The Old Machine
Instead of colonizing Earth, Pink Diamond was given the planet Donnokt, on the verge of an industrial revolution.
Things acorrer similar as in the original story with Rose Quartz forming a rebellion against the Diamonds, recruiting Garnet, etc
However, due to the planet's advancement, numerous conflicts occurred in towns that were similar to Transformers. One of these battles was in a mine; while Rebels did manage to get invader Gems away, it cause their battle slipped onto a mining town named Fembrance as Crystal Gems defended the locals. Sadly, confusion led to townsfolk attacking both sides.
During this battle, a native girl called Shib Walkis tries to get her brothers safely.
"Keep low, don't look back! Just follow me!" she said as they were behind of their family's wagon as cover, while she didn't it want leave it behind, she needs protect her brothers.
However she would suddenly Homeworld Gem to get behind them and grabs her.
"Let go of me!" she pleaded.
The Gem didn't look at her, faced the rebels. "Alright! Lower your weapon or this one pay the price!" she demanded, causing everyone to stop.
The Crystal Gems exchanging panicked glances, one of them - a tall, bulky grey gem with spiky light gray mane-like hair wearing a black armored-like outfit, steps forward slightly. "Hey Hey
"Then surrender. Or watch your so-called 'protection' fail" The Homeworld Gem snapped, some of the townsfolk cry out in horror, while aimed their weapons preparing to fire what they see as monsters.
Suddenly, a creak cuts through the noise. Everyone turns at the girl's wagon started moving on its own and they shock. it started to change, transforming into a giant of red iron.
The iron giant turns slightly, as if reacting to everyone's presence. All sides -Rebels, Homeworld, and townsfolk- stood frozen.
The shocked Gem drops the girl, she tries to grab the native again. "Why you little-"
but The iron being then grabs the gem. "Unhand me, primitive scrap—!" before she finshed, the iron being tightened it grip, crushing and poofing her; much to its confusion, it opens his palm and sees the gem.
Before rasied it other fist, slammed it down on it palm, crushing the gem shocking and horrifying the other Gems.
Next, it glared at them , its glowing eyes locked on the assembled Gems. For a long moment, then much to their surprise... it spoke.
"Leave NOW."
The Homeworld squad leader glared furious. "How Dare You!" she exclaimed, raised her hand pointed at the iron monster. "Form up! Destroy that thi-"
*Crash*
The Gem was crushed under its giant's foot. Homeworld gems try desperately to take the monster down, only to see their attacks glance off its body with no effect, some even begged Crystal Gems for help, before getting crushed.
The Few remaining gem mamged to flee. After a few moments, the iron giant dropped its knee, clearly tired, the girl aproched it.
?: Do... I... know you?
Shin: heh you shoud...
?: I Should?
The leader of the gems attempted to get the girl away from the giant, but a local aimed their gun at her. "get away from her, you freak," he warned. As she noticed the locals pointing their guns at them and the giant, she raised her hands with other gems following suit. But Giant just ... stared at the natives, merely warns them not to pick a fight with him.
This caused some to lower their weapons while others still aimed at the gems. The Giant turned towards the field leader.
"Now... Who Are... You?" it demanded; the Gem almost freaked out but was able to regain her composure."My name is Snowflake Obsidian. I'm a Gem... sir. Are you a male?" Snowflake inquired, not wanting to offend the iron giant. But it just responds. "yes... I am a male. Now why are you here?" he spoke in his aged voice.
Snowflake was about to speak, but the man of iron clarified. "and don't lie to me, I know you nor those others are not from here" he demanded, the gem sighed to responding "Yes, we are aware, we are a species from outer space and..." but he was cut off by a local with a white beard who exclaimed, "I knew it! These things are here to steal cattle" he said. They just looked. Shin spoke. "that Crazy Vill just ignored him," she said.
After a brief moment of quiet, the man of iron asked. "then why to fight against your own kind" he asked
Snowflake lifted her head proudly "We are the Crystal Gems, a group that seeks to protectthe planetfrom exploitationby the Diamonds. she said smiling but stop when she saw iron giant won't unimpressed look. "...Diamonds?" he said.
She rubbed her head. "umm, the rulers of the gems..." she began, trying to explain. But the iron giant fixed her with a hard stare, he didn't like what he was hearing. "And your leader? Is she a Diamond?" he asks.
They murmured softly to themselves before a gem... who looked was made of melted ice cream and had gems where the right eye and nose would be. "Rose is a Quartz, sir."
He tilted his head in confusion. before... chuckling "I know this is going to sound cliché, but... Take me to your leader."
The Gem looked at each other, before Snowflake could say anything, a watermelon-colored gem pulled her. "Hey, we can't take thing...thing to Rose. He... but cut off by dark gem. "I know Watermelon... but clearly some guardian of this land. He can help us." She told her fellow gem, Watermelon was unsure about this.
Snowflake faced the 'man of iron'. Ok, we will-" but interrupted by a loud bang, turned to see the Sheriff, his gun raised in the air.
"Now, hold on there! You all came to our town, caused a brawl, injured a few, almost got that girl killed, and now you think you can just leave without any consequences?"
The Gems reeled when the townfolk prepared their guns; The Gems prepared to defend themselves... and that worries Snowflake.
She was afraid of hurting them, they were just sacred... and honestly, she couldn't blame them, she was in fault, that the Homeworld Gems managed to find this town.
She had to do something...
"Wait!" She yelled, stepping in between the angry mob and her fellow gem. "If you want justice, then take me. I am fieldleader gem leader, and it was because those gems found your town," She explained while slowly approaching with her arms raised before getting on her knee.
Everyone was shocked, especially the townsfolk who were unsure what to make
of this. Until the Sheriff gestured to his
deputies, they approached her and tied her up with rope.
But suddenly, the ice-cream-colored gem stepped forward; The townfolk were scared once they saw the gemstones where her right eye and nose would be. "Wait, my name is Crazy Lace Agate; it was an idea to lure those gems away from the mine." She said
Then a small red color gem also stepped forward beside Crazy Lace Agate , but she didn't say anything, Townfolk were unsure, but the Sheriff ordered his deputies to tie them up.
After the Three Gems were tied and taken to jail. While the remaining Crystal Gems were unsure about this, they decided to return to the base with their 'guess.'
Later
Somewhere in the mountains, the Crystal Gems wanted for Snowflake's team or the Snow squad to return.
A yellow Beryl rushed over to their leader. "Rose! Snow's squad are back," She said. Rose let out sighed of relief. She asked Garnet if Homeworld started building their newest kindergarten before the fusion would say, an orange jasper gem informed them. "Um, guys... Snowflake brought someone." She said, confusing the gems.
Huh? Why would Snowflake bring a native? She knows that..." Pearl said but was interrupted by the Jasper.
"it... not a native"
Everyone turns towards Biggs Jasper. "What?" Before loud footsteps were heard.
The Crystal Gems all turned and widened to see behind Snow's squad was a giant cloaked Being of metal. They just stared at the being in awe... and fear, some even preparing to attack the... the...whatever it is.
Rose order them to stand down, before noticing missing gems. But Watermelon quickly assured her
"they are fine... the battle spilled onto a town... the natives didn't like them and demanded to "jail us. But Snowflake and the others managed to convince the leader to just them instead." She said
This caused an uproar, with the majority of Crystal Gems (like Bismuita) wanting to go to rescue them; Rose, Pearl, Garnet and a few others wanted to be diplomatic.
However, The Man of Iron slammed his foot downnwith a thundering crack, silencing everyone, his focus locking on Rose. Then, slowly, the giant dropped to one knee.
Two stared at each other, Rose in a moment felt that she was stared down by White Diamond. Then suddenly it spoke.
"I would take you, Rose?' He asked, his voice was old... yet powerful. She didn't know why, but she could tell he was as old as the planet... no older, maybe even the White.
She cleared her throat and addressed herself. "Yes am Rose Quartz, Leader of Crystal Gems and defender of the planet," She said.
He stared at her without saying anything. The gems were tense, waiting for it to act.
Finally, he... just laughed. "ahahah 'defender', huh? Haha, The more it changed.. the more things stay the same..." The gem exchanged bewildered looks.
He continued until he stopped; he stood up and announced himself. Anyway, Am Rodimus Prime..." he said, dropping his smile. "I want you all to leave this planet NOW!"
Meanwhile in Gamma Kindergarten, A group of gems were preparing the Injectordrill for Kindergarten when suddenly, the site was hit by a meteorite. The Impacted some structures collapse.
An Agate stormed onto the scene, demanding the situation, and a Peridot gem with hexagon-shaped hair quickly stepped forward and reported, "The damage appears to be minimal... which is odd." she asked
"Huh?" her superior snapped. The Peridot nodded, adjusting her visor. "Judging by the impact size and velocity, the meteorite should've caused more—" But she was abruptly cut off as the Agate grabbed her by the collar. "The why didn't the scans detect that rock?" She demanded, before the Peridot would respond, a nearby Ruby, staring wide-eyed at the still-smoking crater, spoke up. "Umm, My Agate…"
"what," The Agate said in annoyance.
"Since when do meteorites have-" Suddenly two claws reached out from the smoke and seized the Ruby, dragging her into the crater with a shriek.. "ahhhhh"
The Gems backed away in fear, Agate dropped the peridot and was about to order, when the ground beneath them began to move.
Without warning, claws shot up from below, dragging screaming Gems under one by one. Agate could only watch, helpless as her squad vanished beneath the earth.
Only she and the Peridot remained.
The Peridot turned and ran in a panic "Coward," Agate hissed
The ground in front of the Peridot cracked open, and it rose. The monster stood before the gem... a bit shorter than Agate. Before the gem processed, she felt the creature grabbing the peridot's gem and before she would scream, it tore the gem, poofing her, must Agate shocked. "F9L!"
She saw the monster holding the F9L's gem and got better of it... And bewildered at she looking at.
It was most ridiculous-looking thing ever saw, the creature was bright yellow with blue highlights, with oversized eyes and long ears perched atop its head. Then to her confusion, the monster's chest... open, revealing a green core within, and to her horror, the little monster inserted Peridot's gem into its chest, before snapped shut.
Agate stood frozen in horror as the creature turned its head slowly toward her... it spoke in high pitch
"You're a gem... we hate Gems"
Agate prepared a fighting stance before Just then, something trembled behind her, she turned see a metal monster embraced from the impacted zone... but much larger; Agate froze in fear as the monster dusted off itself, looking around, before noticing the Gem.
It smirks. "Well Well, it seems we struck gold" it spoke, befire extended a clawed hand toward her, Is that moment thatAgate realized what things are.
"Star Eaters... may the universe have mercy on us"
Hope you all like this short story
A Short cameo of my Peridot OC - Facet-4F9L Cut-1XE aka Chrysolite
Crossover with Transformers: Last Bot Standing
For context (Warning light spoilers) is a comic book from IDW Publishing released in May 2022 as a hypothetical last story for the Transformers set in the far-flung future: An aged Rodimus hiding out on the primitive world of Donnokt, when a group of remnant Cybertronians turn their sights upon Donnokt in search for Biofuel (Aka harvesting and processing of organic life forms). Now the last Autobot must step up to save the universe one final time.