Black Diamond

Chapter 19- The Return

Blare's Pov

As predicted by Garnet the Homeworld gems are here.  We're currently preparing for battle. Right now we're hoping to shoot the ship down with the light cannons. "The light cannon should be ready." Pearl said. "Good do we have any other long-range attacks? This might not be enough." I said Pearl shook her head and I sighed. This was going to be a miracle if we win. "Guys did you see that thing in the sky?" Steven asked but his demeanor didn't reflect the seriousness of the matter. "It's a ship we have to assume it's Peridot." Pearl said her worry reflecting in her eyes. "Lapis told us shed be coming with advanced weapons and reinforcements." Garnet said.

"It is happening..." I looked a Greg. I felt bad for him this was his home, and by us being here it would always be in danger. "Alright we need to begin our first attack." I said Garnet nodded in agreement. "ready the light cannons. We watched as the cannon fired but the attack was ineffective. "No effect." Garnet said looking into the telescope. "What now?" Greg asked. "We'll have to take them head on the whole town could be in danger." Garnet answered. Steven tried to call the mayor to get him to evacuate the people.

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We tried to make a dent in the ship, but nothing seemed to be working. "We need to get Steven out of here. If they found out that he has Rose's gem it could mean trouble." I said Pearl instantly reacted. "Blare's right we can't afford anymore trouble." Garnet said. We all went into the house and began Pacing Steven's things. It took a longer than we expected. By the time we were finished it was dark out. The ship had gotten closer and the town was starting evacuation. We started to quickly pack up the van so that Greg and Steven could leave in time.

"Oh, hey that's a great idea dad. You should leave with the rest of-hey is that my luggage?" Steven asked looking at his backpack then at us. He was obviously upset but we didn't want anything to happen to him. "Uh who wants to tell him?" Greg asked. We all looked at each other, until Garnet stepped up. "Steven, I know you don't think we trust you, and I know more often than not we treat you like a human child. But the truth is we rely on you. You binds us together. It reminds us of why we promised to protect the human planet. You must now be the voice for them. If anything happens you need to be there to protect them, like your mother once did. It's your destiny." Garnet said Steven nodded with a determined look on his face. "I won't disappoint you." Steven said. "I know." Garnet said.

We all stepped back watching them drive away, waving what we know to be our last time to Steven. We all held in our feelings as much as possible, but the moment we left the despair of the situation hit us hard. This is it I enjoyed a wonderful 4,013 years of freedom. "We did everything we could. Alright pull it together." Garnet said we all straightened up and prepared to fight to the bitter end.

"Maybe if you fuse into Opal, we can shoot the ship down, and if that doesn't work, we can try pairing your attack with the light cannon." I suggested. The two began to dance before fusing into Opal. "On our mark." Me and Garnet said together. Opal drew her weapon preparing to fire on command. "Fire!" Me and Garnet yelled but the attack was ineffective. "We're out of time they'll be in range any minute." I said. "At least Steven is safe." Garnet said we all nodded in agreement. "Steve!" Garnet and I yelled. "You came back." Amethyst said just as shocked at Steven's sudden appearances "What are you doing? Get out of here!" Pearl yelled. "It's too late just stay behind us!" Garnet yelled. The ship landed in front of us and an orb appeared. "That's them alright their the ones that keep breaking my machines." Peridot said. A Jasper walked forward she seemed unimpressed by us. "This is it." She said looking down at us. "Jasper they keep interfering with my work!" Peridot yelled. "Looks like another waste of my time. Hey get over here." Jasper said pulling Lapis from behind her, before continuing to scrutinize us.

"You need to leave immediately!" Garnet yelled. "Your presence is not welcome on this planet!" I added. "Yeah step off!" Amethyst yelled. "This is not a gem-controlled planet!" Pearl stated. However, Jasper proceeded to ignore us. "Neither of you have seen Rose Quartz or Black Diamond. Oh, what a shame I hoped to meet her. I was looking forward to beating her into the ground, but this is all that's left of her army some lost defective Pearl, a puny overcooked runt, an off-color Sapphire, and this shameless display. What is that?" Jasper asked. "It's calls itself a Steven." Peridot answered. "He's just a human! He's not a threat at all! He's not one of them!" Lapis yelled. "I know what a human is. You don't need me for this just blast them with the ship." Jasper said.

The ship was preparing to fire as Jasper walked away. "Steven get out of here!" Garnet yelled. "We'll be okay but you need to leave! Please Steven!" I begged but he wouldn't listen. "No!" Steven yelled back. "I won't let you risk your life!" Garnet countered. "But this is my home and you're all my family!" Steven yelled his gem began to glow. "I'm a Crystal Gem too!" Steven yelled jumping in front of the blast. We closed our eyes thinking the worst, but when I opened them Steven's shield was protecting us. The shield dissipated before Steven bean to fall forward. I ran and caught him hugging him. "Steven-" "You! You have the power of Rose Quartz! Fire a barrage widespread!" I quickly picked Steven up to run but I knew we wouldn't make it. Suddenly Garnet pushed us out of the way as the blast hit.

"Rose why do you look like that? Why are you so weak?" Jasper asked her voiced laced with disappoint. "Don't hurt him!" Lapis cried. "You knew about this!" Yelled angered that Lapis withheld information. "It wasn't relevant to the mission!" Lapis defended. "Forget about the mission." Jasper stated. "What!" Peridot yelled. "Yellow Diamond needs to see this thing." I drew my weapon at her words stepping in front of Steven, but suddenly Garnet rose from the sand and charged at Jasper. Their weapons clashed the shockwave throwing me and Steven backwards. "Steven run!" Garnet yelled.

"Priming Gem destabilizer." I heard Jasper say. I turned around in fear. "Garnet! No!" I yelled scrambling to my feet to run after her. I reached out to grab her, but it was too late. The similar yellow shock overtook her form, before a horrifying snap was heard. I stared in horror as Garnet's form broke in front me. She looked back at me and Steven before poofing, both gems falling in the sand. I was too over come with shock to notice Jasper walk up to Steven. My eyes fixated on the two gems in the sand. "But this! This is sick!" I heard Jasper yell. I looked behind me to see Jasper lift Steven of the ground. Pearl and Amethyst ran to his aid. "I get what you're planning Rose, but look your base is taken, your armies are ruined you have failed!" She yelled head butting Steven. His form fell limp in her arms. I watched as Pearl and Amethyst attempted to defeat her, but they too met a swift end.

I looked down at the two gems in the sand, before clenching my fist in anger. I looked up to see Jasper picking up Pearl and Amethyst's gems. "Unhand them!" I commanded. She froze for a split second before turning to look at me. "An off-color that doesn't know it's place. Tell me what makes you think I would ever listen to a defect like you?" She asked with an amused expression. I stood to my feet and looked her in the eyes. "That's were you're wrong. You don't know your place." I said. She held eyes contact before she began to look me over. Her expression unimpressed until her eyes locked on to my gem. Instantly her expression changed morphing into shock. "Black Diamond." She whispered her tone softer than what I anticipated.

"I will go peacefully if you release them." I offered bowing my head in defeat. I heard her foot steps as she walked up to me. She picked me up by my waist looking closer at my gem, searching for even the slightest difference in the cut of my gem. We looked into each other's eyes before she grabbed me by the neck and walked back to the other two gems. "Grab the rebels and place them in cells..." Jasper ordered before looking at Lapis. I stayed silent knowing my retaliation wouldn't help the matter. "and throw this traitor in one too." She said before walking onto the ship.