Chapter Text
“Garnet! Stop those gems before they get to the warps!” Rose Quartz commanded as she wielded her sword and shield against oncoming gems, trying to escape from Earth. She gritted her teeth and destroyed the physical forms of two gems in one swipe. This war wasn’t only physically tiring for her, but it was emotionally draining as well. She knew that these gems would be bubbled and that they would feel no more pain, but Rose couldn’t help but feel a sick feeling in her gut. Who knows when these gems she’s bubbled will have a chance to be free again? Locked in infinite stasis may as well be a death sentence for all the gems she’s poofed. And what about the shards left behind of her army? She tried to bubble all that she could find, but there’s no way she could’ve taken care of all of it. What would Homeworld do to them? And the feeling of pressure and trauma only got worse when she thought of what she did to Bismuth… what she did to Pink Diamond.
As she hacked and sliced at the Homeworld gems, a bright light flashed and a song of death was heard. She immediately summoned her shield to cover her and called for her comrades. But it was too late. Around her laid the thousand- no, millions- of gems left behind on Earth, slowly turning into monstrous beings.
“Sapphire? Please, oh god, please, what’s happening to you?!” A red gem known as Ruby mourned over the blue gem laying in her lap.
“It’s okay, Ruby,” Sapphire reassured, placing a gloved hand, already corrupting, on Ruby’s cheek. “I only wish we could have gone together…”
“NO! I can save you! I can- I can…” Ruby cried helplessly.
“No,” Sapphire spoke. “I saw this coming, I could have saved us. But at least we can see each other one last time before-” It was hard for Sapphire to speak. The corruption was up to her throat. Yet, she began to sing. She sang a familiar song that spoke of love and tragedy. Rose Quartz watched helplessly as the lovers became fully corrupted.
“Rose!” Pearl cried out. The white gem clambered over towards her. “Rose…” Pearl started to cry, staining Rose’s white dress.
Rose Quartz kneeled down and held Pearl in her arms. “Pearl, please, you can fight it, please just-”
Pearl looked lovingly into Rose’s eyes. Rose cried healing tears. Maybe just this once, she could save somebody. But nothing happened.
“Why isn’t it working?” She cried out. “WHY AREN’T MY HEALING TEARS WORKING?” But this only made her cry harder.
“Rose,” Pearl uttered. Rose wiped her tears away and brought her face closer to Pearl’s, wanting only to hear Pearl speak.
“Rose, the only thing I ever wanted to be was yours. I wanted to love you, I wanted you to love me.”
“Pearl…” Rose sobbed. “I already loved you. I loved you all along. You were just so special and perfect. And that’s why I loved you.”
“I’m not perfect,” Pearl said, her voice barely audible. “I’m just a Pearl.”
“You are perfect, Pearl,” Rose said firmly. “You’re my perfect, beautiful Pearl.”
“Yeah,” Pearl chuckled. She stared into Rose’s perfect eyes for a long moment and then finally kissed her. She had waited so long for this moment. And as she corrupted, she realized that she was finally truly happy.