your friend, Rose."

The message ended and new files appeared on the screen containing all the data that Rose collected: "Project Assimilation"; "Experimentation Logs"; "Personnel Files"; "Video Surveillance"; and finally "Results of Project".

Onyx opened the "Project Assimilation" file first. A description of the Project appeared on screen first. As she read through the description, the more she could hardly believe what she was reading. According to the file, Project Assimilation was a secret project that took place before the start of the war. It took place in a space station called the Zoo, which was meant to be able to preserve humans after all life on Earth was exterminated. However, the station served an even darker, more sinister purpose. The really intent of Project Assimilation.

On Pink Diamond's request for her sisters to find a purpose for humanity and all living creatures, the project was to turn organ life forms into Gems. This would increase the number of Gems that would be made on each newly colonized planet. And there was only one perfect subject to use in these experiments.

Humans.

A slight pain entered into her head, but the Gem of War shook it off.

Onyx exited out of the file before scrolling to the next file and opened "Experimentation Logs". Her disbelief grew when she read how the human subjects were used. Each set of humans were kept in a habitat similar to theirs back on earth, with plans of having them breed in order to reproduce even more humans, before taking the eldest away to be turned into Gems.

However, each and almost every attempt to turn the humans into Gems were met with failure. When she opened a file that contained a list of the number of attempts by the scientist, all showed that they had failed. However, the last one on the list just read "Classified."

Another pain hit her head and Onyx rubbed her temple. Why was she feeling these headaches?

Exiting out of the file, she scrolled over to "Video Surveillance" and tapped on it. On the screen, it showed hundreds, maybe thousands of recordings. Scrolling past a few of them, she stopped and pressed on one of the recordings. As she watched, another feeling passed by the back of her head. As if she's seen this before or had an experience similar to it. However, as the experiment began, Onyx's stoic expression turned to a look of horror. The sounds of the machines in the recording were drowned out by the sound of the human screaming in absolute, total pain, and agony. All unit the test subject was dead. Having died a slow and painful death. It sicked Onyx.

Again, pain entered her head. This time, even stronger than before. But this time, she heard someone.

"...so shame on you! You Diamonds, so perfect on the outside, but you're rotted through and through!"

"Pink?" Onyx asked after the pain went away. Why did she sound so angry? She quickly exited out of the file and pressed on "Results of Project". But it was locked behind a password too. She had to find out that password. Her eyes then widened when she got an idea. The scientists that worked on Assimilation.

She scrolled to the file of the personnel and opened it. But to her dismay, all of them had their faces covered with an X and were labeled as SHATTERED.

"Why would the Diamonds want to keep this a secret," Onyx asked as she scrolled through the list of scientists.

She exited out of the file and scrolled back to the last one. Again, the file asked for a password. It was a 6-letter code. For a moment, the Gem of War pondered what it could be until an idea popped into her head. Remembering what Rose called her before the fight, she typed in the word 'hunter'.

The file opened.

Onyx stared at the screen as it pulled up a description, various images from surveillance, and finally, the results appeared.

Her heart sank and her eyes widened in total shock when she saw what it was.

It was her!

Her very own gemstone appeared on the screen. Onyx shook her head. This wasn't real, was it? She had to have been thinking ahead of herself. She looked over at the description and read through it.

The project was a success, but the results were not what the Diamonds were hoping for. The situation was looking dire for all the scientists, however, they found a way to finally achieve success: With one human as the host, the four Diamonds would use their powers to power the machine, while multiple humans were hooked up to different machines. The other humans would have their life force sucked out and transferred into the host. The combined effects of a large amount of life and the power of the Giant Diamonds would hopefully produce a new Gem.

A new type of Gem that they would call Onyx.

When the experiment commenced, all the humans used for the host were killed in the test, and the human host's body was destroyed, twisted, and torn apart before disintegrated. But in its place was a new Gem.

But this was no ordinary Gem. But another Diamond.

Black Diamond.

Suddenly, Onyx's eyes widened and her pupils shrank. She grabbed her head and started screaming in pain as images of humans, Gems, places she's never been to, and images of a Rose Quartz all of it flashed before her eyes. They were memories of who she was, but it was as if she didn't recognize any of them. All of it coming back to her so fast and much that as she continued receiving the flashing memories.

Onyx continued to scream in pain as she fell on the ground. She started to panic. Wanting for the memories to stop, but there was no stopping them. The Gem of War watched it all from her birth, to every pleasure or pain she felt in the past, all the way to the end, when she died and was reborn.

And just as suddenly as it had begun, so too did it end. Her body went limp on the ground as she stared up at the ceiling. No longer moving. The memory flashes ceasing and everything was back to normal.

But normal was not what Onyx felt at that moment. She couldn't believe any of it. She didn't want to believe it. She raised her right hand, as it trembled. No, it was shaking. Staring at her own gemstone as the revelation of what she was settled in. Onyx began sobbing, after grabbing the upper part of her face, covering her eyes in her hand. She wanted to feel disappointed in herself that she, the Gem of War, general of Homeworld's armies on Earth, breaking down like that. But she couldn't. A lesser Gem would have shattered themselves after finding out something like that.

When she calmed down, Onyx stood up again. She then pulled out the Diamond communicator and stared at it. She didn't even know if Pink, her best friend, could be trusted. But she needed answers, and the Diamond was her only chance of getting those answers.

Activating it, she rubbed the tears away and composed herself before the screen appeared. "Pink, I've...I've found something," she said hesitantly.

"You have?" Pink exclaimed with wide eyes. However, her expression turned to a look of worry when she saw Onyx's expression. "What's the matter?"

Onyx took a deep breath and looked up at Pink on the screen. "I need to talk with you, Pink. It's something important."

Pink looked a little taken aback, but simply nodded her head. "I understand. I'll be waiting for you in Gem City. Sending evac to pick you up."

The communication turned off.

---

Gem City was one of the newest and most advanced looking cities that Homeworld has ever made on one of their colonized planets. Located right off the shores of a vast ocean, it had many elaborately designed buildings and massive spires made of glittering crystals. It also had one of the most sophisticated public transportation systems in any colony on any world. The Light Rail train system allowed for Gems to easily travel around the city, allowing the non-warrior caste Gems to dig and build. Making it even larger as they hammered and pounded the raw material of the planet.

It was amazing that Gem City could still thrive under the threat of attack by the rebels, especially when some were now using terrorist attacks. But with the protection of the warrior Gems, they felt safe. Especially with the Gem of War herself.

The dropship approached the city as the sun settled on the horizon and thunder clouds began to form overhead. When the ship touched down, the ramp lowered, and Onyx walked off it. It felt good to be back in the city. But the Gem of War was not here for pleasantries. She was going to find Pink and get answers.

She walked down one of the many large empty streets of the city. Due to the war, many plans for Gems to start moving in were postponed until the rebellion ended. However, she was stopped when Onyx heard someone call out to her.

"Onyx! Over here!"

Onyx stopped and just stood there. Then she turned her head towards the Gem calling her and saw it was Pink. She waved happily at the black Gem as she glared at her. Seeing that glare, Pink's expression turned from happy to confuse and scared.

"Is...Is there something wrong?"

"I know about Project Assimilation," Onyx told her, throwing the hard drive. It slid across the floor until it bumped into her feet.

Pink stared at the hard drive in shock before looking up at Onyx.

"Please," Onyx begged. "Tell me it isn't..."

Suddenly she hit in the chest by a beam of blue energy and yellow electricity. The power double attack pushed her down on the ground and pushed her back. Onyx screaming in pain as she was dragged across the ground before the attack stopped. She writhed on the ground in agony as yellow currents running all around her body. But she was uninjured and her body didn't destabilize.

Pink was shocked, but then Blue and Yellow Diamond approached from behind. "Stand back, Pink! For your safety!" Blue ordered the little Diamond as she and Yellow glared at Black, who was starting to get up again.

"Stop! What are you doing!?" Pink begged the two Diamonds.

"She's plotted to betray you, Pink," Yellow said.

Pink's eyes widened and she turned back to Onyx.

"It's over, Gem of War! We know what your intentions were when you contacted our sister," Blue said spitefully. "Our sister was your friend! How dare you plot to take this world for yourself."

"I plotted no such thing!" Onyx yelled in anger. "I've for answers! Rose Quartz showed me data about..."

"I see. So you've been a double-agent from the rebellion all these years," Blue said, narrowing her eyes with suspicion. Pink looked at Blue in shock and dread. No, this wasn't what was supposed to happen. She never planned for this. "That explains your incompetency to capture or shatter Rose Quartz. All while the Crystal Gems were on the verge of defeat, they suddenly have reinforcements and nearly wipe out most of the army stationed here."

"Where are my troops?" Onyx demanded.

"We've rounded them up. They'll be used for a special experiment we've been working on," Yellow said. "You have only two options, General. Surrender or be shattered."

Onyx growled in anger. "When White Diamond learns about this, she'll take your heads!"

Yellow chuckled slightly. "Fool. She ordered us to do it."

What? Onyx's eyes widened in shock as the truth hit her like a hammer. Giving her no time to react when Yellow fired her Light Destabilization attack at her. Knocking Onyx back on the ground. Blue then unleashed her Sadness Inducement. Engulfing the entire area with her aura. Yellow and Pink were unaffected, but it did affect Onyx, and she was brought to her knees.

The inducement overwhelmed the battle-hardened Gem with intense feelings of sadness and she started to cry uncontrollably. she fell on her hands. Slamming them on the ground and grabbed at its smooth surface. Ever Gem soldier she mourned for their loss. The friends that were shattered. Learning that she was nothing but an experiment that they threw away like a broken toy. And then this. This betrayal. It filled her with so much sadness.

And so much rage.

Onyx's tears started evaporating on her face as steam started to flow off of her arms, shoulders, and back. Her muscles became prominent, and veins started showing through the fabric of her clothes under her armor. She looked up and opened her eyes, showing them to be glowing a yellowish glow. Onyx glared at the Diamonds as they stared at her in shock as she stood to her feet. She looked at her hands as they started to produce fire. Then the Gem of War threw her head back and yelled a mighty roar of fury, causing a shockwave to explode from her. Burning the ground around her and melting the floor from the intense heat, and knocking the Diamonds off their feet.

Pink sat up and gasped in horror seeing Onyx glaring at her and her sisters with such murdering intent. The flames of her body were wild and burned brighter than anything on this planet.

Like looking at the fires of hell.

When the Diamonds got back up and saw the power their false sister had they were shocked. But then resituated themselves and they projected their aura together while simultaneously firing a beam of energy at the Gem of War.

Onyx responded by projecting her aura and firing a column of flames at them.

The three attacks collided and the two Diamonds of Homeworld and their experiment of a sister fought with all their might to push the other's back. Deciding she's had enough, Pink stepped in.

"Blue! Yellow! Please stop!" She yelled at the two matriarchs, but they didn't listen and continued. "Please! Stop it! She's one of us!" Again they paid no attention to her.

At that point, Pink started to get really mad. This was just like every single time they didn't want to listen to her. Just like when White took control of her when they created Black.

"I SAID SSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!" She screamed a powerful Sonic Scream that cracked the floor of streets. The sonic wave that came from her knocked the Diamonds off their feet.

But for Onyx, with it hit her, the results were much different. When it hit, she was thrown back, as both of Blue and Yellow's beams hit at the same time. The combined powers devastated Onyx's body and time slowed down for the Gem of War. Her gemstone was unharmed, but her body was massively damaged as cracks started spreading throughout her body. Onyx stared up at the night's sky as a crack spread to her face, crossing over her right eye.

Then she landed on her back, and it was all over. The was silence as raindrops started to fall down.

Breathing heavy, anger-filled pants of air, Pink slowly came back to reality. Her expression turned to dread and horror when realizing what she's down. Grabbing the side of her head through her poofy hair, she screamed in horror. The scream awakened Blue and Yellow and they looked around. They then saw Pink in her state, they knew what had happened.

"Pink," Blue said. Pink ran towards Onyx.

When the Diamond approached the body of Black Diamond and looked down at her, Pink gasped and teared up, holding back the sobs. The sight of what she saw would haunt her for the rest of her days.

With her armor breaking and clothing cut up and torn, Onyx's body was covered with crack scars bigger than anything any normal gem would have been able to withstand. Her body soaked in blood that pooled on the floor from the cracks. The worst was the crack-scars that went across her chest that sank in. It was unknown if the damage would be permanent since she was a Diamond. But she was also still part human.

With that scar over her right eye, she looked up at the Diamond. Blue and Yellow joined Pink, pushing her back away from the Gem of War. Panting, she said, "I know what I am, sisters. About Project Assimilation...the things you've done! You're monsters!"

"It doesn't matter whether or not you know," Yellow said, as she and Blue stared down at her in disguise. "You've done your job well."

"With the rebellion nearly destroyed, Rose Quartz will fall...and we can finally get back on track," Blue said, placing a large hand on Pink's shoulder.

Onyx struggled to look up at the horrified Diamond. "Pink..."

"Yes, it would devastate the masses, but when they learn that you've plotted to kill Pink and attacked us, all of Gem loyal to the empire will cheer for your destruction," Blue said. Pink snapped her head to her and stared in a mixture of shock, disbelief, horror, and sadness. Everything was falling apart. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Why was this happening? Did Garnet predict this outcome, but never told her?

Onyx got her attention when she coughed blood. "Pink...I trusted you! You betrayed me."

Pink wanted to say something, but what could she say?

"We thank you, General. But we no longer have a use for you," Blue and Yellow said simultaneously, before they hit her with their energy attacks.

---

When Onyx came to, she felt cold and very, very weak. It was a struggle to even open her eyes. But when she did, she started coughing. Blood projecting out of her mouth with each cough. When she looked around, she saw herself inside of a glass tub. Placing her hand on the surface, she struggled to stand up. But she felt some of her returning.

Onyx looked around was shocked to see other tubs, each with a Gem gemstone inside of them. They were all inside of a large dark chamber that likely stretched for miles, with the only light being the blue ring lights under the tubs.

The Gem of War instantly recognized these Gems. They were her men. Her soldiers. Onyx pounded her fist on the glass. But it absorbed the blow. She punched it, causing the right light under her tub to turn red. It caught her attention, and she wasn't able to stop two beams of energy coming down and hitting her arms. Incasing them in bubbles that were then drawn to each other like magnets. Onyx turned to pull her arms away, but she couldn't. The bubbles that bonded her hands merged, before yanking her arms over her head. She was lifted off her feet and suspended in the air.

"Let me go!" She demanded, kicking her legs around. Onyx looked to her right at the gemstone next to her. "Hang tight! All of you hang tight until I can figure a way out of here!"

Executing Rejuvenation Procol. Stand by for memory stripping.

"What?" Onyx exclaimed. She could only watch as the gemstone was hit with a beam of pink energy extending from the ceiling the tub was attached to. She then watched in horror as the process happened to the other Gems of her army. "No!"

She tried kicking the glass. But it was no use. She was too weak in her state. At that point, she gave up as the gemstones all started glowing brightly. It was a nightmare. What were they doing to them? Was this the experiment that the Diamonds talked about?

"Pink...What have you done?"

Suddenly she was pulled up through the ceiling.

The net moment, Black Diamond was raised up to another chamber. The bubbles that trapped her hand pulled her arms out and slightly over her head as she was forced on her knees by an energy collar around her next pulled her down.

There was no one in the large room. The only source of light was a dull yellow ray of light that shined through a circle in the ceiling.

She then heard footsteps and looked up to see someone approaching her. When she stepped into the light, Onyx's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Hello, old friend," said Hessonite with a smirk that hid a vicious look.

"Hess?" Onyx stared at her with wide eyes as the orange Gem walked around her. "Hess, what are you doing?!"

"As of now..." Hess stopped as a tray floated down. On it were torturous tools. "Enjoying my promotion." She then looked back at her and grinned. "As your replacement."

"Hess, listen to me. The Diamonds have betrayed us! They've taken the others and are..."

"Yes, I know," Hess said, turning to pick a tool. "And I know all about you, Black Diamond." Black's eyes widened. She tried to break out of the bindings, but was zapped by a powerful voltage of electricity. She held in her scream of pain. Then it stopped and she panted from it. "To think, the Gem of War is still nothing more than a mishmash of humans. When I was first told about it, I didn't think it was possible, but look at you. Bleeding like you're one of them."

"How long have you've known?" Onyx growled out.

"Not long after I was assigned to you," Hess admitted, picking up a tool to examine it. "The Diamonds wanted someone to keep an eye on you. Gain your trust, so that if you ever became a threat, they'd know."

"And what about them? What have you down to them?" Onyx demanded.

"Who? Oh, our army. Um, it's just Yellow's latest project. It's called 'Rejuvenation'. They're still alive, but when they reform, they'll be repurposed. They'll be stripped of their memories and revert back to their original purpose."

Onyx growled in sadness, before lifting her head up to glare. "How many have you Rejuvenated?"

"Well, under your command? Everyone."

The Gem of War's heart sank.

Hess turned around and approached her. "With the exception of me, of course. You are all that's left of the old army...old friend."

Onyx roared like an animal as she tried lunging at her ex-best friend. She wanted to shatter her into dust. However, she was stopped when she was shocked again with electricity. When it stopped, Black glared at Hess while panting. Her eyes filled with nothing but hate for her. She then settled and turned her head away. "If I'm going to die, then just get it over with already."

"No," Hess said, turning back to the tray to pick another tool. "It wouldn't work. Not for something like you. The Diamonds have already found you guilty of high treason and have sentenced you to be shattered on Homeworld. I'm just here to have some fun."

"Why are you doing this Hess," Onyx asked. Hessonite pulled out her straight cutlass sword from her gemstone and pressed the sharp tip of it into the chest of the kneeling General.

"Because I've always hated you!" Hess spat out with venom. "A Hessonite, born commanders of Homeworld's army, taking orders from a human-Gem fusion abomination. It made me sick that you were chosen when we were created to lead. Created after millenniums of perfecting Hessonites, loyal soldiers to the empire. But once I'm in command, I'll hunt down the last of the rebels and bring peace and librate the colony."

"You're delusional, Hess," Onyx hissed with an amused look. "Enjoy your promotion...you better enjoy it before the Diamonds shatter you after you first lost."

Hess and Onyx glared at one another before a beeping sound was heard.

Hess stepped away from Onyx and pulled out a communication device. Answering it, the device projected a small hologram of a Pearl.

"The Dropship is ready to transport the traitor to the Galaxy Warp," said the Pearl.

"Understood. I'll have my security take her there," Hess said before ending the call. She then looked at the weak Gem and smirk. Onyx watched as she walked to her right side. "Well, it was fun, but this is goodbye...old friend."

Hess then thrust her sword and stabbed Black Diamond's gemstone. Cracking it as Onyx groaned in pain. Everything started to become a blur for her. She became very weak to the point that she couldn't hold her head straight up. Onyx let out a defeated sigh as Hess turned and walked towards the doors of the chamber. Walking out of it and ordering the guards to take her to the ship. The two Quartz soldiers entered the room and approached the disgraced Gem of War. One of them kneeled down and turned her head towards her and gasped when she saw the damage.

---

Moments later, and Onyx was loaded onto the dropship. The ramp raised and closed, before the ship lifted off the landing platform. As it flew away from Gem City, Yellow Diamond's voice called over the loudspeakers about the betrayal orchestrated by the Gem of War. When she said that the traitor was now being taken to the Galaxy Warp to be taken back to Homeworld for shattering, they all cheered.

Onyx was thrown into one of the prison cells and she laid on the floor. She could barely move. Everything hurt.

Suddenly there were the sounds of an explosion. The side of the ship had exploded. Onyx lifted her head as there were the sounds of poofing Gems. Just then, a Quartz soldier entered walked in front of the cell. Deactivating the barrier, she rushed in and picked up the Gem of War's body as everything went blank.

...

...

...

...

...

When she opened her eyes again, she saw the Quartz soldier carrying her to through the hallway. Then she blacked out again.

...

...

...

...

...

"Pearl! Land the ship." Suddenly, Onyx felt much better. She was still weak and badly hurt, but she was able to open her eyes again. When she did, she raised her hand to her face to see her Gem was all healed. "It's going to be ok."

Onyx looked to the voice and saw it was none other than Rose Quartz. Holding her while having the Gem of War sit upon the ground. They were in the control room of the Dropship, with Pearl working the controls. Rose turned to say something to Pearl, but Onyx didn't hear it. Anger filled her soul as she clenched her right fist tightly.

This was all her fault.

Rose turned back to Onyx, only for the Diamond to punch her in the gemstone, causing it to crack. Rose was sent flying back and slammed against the wall. The Gem of War clumsily rose to her feet as Pearl shouted, "ROSE!"

Pearl rushed to Rose as she slid to the floor, holding her crack gemstone. This was really bad, and Rose's face showed her panic.

Onyx approached the two to deal the final blow to the leader of the Crystal Gems. Her eyes burning with nothing but hate as her right hand was covered in fire. Pearl saw her approaching and stepped in front of Rose to protect her.

"P-Pearl, no!" It was too late, as Onyx poofed Pearl's body with a sword she summoned. The force she used was enough to destroy her physical form. Rose then looked up at Onyx as she stopped in front of her.

"This...is...all...your...fault," Onyx managed to say as she cocked her flaming fist back.

At that point, Rose couldn't do it. She let go. Stopping, Onyx watched in confusion at first when she saw Rose illuminate her gem. Immediately following, her form turned to light, which she recognized to be shapeshifting. She watched as her form grew taller and leaner. She watched as her gem rotated downwards at a ninety-degree angle, showcasing the bottom of her gem: a cone, which represented the bottom of a cut diamond. Onyx's eyes then widened with total terror when the transformation was done, and color returned to her finished form.

Rose had turned back into her normal self.

Pink Diamond.

Onyx stared at Pink as she took Rose's pace. Pink took the moment to shed of tear and heal her cracked gem.

The Gem of War was almost frozen with terror, and rage. Her sword disappeared and the flames died out. Rose Quartz, her sworn enemy, was Pink Diamond! The same Gem that betrayed her. She couldn't believe it.

"...Pink?" Onyx whispered.

Pink flinched, but sighed. This was going to happen. Now, she had to face her greatest guilt. "...Yes. I'm afraid I am," she said, standing up to her full height.

"You-" Onyx grunted in pain and fell to her knees. More memories were flashing in her head, and then there were the scars that did not heal when Rose used her healing tears.

Pink rushed over and picked up Pearl's gemstone before kneeling in front of Onyx. "Please! Don't overexert yourself, Black. I'm not here to hurt you," she said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Onyx smacked it away.

"How do I know that!" Onyx snapped at the Diamond. "After you've lied to everyone! After you've lied to your Crystal Gems! After you've betrayed your Homeworld! Betrayed your sisters! Betrayed me!"

Pink tried again and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for lying to you. I didn't have a choice."

"HOW!? How did you not have a choice?!" Onyx screamed with fury. Suddenly there was another explosion and the two their heads to see the top of the ship breaking apart giving them an opening at the top.

"I'll explain everything. But you have to trust me and let me get you off this ship. Please, believe me...as a friend."

"Friend? You-You one of them. A Diamond!"

"Not anymore. Now jump!" Pink grabbed Black's arm and jump out of the dropship.

Landing on the top of the roof, she saw they were falling towards the sea. She looked around and saw an island off a feet miles from their position, but she jumped high into the air. Traveling far before landing into the sea a mile away from the island. The dropship crashed into the water and exploded.

Pink carried Onyx out of the water and onto dry land. She placed the injured and cracking gem commander on the sandy shores. Onyx tried to move, but grunted in pain. Her body was covered in her own blood. Her crack scars were growing larger, but somehow, she did not shatter. It was a horrible sight for Pink to see someone she genuinely considered her friend to be in. But if anyone could survive being in this state, it was her.

"Hey, stay with me," she said gently. Onyx looked up at her as she shed a few tears into her hand. The Diamond then poured those tears onto her gemstone. The cracking stopped and the cracking scars reverted. However, not all of them were healed. The deep, gash like injures still remained on her chest. Healing only into crack-like, greyish white marks. The scar on her eye still remained, but it wasn't as massive as it was before. "That's it. You're going to be alright," Pink Diamond told Onyx as she looked at her gemstone.

It was healed, but now had crack scars coming out of all four points. Looking ready to spread again.

Black looked at Pink Diamond with a tried expression. Wanting to be enraged at the sight of her. All this time, her friend was her sworn enemy! She had pushed among the Armies of Homeworld that Rose Quartz was their enemy, even though she had been there with them all along. Fighting against Onyx.

But at that moment, Onyx was exhausted. "You started this war..."

"Onyx..."

"You lied to you're friends...your sisters...to everyone...even me?"

"Onyx, I..."

"Turned me into this...this thing?"

"I'm so sorry," Pink said, placing Pearl's stone on the sand before putting her hand on Onyx's cheek. "I'll explain everything. But, if I do, you have to promise not to tell a soul. No one can know. Do you understand?..."

Onyx was silent for a moment before nodding. "You saved my life. You did all of this? Why?"

Pink stared into her eyes and gave her response.

"Because of you. You were the reason..."

---

A few hundred years before the events that would lead to Onyx being betrayed, the beginning of what would lead to Pink taking on the form of Rose Quartz started on a boring day for the matriarch. Pink Diamond sat in her chair, browsing through various Gem locations on Earth on the control panel, while Pearl stood next to her. When she first started Earth's colonization, she was excepting it to be fun and adventurous. This was not what she was expecting. Just watching a monitor and being bored out of her mind.

In her boredom, Pink Diamon turned to Pearl. "Could you imagine that running a colony would be this dull?"

"I could imagine it, if you would like me to, my Diamond," said Pearl. Eager to please her owner.

Pink sighed. It was only a joke, but this Pearl wasn't like her old one. Seeing that her Diamond wasn't pleased, Pearl's smile dropped. "Show me the status of the Prime Kindergarten," she commanded.

"Yes, my Diamond." Pearl placed her hand on the control panel and projected a hologram of Earth with her gemstone. "The first Quartz soldiers are due to emerge soon," she told her Diamond.

First looking bored, Pink gasped with excitement. Causing Pearl to lose focus before leaning towards her. "Finally, something exciting!" The two then left the console and Pink Diamond jumped down into the observation room of the base, while Pearl calmly walked down the stairs.

The Mapped Room had patterns of circles on the walls. These patterns bear resemblance to star maps. The orb in the middle of the room was an observation orb, which the Diamonds could use in order to observe the activity of their respective colonies from afar.

"Hurry, we've got to see this! Quickly, turn it on," she said with excited impatience.

"Yes, my Diamond." Pearl placed her hand on the orb and activated it in the room, and the Prime Kindergarten was projected all around in the room.

Pink looked around the walls of the Kindergarten with wonder as Gems began to pop out of their holes. Beginning their lives. "Look at this, Pearl!" Pink gasped with amazement. "We're creating life from nothing!" She then saw a light appear on the wall, near the base of the Kindergarten. Kneeling down on her knees, Pink watched an Amethyst emerge from the earth.

"Welcome to Earth!" Pink exclaimed with joy. Holding out her arms for a hug.

The Amethyst, being a hologram, walked through Pink Diamond and over to some other Amethysts, and began talking to them.

Pink Diamond sighed seeing that she was not able to feel their joy. "I wish I could just be there...

"I'll have us warped in the Kindergarten at once, my Diamond," Pearl offered.

Pink's eyes widened at the prospect of that. "W-What? N-No, no, if I went down to the Kindergarten I would never hear the end of it from Yellow and Blue," she said. "Oh, but could you imagine? Me, down there, laughing and playing with the Amethysts?"

"Of course I can, my Diamond." Pearl projected a hologram of Pink Diamond laughing with the Amethysts. "You look so happy."

She does look so happy. But Pink frowned. "I won't be so happy when Blue and Yellow find out."

"They won't find out."

"How's that?"

"Because... You look just like a Quartz," Pearl said as the hologram showed Pink shapeshifted into a Rose Quartz and laughing with the Amethysts again. "You changed your shape for a day!"

"That's brilliant, Pearl!" Pink exclaimed.

Pearl dispelled her projection with a sense of satisfaction. Not noticing the flash of pink light. "I'm glad I was able to help my Dia-" she stopped when she looked up, but didn't see her tall ruler. Like she's disappeared.

"Hehe, down here!" said Pink's voice as a smaller hand waving up. Pearl looked down and found that Pink Diamond had shapeshifted herself into a Rose Quartz.

---

Now that they were ready, Rose and Pearl warped to the Prime Kindergarten. Compared to state it's in in the present day, the Kindergarten looked very lively with several active Injectors and many Amethysts walking around. "Pearl, look! This is... incredible!" Rose exclaimed with stars in her eyes. "We have to go down there and check it out."

Rose grabbed Pearl and jumped high into the air without giving Pearl the chance to respond. Gently, she floated down to the ground of the Kindergarten. All the while Amethysts were popping out of the walls. "Pearl, this is so-"

"Outta my way!" Rose got shoved by an Amethyst as she ran past, causing her to fall over onto the ground.

"Oh no!" Pearl ran over to help her Diamond in disguise up. "I'm so sorry, these Amethyst guards can be so rude!"

"But Pearl, don't you see what's happening?" she asked her servant. This confused Pearl. "We're actually here! And I am fitting right in! None of that dumb salute- Thank you so much for talking me into this, I couldn't have done this on my own."

"Uhh... You're welcome, my Diamond-"

"Gah- Shhh..." Rose quickly silenced her with a finger on the slim Gem's lips. "Pearl, you're gonna get us in trouble," she whispered.

"Sorry, my... Quartz," Pearl said, correcting herself.

A yelling sound brought the attention of the Amethyst to another part of the Kindergarten. Before Pearl could try and stop her, Rose started running to where it was coming from, and what she saw made her gasp in wonder.

Stand in the middle of four Amethysts was a single human woman with curvaceous features, a delicate face, green eyes, and blond hair tied-up in a spiky ponytail. She wore fur material as a dress, was barefooted, and was armed with a spear. She used that weapon to swing or thrust at any Gem that came too close.

"What is that?!" Rose gasped with stars in her eyes.

"Be careful!" Pearl said running over to place herself in front of Rose. "It's a human native."

"Well, let's go say hello," Rose said, moving past Pearl and approached the human. When the Amethyst surrounding it started to back away and move on, the pink Gem approached the defensive creature. "Salutations-!"

She was interrupted when the human pointed her spear at her nose. The woman then started shouting in a kind of language that Rose was not familiar with. Pearl quickly race over and pulled Rose back.

"We really shouldn't mess with the human's," she said after letting her go. "They can act hostile."

"But she's scared," Rose protested, looking back at the human to see her lowering her spear and standing normally. Determined to strike up a conversation, she walked up to her again. "Greetings. We're a Gem seeking to make your planet our home. What kind of human are you?"

The human woman tilted her head to one side in confusion.

Seeing this, Rose cleared her through and tried again. "I'm a Quartz. She's a Pearl," she said, gesturing to herself and Pearl. "Who are you and where did you pop out from."

Again, the human didn't respond.

"I don't think it understands us," Pearl said. The human grunted and then turned and walked away. "Oh, good. It's walking away. Let's try and not cause it any more problems than we've already have."

"Ugh, you're right. But things were getting really fun," Rose said sadly, looking up to see the human walking away through the Kindergarten. "I wanted to be friends with her."

Pearl knew this wouldn't be allowed, but she was so desperate to make Pink happy. "Well, what if, we took some time to follow her and she'd show us some of Earth's other features?"

Rose gasped. "Pearl! You're so smart."

And that's what they did. As the human walked away, Rose and Pearl followed behind her a few feet. The human looked behind to see the two, but didn't mind. She too was curious about them, but had a job to do. Soon, they exited the Prime Kindergarten. While the human woman walked on, Rose and Pearl stopped at where the dead earth met the lush greenery of grass and flowers.

"So... This... is Earth," Rose said with wonder, taking the moment to gaze across an environment teeming with life and a bright sky.

"And this is just a small portion of the resources available for making Gems on this planet," Pearl said.

The human stopped and turned around to face them. Wondering if they were going to follow.

"I have to see it all," Rose said, and the two followed after the human.

They follow her, walking through a field of flowers, chasing a butterfly through the forest, and watched as fishes swam through the river. They then watched the human successfully hunt and kill a wild animal, which shocked and horrified the two. Despite this, the hunter didn't much care for how they felt and simply carried her kill back to her village, where other hunters were coming back from their hunts. The hunter invited them to their gather meal, which Pink and Pearl accept to just sit and observe the humans.

And that's was the experience Rose was exposed to for the rest of the week. With the help of the female hunter, the Gems were shown the lifestyle and culture of humanity. Their dances, rituals, and art. Their hunts for wild animals and gatherings of the local fruits and vegetables. The celebration of a young infant and the death of the elder. Even though they were there for a week, the experience was overwhelming Pink with amazement and astonishment, and she gained an immediate fondness for the life on Earth and over time, eventually came to value it as well. And as the two sent time together, she and the hunter formed a bond of friendship.

But as they said their goodbyes to the female hunter and her people, Pink and Pearl returned to the Kindergarten and the Diamond realized the horrible truth. The sky began to grow dark, with Rose looking uneasy.

Seeing this, Pearl turned to her. "Is everything alright, my Diamond? You seem troubled."

"All this life that's been growing wild here on Earth... None of it... None of them... will survive my invasion." Rose said gloomily. "We're not creating life from nothing. We're taking life, and leaving nothing behind."

Flashes of lightning struck across the sky as thunder boomed in the clouds, and it began to rain.

"Forgive me, my Diamond. I shouldn't have brought you to such a place," Pearl said guiltily.

"No. I needed to see this," Rose said, gazing at the Kindergarten, now looking dark and ominous.

---

Back in the present, Pearl's gem continued to lay on the sand. Then it glowed and Pearl reformed. She gasped and looked around desperately for Rose. However, she gasped in terror when she saw Pink in her true form, sitting with Onyx on the beach of the island. The island they were on consisted of a giant waterfall, multiple lakes, a beach, many trees, and multiple crystal clusters and geodes. It was inhabited by creatures such as worms and ocean fish with strange mask-like faces and glowing eyes.

"So you see, I did want to protect Earth," Pink said. Her voice filled with remorse. "I didn't realize what the colony was doing to the planet until that moment."

"And you just suddenly started to care about Earth?" Onyx question, still upset at he more everything. She had repaired her armor thanks to her Gem magic, hiding all the scars. "Even if I did show you Earth, why did you have to rope me and the other humans into all this? What does it have to do Project Assimilation? You had the power to stop the colonization, so why didn't you?"

Pink looked away sadly as Pearl walked over and sat with her. "Onyx, you and I both know I tried. When I told our...my sisters that I didn't want to go through with the colony, they told me to finish what I started. I wanted a colony so bad, they weren't going to let me back out. I did everything I could as Pink Diamond. But my status meant nothing to Blue and Yellow." Pink swallowed the lump in her throat before continuing. "Then, one day, I was fed up. They didn't respect or care about me enough to listen, that I made the biggest mistake of my life."

"My Diamond," Pearl said in an effort to ease her troubles and guilt. "Perhaps I should continue on from here."

"No! She needs to hear it from me." Pink took a deep breath and looked at the Gem of War in the eyes. "In my anger, I told them to give humanity a purpose in the empire."

Onyx eyes widened.

"I never wanted them to do Project Assimilation," Pink quickly said. Knowing that the Gem of War would believe that she would've wanted something so awful to happen. "I didn't even know of its existence or the deaths of the humans until it was too late. They created the Zoo, and threw a handful of humans in. But that was all I was told. Until the day came for your creation. I went along with the experiment at first until...until..."

Pink couldn't take it anymore and broke down sobbing into her hands. Onyx looked worriedly at her and with a sense of guilt. She knew that Pink wouldn't have gone through with the thinking that happened in the Zoo.

Seeing her Diamond in such distress, Pearl held her arm to comfort her. "When the Diamonds powered the machine, Pink saw what was going on and tried to stop," she continued the story as Pink sobbed. "But White wouldn't let her. She took control of Pink and forced her to finish the experiment, and well...you were created."

Onyx looked at Pink. "Is that true?"

Pink was still sobbing, but was able to speak. "Yes! Yes, it's true! I'm so sorry, Black!" she cried.

"But, what happened after I was created?" Onyx asked Pearl.

"White released Pink from her power and shattered all the scientists and soldiers involved with the experiments, and the had all the remaining humans killed and disposed of. Pink tried to stop them but the Diamonds stopped her. Project Assimilation was to be erased from all archives and it was never to be spoken of again."

"But, why did the other Diamonds let me live?"

"Because they wanted to use you. You were still a new Gem with many possibilities. So, they spared you."

"That's why I started the war," Pink said, wiping away her tears after she calmed down and could control herself. "I was not only forced to watch you, my human friend, die, but I was forced into killing you and those other humans. It's my fault Project Assimilation started. The deaths that have been caused. I had enough, and created my Rose Quartz alter ego. To make a stand, as someone they couldn't ignore."

Onyx looked down at the sand and then looked at her hands. "All this violence...all because of me..."

"It isn't like that, Black," Pink said, placing her hands on both of hers. "At first, all I was fighting for was the Earth. But I don't just want for it to be free, I wanted to fight for Gems! For a place where all Gems could be free. I wanted you to join us, but I knew that you wouldn't."

"Then why didn't you show me those files before?" Onyx asked her friend. "Why now, of all times?"

Pink sighed. "The shame was too great, but something that happened on Homeworld..."

---

A few days ago

Pink was inside of her massive pink spaceship that was shaped like a pair of legs. A few minutes ago, she was called back to Homeworld for an event that was considered "Special". Ever since the development of the Sapphires and their ability to see into the future, the eldest of the four, White Diamond, had become obsessed with knowing the future. And on this day, they've had a prediction. One that was of extreme importance. When she and her Pearl arrived at the Gem Homeworld, they walked towards White Diamond's headship. Along the way, they meet up with Yellow and Blue, and told them about the massive defeat the rebels had.

"The mission was a success? How could you call it a success?" Yellow demanded with a rather strict tone, frowning down on the smaller Diamond with a look of judgment. "Rose Quartz escaped. Meaning they could still rally troops to her side."

"I'm sorry," Pink said, before Blue placed a hand on her head.

"Don't be like that, Pink. You don't need to take responsibility for this mission's failure," she said softly, before scowling. "Rather, the fault is on our 'Gem of War'."

"But she was following your orders," Pink argued.

"Enough!" Yellow commanded. "We will talk about this later. But for now, let's just get this over with."

Pink had no choice but to remain quiet and just get this meeting over with. When they entered the ship, they were greeted by seven figures in the dark, white room. Standing in front of them were five White Sapphires. All holding their hands together as they stood shoulder to shoulder.

As the Diamonds walked around them, Pink saw someone that made her gasp. It was White Diamond's Pearl, or in reality, her former Pink Pearl.

White Pearl had all of the typical features of a Pearl, with a thin and flexible build and a pointed beak-like nose. Her hair was twisted into two buns that were held to the sides of her head. But while she used to be pink like her former master, her color scheme was changed to a monochrome black-and-white one, with her skin being an off-white color and her bodice being off-black with gray sleeves and legs, as well as her skirt changing to white and her flats changing to light gray.

But one unforgettable, prominent feature was the atypical scarring over her left eye, which was lined with cracks that extend to the chin, hairline, and hair bun of her physical form, completely covering the missing eye.

A crack that Pink herself caused when she threw a tantrum. The second biggest regret of her life.

"Remember, we Diamonds don't make mistakes," Blue told her. Pink stared at her as she faced away. She tried to reinforce that idea, but the more she stared at what Pink Pearl had become, the more that ideology crumbled.

"Now that everyone's here, let's begin," said the titan-size ruler herself, White Diamond.

White Diamond was about a head taller than her fellow Diamonds. She had white skin, white spiky hair in a shape similar to a star pentagon, diamond-shaped white pupils with large and full black eyelashes and black fingernails. Her body constantly radiated a bright light which, along with her ship's brightness, probably made her gemstone barely visible while her other features are visible because they're either black or have black outlines. Her gemstone was located on her forehead and is a side view of a round-cut diamond. Her outfit consisted of a long translucent white dress that reached the floor and slit up both sides to her thighs, having shoulder pads. She also wore a cape with black and gray stripes that was lined with glimmering diamond and star designs and attached to her arms, as well as a pair of intricately detailed dress sandals with high heels.

"My Sapphires told me they had a prediction. One that involved our little problem planet, Earth," said the head of the Diamond Authority.

"White, I can assure you that..." Pink tried to explain that all on things on Earth were going well and that there was nothing to be worried about.

But White interrupted her with a shush. "Now, now, Pink. I know you like to think that all is going because of your friend. Our little...Black. But do know that I've started to become impatient. But we have progress, and I can't wait to see what the future has for Earth."

Pink sighed and gather with her sisters around the Sapphires. Together, the small white Gems put their hands together, lacing their fingers, and spoke together in perfect sync. The Diamond listened closely as this prediction was sure to come true.

"We see the Earth and the Rebellion gone, but not forgotten. Two gems and two humans, now only two beings. We now see the Diamonds, being defeated by the Rose Pink shield of the Universe and the Onyx Black sword of the Infinite."

Yellow, Blue, and even Pink were stunned by this prediction, with neither knowing what to make of it. The two formers looked at one another, wondering how they, Diamonds, could be defeated. But they all knew that this prediction, said by all five Sapphires, couldn't be wrong. Pink took a moment to think about what it all meant. But as she focused on the last part, the more she began to realize what it all meant.

Rose Quartz was the only Gem with a pink shield, and Onyx was the Onyx Gem with a black sword.

White, however, didn't say a word for a while. The other Diamonds turned to her and waited for her response. The longer she stayed silent, the more the others started to worry.

"This is most...Interesting," she said. "Who else knows about this?"

Yellow and Blue glanced at one another. "Nobody. Only us," Yellow said.

Suddenly there was a flash of light. Pink watched in horror as the Sapphire's shattered gemstone landed on the floor.

"Good," White said, with her eyes returning to normal after they glowed. "Let's keep it that way."

---

"I knew I had very little power to stop them. And I knew that if I was to save you from my sisters, that you had to know the truth," Pink said, about to bring the story to a close. Onyx just sat that with a look of terror. "I gather as much of the data that could be saved and put it on that hard drive. I was hoping that by giving you the data, you'd join Rose against me."

"But, you're Rose. Weren't you going to tell me that in your original plan?" Onyx asked, standing up.

Pink looked away with shame.

Onyx sighed. "I see...If I joined you as Rose, I'd be against you as Pink. So, what are you going to do?"

"I've still got a war to wage," Pink stated, standing up. "Most of the Crystal Gems are gone." Onyx adverted her eyes from her. If we don't stop them, Homeworld's going to destroy this planet. Now, with you, we can rebuild the Crystal Gems."

Onyx looked back at her with wide eyes. "Wait, what do you mean? I'm not a Crystal Gem."

"That's why I'm offering you chance to be one. To fight for your world," Pink insisted.

"My world? Pink, I never asked for this war. I'm not a human. I'm not a Gem!" Onyx exclaimed. "I just found out that I'm not what I thought I was. That everything I've ever know was a lie!"

"Then let's end this war!" Pink said, placing a hand on Onyx's shoulder. "You must finish what's begun."

"Why can't you?" Onyx swatted her arm away. "You were the one that started the war. Rose can just reveal yourself as Pink and you can get the Diamonds to listen to you."

"Don't you think I want to?" Pink snapped. "I can't. If our sisters knew I was Rose Quartz, they'll take over operations for the planet. And the situation would just become even worse. And if I came out as Pink to the Crystal Gems, they'll disband. They'll never follow me as my true self. Please, I know that you're in a lot of pain..."

"You don't know what I feel," Onyx growled.

"What I see in front of me is someone that was betrayed by her empire, left with scars that will never heal," Pink said, making Onyx look down sadly. "They took everything from you...Everything but your name."

"Black Diamond?" Onyx asked bitterly.

"Onyx; the Gem of War." The black Gem looked up at her with wide eyes. "I need you to live up to that name, and help me end it. Show everyone that with you, there's still hope."

Pink held out her hand to Onyx.

Onyx stared at the hand for moment. She hesitantly reached out to it, stopped, and then with both hands, closed Pink's hand.

"I'm sorry...I-I not...No. I never asked to exist, Pink." Onyx said sadly. Turning away with a tear running down her face. "Now, I just...what to be alone..."

Pink stared at her sadly, before letting out a sigh. "Then the war is already lost," she said, before turning and walking away. Pearl glanced between the two, giving Onyx worried looks before running off after Pink.

Leaving Onyx to collapse on knees and stare down at the ground.

---

Sometime later, Onyx used the warp pad that was on the island to warp to some random place. And then she started walking.

For miles, the disgraced general traveled across Earth. Climbing over hills covered with soft grass that when Onyx took off her boots and let her feet touch it, it was so soft. It brought out a smile from her lips. She ventured through dense forests, when a butterfly landed on her hand. Bringing her hand up, she observed it, but it flew away and got eaten by a frog. Onyx then picked up the frog and looked at it for a moment. Thinking about how weird it was. And whenever night would fall on the land, the Gem of War gaze up at the night sky, thinking about what she should do.

She was free to do whatever she wanted, until this world was destroyed. The more she thought about its destruction, the sadder she became. But Onyx shook her head and tried to forget about it.

Then, one night as she traveled into a forest as fireflies flew all around her. It amazed her that she lost all trace of direction.

Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes. Onyx quickly summoned her sword and pointed it at the direction it came from.

Only for the tip of her blade to be pointing at the nose of a human girl.

Onyx's eyes widened and she quickly pulled her weapon from the girl. After that, the girl ran away, dropping her little toy doll. Onyx called out for her to come back, then picked up her little doll and chased after her through the woods.

When exiting the woods, she gasped at the sight of a village. A tribe of humans around a bonfire and dancing to a ritual. Looking down at the doll in her hand and then back up at the tribe, she took a deep breath and approached the humans. At first, they didn't notice her until she stepped into the light of the fire. They all screamed and moved away from her, picking up spears to point at the Gem of War. Onyx was not afraid, and just stood still for a moment, before presenting the doll. Seeing her toy, the little girl ran from her parent and took back the doll. Hugging it with all the strength in her little arms.

Onyx smiled and was about to walk away, when she felt a tug on her pinky finger. Looking down, she saw the little girl waiting to pull her back to other members of the tribe. Waiting for her to join them. The adults, while she was unable to understand them, all did the same motion for her to come and join. Onyx was a little embarrassed, but agreed. Walking over and sitting with the humans.

---

For the next month, Black Diamond would stay with the tribe of humans. They said the experiment as one of their own. Like they knew that she wasn't a Gem, but was once a human like them. Onyx was invited by them to join in their activities. Hunting. Fishing. Crafting. Slowly, as time went on, Onyx's memories of her time as a human, memories long thought gone, were coming back. And so, all the blanks in her memories were filled, and it brought her to tears of joy.

However, her time with them would come to an end.

As the sun was high in the sky, and as birds were singing, Onyx sat under a tree on top of a hill overlooking the village. She watched them as they worked and played.

Suddenly, there was an explosion far off in the distance. Snapping her head towards the sound, Onyx stood up when she saw smoke billowing into the sky not too far from the location of the village. Just beyond the hills and mountains.

Onyx took one last look at the humans she's stayed with for a month, then turned back to the smoke. She then started running towards it.

It took a few minutes of traversing the terrain in order to get past the mountains and hills, but she managed to make it in time. As she landed back on flat ground, Onyx started running towards the smoke, which was coming from the other side of a narrow break in a mountain wall. From the pass came badly bruised and injured Gems that were all holding weapons. Onyx watched from afar as they limped from what was surely an intense battle.

Just then, one of the rebels noticed her standing a few feet from them and a panic started to insure. Some of them, including Garnet, brought out their weapons to fight the Gem of War. Others coward in fear, knowing there was one chance of beating her.

However, out of the crowd came three Gems. They were Amethysts and they approached the Gem of War with wide eyes from shock. Upon seeing them, Onyx's eyes grew with astonishment.

"By the stars. General!" One of the Amethysts exclaimed with a giant grin on her face. "It's really you! When we heard that you betrayed Homeworld, we couldn't believe it!" She then realized something. "Oh, right! You probably don't know us."

Onyx interrupted her by placing a hand on her shoulder and smiled. A single tear running down her cheek. "I remember all of my troops, 8XM." She then turned to the second one. "8XC." And then she looked at the last one. "And 8XA. But why are you with the rebels?"

"We didn't have a choice," 8XA said sheepishly. The other Crystal Gems lowering their weapons and listened to their conversation. "We were on one of the dropships that crashed, and when we heard that you betrayed the empire, we knew we had to come and find you."

"They were rounding up all the other Quartzs for Rejuvenation," explained 8XC. "When we came to Rose and asked her if you really joined the rebels, she said that she didn't know where you were."

"So, what happened, General? Why'd you betray the empire?" asked 8XM, with her sisters squeezing together.

Onyx sighed. She didn't want them to know what she knew just yet. "It was the Diamonds that betrayed me...even Hess." This shocked not only the Amethysts, but also the other members of the Crystal Gems that were still in their physical form. The Diamonds? Betraying their best general? "There's much I'd like to explain, but now, I have speak with Rose Quartz. Where is she?"

"She's been captured." Onyx turned to the other Gems and saw Pearl walking out from the crowd. Beaten and battered. "A Hessonite General ambushed us when we were trying to gain control of a base just pass that pass." She then rushed up to Onyx and grabbed her by her army. Staring at her with crazed eyes of desperation and concern. "Please! They're going to take her back to Homeworld! You have to save her!"

"Show everyone that with you, there's still hope." Pink's work replayed in her head. Onyx looked at the other Gems. Garnet's eyes couldn't be seen, but it clear she was glaring at the Gem of War. But the others had the aura of defeat around them. Like the spark was gone.

Knowing what she had to do, Onyx grabbed Pearl's hands and pried them off her chest plate. "Take the Crystal Gems to the east. There's a village of humans there. Wait for me when I return with Rose Quartz," she ordered the Crystal Gems and started marching towards the narrow pass.

Just then, Garnet stepped in front of her with gauntlets summoned. "And how can we trust you, Gem of War?"

Onyx shrugged. "Do you really have a choice," she said, and pushed her aside. The black Gem entered through the pass as the other Crystal Gems watched from where they stood, but Pearl and the Amethysts told them to keep moving to the village.

With a scowl, Onyx walked the narrow pass as the walls seemed to closer in some places and then wider in others. But within minutes, Onyx made it through as her eyes widened a little. The base was massive, but looked to still be under construction. But construction on it was halted and the only Gems that were there were in front of the base.

When she saw them her eyes widened when Onyx saw that they weren't just normal Quartz soldiers. They were her old soldiers. The same soldiers that were Rejuvenated. All of them were there, just doing their own thing around the giant field that was surrounded by the mountains.

One of the Amethyst noticed Onyx standing in front of the pass and shouted. "We've got another one!" The Amethysts, Jaspers, Carnelia, and other Quartzs soldiers all turned towards the Gem of War and grabbed their weapons. Ready to fight.

In the base, Hess was standing in front of Rose Quartz, as she had energy handcuffs and was being held by the arms by two Jaspers. When she heard the Amethyst yell, she came to one of the balconies of the base and looked down. Her smug expression turned to a look of terror when she saw it was Onyx. "Impossible..."

Rose saw her and her eyes lite up with stars in them. "Onyx..."

"What are you all waiting for! She's the enemy!" Hess shouted at all the Quartzs. "Shatter her!"

But for Onyx, she didn't want to fight them. They were her troops. Her friends and family. She knew they were still in each and every one of them. Their memories may have been erased, but they were still the same Gems inside.

She walked towards the front line of troops as they looked ready to attack, but hesitated. Something about this Gem was so familiar.

"Do it!" Hess shouted, getting angrier with them. "I command you all!"

"No, she doesn't," Onyx told the Quartzs. "You were all my troops..." They all looked confused and muttered amongst each other. "You all may not remember who I am anymore, but I remember each of you. I used to think being a good soldier meant you followed orders. That's how they made you. But you're not machines. You're not programmed. You're all so unique and great in your own ways. And you were all not just my troops. Each and every one of you are my friends."

She then took a deep breath and sighed.

"But, if...you want to kill your general. Here I am. If...you want to follow your general. Here I am."

Silence fell across the area as all the Quartzs stared at the Gem of War. Hess was just waiting for them all to start killing the black Gem, while Rose waited with bated breath. Onyx just stood there, and waited patiently. Waited for them to attack her and for the fighting to commence. Figuring it was too late.

And then, something amazing happened.

One by one, each of the Amethysts, Jaspers, and Carnelians began to glow and float in the air. Onyx watched in amazement as their forms remained the same, but it wasn't like they were shapeshifting. They then glowing would stop, each trooper would fall back down to the ground and look around in confusion. They all then turned to the former General of Homeworld, and there was silence again.

Then one of them dropped her weapon.

"Onyx!" One Amethyst shouted with joy, and soon all of them were shouting Black Diamond's name as those closest and near her all ran towards her. Hugging her with usual happy-go-lucky laughing. It was unbelievable for Onyx, and she was so overwhelmed by joy that she started laughing with them. She pushed some of them back, but then another would huge her. Eventually, she raised her hands up, and the troops back away, all of them still cheering for her.

Hess couldn't believe was what happening. The Rejuvenation failed, and they were all back to being loyal to the Gem of War. She wiped around and snapped. "Get to the warp pad!"

Onyx continued to greet and huge every Quartz soldiers that approached her. Welcoming them back with a smile. It was good to be with them again.

"General!" One Jasper rushed to her with an expression of terror. "Hess is escaping with Rose Quartz!"

Onyx's scowl returned. The moment she heard Hess's name, the more determined she was to stop Rose from being taken to Homeworld. "I'll deal with the traitor! The rest of you go with the Crystal Gems!" She ordered all of them.

They all started marching towards the pass, as Onyx marched passed them. As the last of her troops left the base, she entered it.

---

In the future, the Galaxy Warp would retain the same look as it does back then, and the same function. It's the central hub on Earth for interstellar transport through the galaxy used by Gems, replacing the Colony type ships. The system consisted of numerous Warp Pads of varying sizes. The Galaxy Warp was located atop a large plateau, surrounded by the Tunguska Sea and numerous smaller islands in the middle of a chunk land area of Siberia. Six massive crystalline rock formations surround the perimeter of the summit, which housed sixteen individual Warp Pads arranged in a crop circle-like pattern. The central pad directly linked Earth with the Gem Homeworld.

One of the warp pads activated and from it appeared Hess, Rose, and the two Jaspers.

"Enough wasting time," Hess said. Smirking smugly with her hands behind her back. One of the Jaspers shoved Rose forward, making her fall to the ground. "Easy, now. The time for her to suffer wouldn't come until she's on Homeworld."

The Jasper walked to Rose to grab her, but when she got close enough, the rebel leader made her move. She kicked the Jasper in the face, making her scream in pain. Rose then launched herself off her back and back on her feet. She then jumped, brought her legs up to have the handcuffs go under, before landing on her feet again. Now she had her arms and hands in front of her, instead of behind her.

Hess chuckled and summoned her cutlass. "Now, Rose Quartz," she said as the Jasper's summoned their weapons. One was a hammer and the other was an ax. "Let's not drag this out."

They all advanced towards her when the warp pad they just used reactivated.

"Hess, stop!"

Hess's eyes widened. As the Jaspers had already turned to see who it was, she turned slowly around and looked. There she was, standing on the warp pad. "So, you survived, old friend," she asked Onyx.

"Surprised, 'old friend'?" Onyx stepped off the warp pad and walked around towards Rose Quartz. "I'm taking Rose with me. I suggest that you return to Gem City."

"And disobey the Diamonds?" Hess asked, pointing her cutlass at her. She then chuckled with amusement. "Don't tell me you suddenly fell in love with this rock of a planet like her."

"There are things about the Earth even the Diamonds do not understand," Onyx told her.

The Jaspers step forward menacingly, Hess held up her free hand and waved them off. "Take care, Onyx. What you say is heresy against the Diamonds!"

"Is it?" Onyx shrugged. "This world...my world. I've fallen in love with it when I realized its power. It's potential to set Gems free of the shackles of Homeworld. You say that I'm an abomination, and you're right. I am an abomination, but on this planet, I'm not. All Gems that fight for this planet are doing it for a chance to be equals and live a life that they want." She then turned her head to Rose and smiled. "It just took me too long to fully realize it all."

Rose smiled.

"Oh, isn't that sweet," Hess said sarcastically. "But it's making me sick! You two are both coming with me."

"If you want us..." Rose held her arms to Onyx, who grabbed the handcuffs and broke them off her arms. Two then faced their enemies with determination. "Then come and take us!"

"With pleasure."

Hess speed across the Galaxy Warp at Onyx and thrust her sword. Onyx jumped out of the way of the attack, and punched her in the face. Making Hess stumble back a bit. Rose summoned her shield and defended herself against the Jaspers as Onyx went on the offensive. Summoning her swords, the two engaged in a clash of blades. But the two were evenly matched, as they've been fighting together throughout the war.

Onyx swung at her head, but Hess blocked the attack. So Onyx thrust her other sword at the traitor's stomach, but she jumped back. Hess then jumped and kneed Onyx in her stomach, making her grunt as she fell her knee. Onyx ducked her head when she tried to stab at her, and then kicked Hess back.

Seeing Rose having no weapon, she called out, "Rose!" When Rose looked at her, she tossed her a katana. Grabbing it from the air, Rose got in a stance with both sword and shield, and attacked the Jaspers.

With one sword, Onyx and Hess continued fighting. One swing from Onyx forced her ex-best friend to lean back. Time slowed down as Hess watched the black and white blade cross over her face. Then Onyx jumped back when she thrust her cutlass at her. Watching in slow motion as it almost touched her neck, before it was pulled away.

Hess then rushed towards her target and attacked Onyx with a blockable strike with her sword. Forcing Onyx to block the attacks or dodge them. But some of the strikes got through her defenses and cut at the nonarmed places of her body.

The Gem of War stumbled back, as blood dripped from her injuries. However, they all closed and healed. Hess stopped for a moment to look at the blood on her blade and laughed maniacally. "Look at you! Bleeding like an organic!"

"That's what they used to make me," Onyx growled.

"Then just give up, and you wouldn't have to bleed anymore," Hess said, pointing her sword at her. "You think that by joining the resistance, you'll help this planet, but trust me...you'll only make things more painful for the Crystal Gems."

She then rushed towards the Gem of War and slashed at her with her sword at blinding speeds. But Onyx reacted fast enough to block her attack and the two locked blades. "I like to think differently!" Onyx growled.

"You can't stop Homeworld!" Hess exclaimed with a sadistic grin. "You can't save this planet."

Onyx was easily able to push back against Hess, and closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, they glowed for a second.

"Watch me," she said, as she activated Hellfire. Now in full control of it.

Hess didn't have time to react when Onyx had her sword disappear and then grabbed the blade of Hess's sword. The fire melted the weapon, shocking the Hessonite, but she was blasted with a fireball. Sending her flying back in the main warp pad that led to Homeworld.

Groaning in pain, Hess looked up and gasped in fear seeing Onyx marching towards her. The fires from her body blazing. Rose destabilized the last of the Jaspers and poof her. She then turned towards Onyx as she approached Hess menacingly.

"You may have escaped. But it's not much of a life, isn't it Onyx?" Hess tried to talk her way out of the inevitability death that was coming her way. But she secretly reached behind her back to grab a knife she hid behind her cape. She just had to wait for Onyx to get close enough. "Let me guess...You live with the rest of your humankind. Living your life until you die. Normal Gems just live on forever. But not you! Your body will give out and you'll eventually die! You're still partly human after all." The close she got, the more enraged the Gem of War became. "Something that not even the Diamonds- your sisters, could have foreseen! Just as they've made you into what you are, they can fix you. Think about it! An absolutely perfect being. If you come back with us. Come back to your sisters!"

"They are not my sisters!" Onyx yelled with flames growing. "I'd rather say as this sick, fusion abomination forever than be a puppet of those tyrants any longer!"

Now she was in striking distance.

Hess yelled and pulled out the knife. She tried to stab at her neck, and she landed the hit. Blood spewed from the Gem of War's neck as she and grabbed Hess's face. The orange Gem screamed in pain the longer she held her. Burning her face, before eventually crushing it. Hessonite's body poofed into smoke as her gemstone fell to the ground.

With all the anger that had built up inside of her from her betrayal, learning that everything she knew was a lie, and from the pain for her past life to this one, Onyx moved her foot over Hess's gemstone. The flames didn't burn it, and she didn't crush her just yet. Just had her foot ready to kill her former friend once and for all.

Onyx glared hatefully at the gemstone. Every fiber in her body was telling to shatter her into pieces and crush those pieces into dust.

"You are the reason..."

Rose's words echoed in her head as she looked over at the leader of the Crystal Gems. Rose stared at her with sad eyes, but didn't step in to stop her. Onyx was lost in her thoughts for a moment and realized what her friend was trying to tell her. This was because of her. She was the reason Pink became Rose Quartz. She was the reason that the Rebellion began to free the planet from Homeworld. She was the reason that so many Gems were dying and killing each other. But she could also be the reason that this war could finally come to an end. That she could save the Crystal Gems from being destroyed and revive it. That humanity could finally live in peace without Homeworld threatening to destroy them all. As her mind played back all the memories of her time with the human tribe and how it restored her old memories, it became clear her what she had to do from that moment on.

Onyx will not let this revolution end before it truly had a chance to start.

To save this world, she had to become a Crystal Gem.

With a sigh, her flames disappeared from her body. Onyx then took her foot off Hess's gemstone and picked it up. Walking up the stares of the warp pad to Homeworld, she regenerating powers. Making Hess' gemstone glowed. She then tossed the gem onto the warp pad as Hessonite reformed. Hess coughed and caught her breath, then looked up at her former friend in shock, terrified about the wrath she was about to unleash onto her.

But Onyx didn't attack her again. Instead, she glared at her and said, "You're only alive for one reason. To deliver a message."

She placed her foot on the warp pad.

"I'm alive, and this war is far from over."

Onyx then activated the warp pad and sent Hess away, pulling her foot out of the light before it disappeared. From behind, Rose stared at Onyx's back as her armor changed. She no longer had the symbol of the Diamond Authority on her back anymore. She now had the star-shaped symbol of the Crystal Gems.

---

After returning to Homeworld, Hess was quick to rush over to White Diamond's headship. When she entered into the grey chamber, with the all-powerful leader of the Gem Homeworld being the only source of light, she looked nervous but kept a look of professionalism. Blue and Yellow were there too.

She stopped in front of them and gave them her salute. "I...I come to you, my Diamonds, from Earth with a message from an old friend," she said. "I saw her with my own eyes, and she's now with the rebels. Onyx lives."

White was silent for a moment as the other two looked shocked and slightly scared. "Interesting," she said. "So you failed to finally get rid of our... fun little experiment?"

"White, beg of you," Yellow begged fearfully. "I'm..."

"Ssshhh." White shushed her, without ever turning around to face them. "I wasn't talking to either of you. After all, we Diamonds don't make mistakes. But, someone does need to take the blame for this failure."

White suddenly turned around and fired white beams of light from her eyes. Hitting Hess in the Gem, shattering her completely.

Yellow and Blue stared at the shattered remains of their new general, before turning back to White, who turned her back to them again. "We'll send all of our forces to Earth to aid Pink. We'll destroy the rebels, White, and to hunt down Rose and Onyx."

"We will not fail again," Blue said.

White smiled. "Good."

---

Night at Rose's fountain, Onyx approached it and stared down into her reflection. She looked at her face for a moment and her eyes were filled with sadness, before tracing her finger along the crack-scar that now displayed itself over her right eye. There were rumors of a fountain that Rose has her healing flow out of to heal her army, but she didn't think it was true.

Onyx's armor and clothes glowed brightly before disappearing. Naked with the body of a human woman, she still had her crack scars that needed to be healed. The Gem of War stepped into the water and floated on her back. Freely letting the water take her across the fountain as her gemstone healed itself, as her healing powers returned. The crack-scars that remained glowed being before being healed completely. But the one on her face didn't. No, this crack-scar will remain on her for the rest of her days. It would be a constant reminder that her existence was no miracle, like when a human child is born. Her existence came from coldness, pain, taking life, and leaving nothing behind.

When she was done, she stepped out of the water, and her body dried itself completely in sentences. Then she summoned back her armor and clothing. Onyx turned to see Rose approaching her with a worried expression. "It didn't heal?" Rose asked, referring to the scar. To see her go through the pain she had made Rose tear up. Especially at the sight of her crack scar. She placed a tear on her finger and traced Black's crack-scar to see if it healed. But it didn't.

Onyx gently pushed her hand aside. "No. We both know that there are wounds...that can never be truly healed," she said sadly.

Rose looked down sadly. That she knows is all too true. "I've talked with the other Crystal Gems," Rose said before looking hesitant. "Your soldiers are willing to join but, the other members... They aren't too happy about having you join us."

"I don't blame them. After all that I've done to them. The rebellion would be gone if I was still with Homeworld," she said, before placing her hand on Rose's shoulder. And for the first time since knowing the truth, Onyx smiled at Rose, her sister, with genuine gratitude. "But you help me find my way. I owe you thanks, Rose. And an apology, Pink."

Rose then surprised her by pulling Onyx into an embrace. "As do I, Black," she said with tears and a smile. Onyx's stiffness eventually faded as she allowed herself to hug Rose back, as a wave of relief washed over her.

"Now, it'll just be...Onyx."

Someone then cleared their throat and the two sisters looked to see it was Pearl.

"Rose, everyone's waiting for you," she said.

Onyx was about to walk towards the warp pad when she was stopped by Rose's arm in front of her. "Are you sure about this? You don't have to fight for us if you don't want to," she said, worried for the former general. "You're free now. You can continue living with the humans."

Looking down, Onyx frowned. "No. No, I'm not. I want to do this, Rose. I have to," she said, looking back at Rose with determination in her black eyes. "This is my home. This is my planet. I'm going to fight for it."

There was a moment of silence for a moment, before Rose smiled and nodded. "Then you really are a true Crystal Gem," she said before the three Gems walked over to the warp pad and warped to where the other Crystal Gems were resting. After taking the base Hess used, they converted it into their new base of operations. The Quartz soldiers and the Crystal Gems were all on the field doing their own thing before Onyx and Rose walked onto the balcony. Seeing the Leader of the Rebellion and the Gem of War together, they all rose to their feet. Some of them looked eager while some glared at the black Gem.

Together, Rose and Onyx stood before the Crystal Gems. Rose with her hands at her sides, while Onyx had her arms crossed as they stared down at them from the base.

A second chance has been handed to the Gem of War and the Crystal Gems. A now, the revolution was reborn.

Now, it can truly begin.

---

AN: Hopefully it's not like a sin in the SU fandom to show Garnet getting the crap kicked out of her. Doubt it is, but who knows. There are some real freaks in every fandom. But yeah, there you have it. The first flashback chapter, and the chapter where Onyx is betrayed and joins the Crystal Gems. This chapter, admittedly was difficult to do, as I had a lot of ideas for it. But that was mostly for the first part of the story, but after that, it was all much easier.

There were parts of it that I had to condense and summarize some of the things that happened, as it covered a lot of history. However, these were the scenes where dialogue wasn't the biggest focus.

One of the parts of this chapter that you all may find surprising it the part when the Amethyst soldiers all reform and get their memories back. You might be surprised to hear that that was based on a real event. When Napoleon returned to France to take the throne after he was exiled, King Louie sent troops to stop him and his personal guard on his march to Paris. Now, King Louie wasn't very popular with the people of France, and when each wave of troops was sent to stop him, they wouldn't attack. Instead, they would actually cheer for Napoleon's return and join him. And this would happen again and again each time King Louie sent more troops. Swelling Napoleon's numbers from a few regiments, to an entire army!

I'm not making that up. Look it up. It's incredible, really, and I knew I had to have the same thing for Onyx. Especially with it always involving early forms of the Rejuvenator.

I also added in that one scene with Alex Infinite, Isaac's dad, because it's father's day and you all have been wondering about him. Well, we'll get the story of how the two meet when we get to the chapter of "Story for Steven".

Thank you very much for reading. "Gem of War" will return. Please be sure to Favorite and Follow if you like the story, and also Review it. If you any questions or discussions you'd have for me, then please in a Review or a PM me.

Thank you for reading, may God bless you, and have a wonderful Father's Day!