A Diamond That Doesn't Shine

A Single Innocent Rose

"Steven, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t," Pearl's voice trembled. 

Before anyone could respond, a flash of light split the once-fused Garnet into Ruby and Sapphire. 

"I should have seen this coming!" Sapphire exclaimed, her calm exterior cracking as frustration took hold. 

"Sapphire, please! Fuse with Ruby! We don’t have time for this—the clust—" 

"My mother’s a monster," Steven interrupted, his voice sharp with anguish. 

The room fell silent as a shadow loomed over them. A massive, dark crown-shaped ship descended, and from it emerged a figure commanding attention. 

"Welcome to the club, Steven," Y/N’s voice echoed, smooth and commanding. 

Steven’s eyes widened in shock. "Y/N! We’ve been looking for you for months! Wait… you look different." 

Y/N dismissed the comment with a wave of their hand. "It doesn’t matter what I look like. What matters is that you know the truth about your mother now. That’s amazing! We can go back! We can be Diamonds again! Live the life we were supposed to!" 

"Diamonds… wait, *you’re* a Diamond?" Steven’s voice faltered as the revelation sank in. 

Before he could process further, Pearl interjected, urgency overtaking the moment. "Steven! We only have so long until the Cluster is ready! If we move now, we have a 98% chance to stop it before it emerges!" 

Y/N scoffed, their demeanor cold and calculating. With a snap of their fingers, Lapis, Jasper, and Spinel leapt from the ship, swiftly subduing Pearl, Amethyst, the now-separated Ruby and Sapphire, and Connie. 

"Let’s go, Steven," Y/N said, their tone a mix of command and cruel amusement. "I’ll shatter each and every one of them if I have to. Connie can become the newest exhibit in your zoo. Pink!" 

Steven’s fists clenched, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I promise, Y/N. When this is all over, I’ll leave with you. Just give me time to save this place… my home." 

---

Time Skip: After the Cluster

The earth rumbled beneath them, the final echoes of the Cluster's pacification fading into silence. Steven, his hands still glowing faintly from the energy he’d poured into the gem shards, leaned back, exhausted but relieved. 

"We did it," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the cooling earth. 

Beside him, Peridot grinned triumphantly, her visor askew. "Of course we did it! That was precision work. Flawless execution!" 

Steven smiled weakly, but his moment of triumph was short-lived as Y/N approached, their expression expectant. 

"You now need to keep your promise," Y/N said, their voice steady. "The Cluster is dealt with. Now, it’s time to go." 

Steven stood, his body heavy with fatigue but his resolve unshaken. He met Y/N’s gaze, the sadness in his eyes clear. 

"I’m not going," Steven said softly. 

Y/N froze, their expression hardening. "What?" 

"This is my home," Steven continued, his voice gaining strength. "The people here—my friends, my family—they need me. I can’t leave them, not now, not ever." 

Y/N’s eyes darkened, their calm demeanor fracturing. "You’re choosing them? After everything you’ve learned about what your mother did? After everything she took from you?" 

Steven nodded, his voice unwavering. "Yes. She made mistakes, terrible ones. But I’m not her. I’m me. And I’m going to stay and make things right." 

For a moment, Y/N said nothing, their gaze piercing through him. Then, their expression twisted into one of fury and determination. 

"You don’t get to make that choice, Pink." 

Before Steven could react, Y/N snapped their fingers. Lapis, Jasper, and Spinel leapt into action, moving with precision and speed. One by one, they bagan rejuvenating Pearl, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, and Peridot.

With each strike, the blade reset their friends’ memories, leaving their gemstones dull and unresponsive.

"No!" Steven shouted, rushing forward, but Lapis restrained him with a wave of water, holding him in place as Y/N moved from gem to gem. 

Steven struggled harder, but his strength was fading. "Stop it! Please! They’re my family!" 

Y/N turned to him, their expression icy. "They’re liabilities. They’ve held you back long enough." 

Connie tried to intervene, swinging her sword at Jasper, but she was quickly overpowered. With a swift blow, she was knocked unconscious. 

"Connie!" Steven cried out, his voice breaking. 

As Lapis tightened her hold, Y/N stepped closer to Steven, their gaze unwavering. "You’re too important for this planet, Steven. You don’t belong here. And if you won’t leave willingly, I’ll make you." 

Before Steven could respond, Spinel struck him from behind, the world fading to black as he collapsed next to Connie. 

Y/N stood over them, their expression unreadable as they looked at the unconscious pair. With a wave of their hand, their subordinates gathered the rejuvenated gems and secured the area. 

"Take them to the ship," Y/N commanded coldly. "It’s time to remind Steven who he really is." 

As the crown-shaped ship rose into the sky, the earth below grew silent once more, its defenders taken and its fate left uncertain.