Shimmering Blood

Chapter 13- Resting

AN: STEVEN UNIVERSE DOESN'T BELONG TO ME ONLY TO REBECCA SUGAR AND CARTOON NETWORK.
————————————————————————

Beta Kindergarten - The War Camp

Jasper stood on the edge of the canyon, overlooking the vast expanse of Beta Kindergarten below. Hundreds of Gems moved through the twisting tunnels and craggy formations, carrying out their duties with military precision. The warp pad hummed softly behind her, the last of the reinforcements from Homeworld having already returned to the base to prepare for the next phase of the war.

She tightened her grip on Moonstone’s gem, holding it close to her chest as she surveyed the battlefield. The setting sun bathed the canyon in deep orange light, casting long shadows over the shattered ground. It was eerily quiet now, the sound of battle having faded into nothing more than the distant hum of machinery.

Jasper’s eyes narrowed as she thought of Rose Quartz and her rebels escaping once again. They were slippery, always managing to slip through Homeworld’s grasp at the last moment. But this time had been different. They had come close—closer than ever before. If that ship hadn’t arrived…

She growled low in her throat, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. She had expected Moonstone to shatter Rose Quartz, to finally put an end to this rebellion, but even the General had been bested. And now he was gone, reduced to his gem, waiting to regenerate.

Jasper glanced down at the gem in her hand. Moonstone was the strongest Gem she had ever known, but even he had his limits. And if he could be pushed to the brink like this, what did that mean for the rest of them?

Shaking her head, she turned away from the canyon, making her way toward the command tent. She had already sent word to Emerald, and Pink Diamond would surely be informed of what had transpired. But there was still work to be done. The rebellion wouldn’t stop just because Moonstone was out of commission for a while.

No, they had to be ready. Ready for when Moonstone returned. Ready for the next battle.

Jasper sighed as she approached the table, the makeshift command center deep in the canyon. A single holo pad glowed softly in the middle, casting pale light over a regenerative slab beside it. This slab was for the most severely injured, for those whose gems teetered on the brink of shattering. She placed Moonstone’s gem carefully on the slab, its deep pink hues catching the ambient light, and activated the device. His gem began to hover slightly, glowing softly as the regeneration process began.

Pink Diamond, Jasper’s Diamond and leader, was renowned for her healing abilities, and the slabs were her gift to the army. They were designed to heal soldiers rapidly—from superficial cracks to near-fatal fractures. The technology felt almost sacred, a manifestation of Pink Diamond’s care for her most loyal soldiers.

Jasper crossed her arms and stared silently at Moonstone’s gem. Despite its solidity and deep hue, the translucence gave it an almost fragile appearance, like it could be mistaken for a Pearl’s gem under the wrong light.

Her brow furrowed at the thought of Pearls. That Pearl. The traitor who had been Pink Diamond’s prized possession, now turned rebel under Rose Quartz’s banner. Jasper’s teeth clenched in disgust. For a lowly Pearl—created solely to serve and obey—to rebel was unthinkable. It was the highest betrayal. Jasper believed the punishment for such treason should go beyond simple shattering; it deserved something far more excruciating.

She exhaled sharply, refocusing on Moonstone’s gem. His loyalty, in stark contrast to the Pearl’s betrayal, was fanatical. Moonstone was a legend—a veteran of hundreds of battles, his devotion to Homeworld and the Diamond Authority unwavering. He fought with a single-minded dedication that other Gems admired, including Jasper herself. His near defeat today left a bitter taste in her mouth, a reminder that even legends could fall.