A Shattered Empire (Fan Made Story)

Rumor No Longer

"Back, far back, when the diamonds had first settled and had declared their right to rule, many bent the knee, ecstatic to what potential the Diamonds had. The Diamonds rise to power was questionable, almost too easy, as many had noted. Not everyone was going to believe and trust individuals when they declared themselves better than anyone else. With this, many rose up in defiance, calling out that The Diamonds had no right to rule, that everyone should be treated equally. At the spearhead of this outcry was a planet inhabited by strictly Lapis Lazuli's," Sapphire stopped as she saw Lapis leaning in and growing a bit more attentive to the story. "The Lapis gems were tough, able to control water, and knew how to defend themselves well. A bit too well. After failing to peacefully negotiate a treaty with just ruby soldiers, the sisters decided to send a representative to speak to these gems. They decided Blue Diamond was the perfect candidate. During the transport of Blue Diamond onto the surface of the planet, the Lapis gems attacked the carrier and took Blue Diamond hostage. Fight as she might, Blue Diamond could not resist the sheer numbers the Lapis had. Angered at what had happened, Yellow and White created a plan to bring their beloved sister back. Pink was kept out of it, for fear that she might become too engrossed in the situation, Yellow kept her under close eye. While scheming to get Blue back, Yellow and White received the terms from the Lapis Lazuli in order to release Blue. It was...a disgrace to their name. The Lapis demanded they throw down their title, and return to where they emerged or else their sister will stay trapped on their planet."

"But, if Yellow and White cared for Blue, they would do as they were asked...wouldn't they?" Connie questioned as Sapphire shook her head.

"No. They took it as a challenge. With that challenge, a contender, that was sent down to planet Lapis to retrieve Blue Diamond. They were successful in retrieving Blue, but that wasn't their only mission. That night, a singular gem shattered almost every Lapis that existed on that planet." Sapphire grew silent as Lapis looked into the fire, her eyes filled with emotions.

"A...singular gem? How is that possible? They would have to be more powerful than the Diamonds!" Steven exclaimed, the shock obvious in his voice.

"This gem was no normal gem. It was as if the feeling of being overwhelmed made her stronger, and the war she brought with herself made it seem like she was a one-gem army. That gem, was the very first recorded Onyx soldier. Her name was, Empress Onyx. After having proven she was capable of battle, the Diamonds requested she, and her sister's, stay by their side, and be their right hand. With that, the Onyx Guard was born." Thunder rumbled outside as Sapphire was silent for a large amount of time.

"So...what happened next?" Amethyst asked as Sapphire turned to her.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember the rest of the story..."

"What!? But that can't be everything! We don't even know where the Onyx gems came from!" Peridot complained as Lapis turned to her.

"Maybe that's for the best. After all, it was just a rumor...right, Sapphire?" Lapis gaze went to Sapphire, who held her hands together.

"Yes. Just a rumor," Ruby came up behind Sapphire as she held her shoulder, which Sapphire then put her hand on Ruby's. It was quiet for a while before Steven stood up, determined to get the mood back in the party.

"Does anyone need anything from the kitchen?" He asked, with everyone now checking what they had before answering.

"Get me a couple cheese sticks dude!" Amethyst requested.

"I'll take another soda, buddy." Greg said with a grin.

"I'm fine, Steven! But thank you for asking!" Pearl gave her answer with an appreciative smile. Meanwhile, Bismuth, Peridot, Lapis, Ruby, and Sapphire didn't respond so Steven went ahead to the fridge.

"That story was kind of intense Sapphire. Rumor or not, I don't think I would ever want to meet an Onyx soldier," Steven says as he starts putting bubbles around the food or drink requested and closing the door once finished. "Well, anyone else got some stories-" BAM! BAM! BAM! The sound of heavy knocking at the door reverberated around the house as everyone's head snapped to the door. Outside, a large, unknown figure stood at the beach house door, standing perfectly still. 

"Why is anyone out in this storm?" Pearl mutters as she started to stand.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you nuts? For all you know, that could be an Onyx soldier!" Amethyst joked with a smile. 

"Ugh, really Amethyst," Pearl approached the door as she reached for the handle. Suddenly, Steven's mind was starting to be filled with images, flashes of something he couldn't quite make out. He gripped his head as he saw the very intense, clear image of his mother, and someone kneeling to her. 

"Wait, Pearl..." The bubbles disappeared dropping the food and drink as Pearl opened the door. The door swung open due to the force of the air blowing outside, making Pearl step back a bit to avoid the door. The rain was like a tsunami, the wind felt like scythes against Steven's face as he stared at the person in the doorway. Needless to say, they were tall, and large. Their body was completely covered in what seemed like a smooth type of armor, with their mouth and nose being hidden behind some sort of mask. They wore wrist bracers, breeches, and a black cape that was torn halfway on their back. Every feature of this individual was colored black, even their skin, with rain dripping off their body and the cape flapping in the wind. As if this person's presence wasn't enough to send chills down your spine, their eyes held a dark, shiny blue that seemed to be observing the room in front of themselves. The wind blew across the room as Sapphire's hair was blows out of the way, showing her eye holding a terrified look to them. 

"B-But...t-this...no..." Sapphire felt fear rack her body as Ruby supported her from falling by standing behind her. 

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Pearl questioned, having heard Sapphire's reaction to the character. They didn't respond as they continued searching the room, until their eyes landed on Steven. As if on cue, wind blew at Steven as his shirt was lifted some, revealing his pink gem. Suddenly, the figure's blue pupils shrunk and took a step through the door but was immediately met with a spear pointed at their face. Pearl stood in her stance with her gaze challenging the hulking figure to move. The figure scanned the room once more as they saw most had taken up arms in someway. Bismuth, her hammer, Lapis, her wings, Ruby and Sapphire, who had just bonded to form Garnet, Amethyst, her whip, and Greg, with a spoon. 

"Pearl, I think that's..." Steven began speaking but lost his words as he saw the figure snap his attention back to Steven. 

"Steven, don't get-" Suddenly, Pearl's spear was grabbed by the figure. Their eyes were on her now, as she felt a new wave of fear brush her body. Struggle as she might, she couldn't move the spear, and this prompted the one's who were wielding a weapon to move forward quickly. Steven was the first to move as his trusted shield appeared on his wrist, illuminating the darkish room. The figure saw the shield, and memories rushed to their head, filling them with emotions...the main one being anger. The figure opened their free hand as a black morning star appeared, allowing them to grab it. Pearl tried to react in time but all she found herself doing, was being hoisted some into the air by the figure pulling her spear upwards quickly. Following this, was the attacker swinging the morning star at Pearl as it connected to her stomach. Her eyes went wide with pain, before being shot backwards into the house, finally hitting the gem door with her back, and causing her to poof. With her spear still in their hand, the attacker snapped it in their hand and dropped the two pieces as they disappeared. By now, Steven was on the figure, ready to strike a blow, his fist raised and engulfed in a pink energy. 

"Come then..." The figure spoke, his voice deep and sounding as a male. With a new weapon being summoned on his left hand, it was revealed to be a buckler, black and decorated with the symbol of a crescent moon. He raised it to his chest, just as Steven's fist collided with the buckler, the strength of the blow pushing the attacker back a few inches, but that was as far as he got. Steven's eyes widened with shock as the attacker glared at him from over the buckler. 

"Is that all you have to show, gem thief?"