Chapter Text
Usually, the atmosphere was peaceful in the hall of clarities - a fact that was by design. Garnet herself specified that both her and the other Sapphires required great amounts of calm and peace in order to discern elements of the future. However, peaceful could hardly describe how Garnet felt in this cycle.
“I have to tell Steven. We HAVE to be ready.”, she repeated to herself, running to the nearest warp pad.
* * *
“Greetings everyone.”, she announced, addressing Steven, Connie, Jasper, Bismuth, Chrysoberyl, Amethyst 3ZC, Dot, Pearl, White Sapphire, and a number of other high Court officials, each of whom were summoned at a moment’s notice at her own request, “I’ve gathered you all here today because I have had a vision regarding the safety and well-being of Pink Steven and the Pink Court. I saw that there will be an attack on the the palace.”
At that declaration, a multitude of gems gasped, each speaking up and voicing their concern.
“Everyone!” Garnet spoke, gaining the attention of the gems once more, “The attack will occur exactly 54 cycles from now, so please remain quiet as I explain my vision.”
“How are you sure that your vision is accurate?”, a Topaz spoke up, “Aren’t your visions potential possibilities and not certainties?”.
“I can verify Garnet’s vision as accurate as well, 7UJ.”, White Sapphire replied, “We had it at the same time.”.
“Now with all of your concerns out of the way, let us please continue with the matter at hand.”, she spoke up once more, slightly agitated, before bringing up a large projection of the planets of the four Courts, “In 54 planetary rotations, 98% of our armed forces will be occupied away from planet Earth and the capitol, with 30% spread across the multiple planets in the Pink Court to keep the peace, and the remaining 68% engaged in the blockade of the terrorist stronghold on YX-437.”, she began, gesturing to a distant planet halfway across the galaxy.
“Is there any way to divert troops away from the terrorist stronghold?”, one gem spoke up.
“No, each and every gem assigned to that stronghold is needed to bring it down, as per High Clarity Garnet’s visions.”, Connie spoke up.
So much had changed over the past three years. When Garnet first joined the Pink Court, she knew that Steven was changing how the Diamond Authority and gem-society at large operated, so she knew that there would be some pushback, but she never imagined that it would be this much. An entire faction of terrorist gems seemed to come out of the woodwork and dedicate themselves to the cause of destroying the Pink Court. If that wasn’t bad enough, they had no leads on who was actually in charge of this group. They acted way too coordinated to be acting without a leader, and each terrorist they captured labeled themselves as a member of the ‘Ameliorators’. So clearly there was someone behind the scenes. She hoped that the leader would be found in the assault on YX-437, but given that such a large attack is still able to be amassed against her Steven’s Court despite the blockade, it would seem as though the leader was operating from elsewhere.
“On that cycle, at approximately 10:32 PM Earth Time, or 0.93 HST a squadron of 30 highly trained Jasper soldiers will infiltrate the palace and split into groups, they will knock out our power, and shatter most of our generals, before…” she paused, the next words difficult to say, “Before killing High Guard Connie, and shattering our Steven.”.
* * *
“My Stars...”, someone gasped from one end of the table, Connie couldn’t tell, all she could feel in that moment was dread and panic at the thought of losing Steven.
“What happens if we don’t engage the terrorists? We bring the other 48% of our troops back here to deal with the gems.”, Steven spoke up immediately.
Connie took a deep breath, forcing her emotions down and focusing on the task at hand.
“Just think of it like one of Chrysoberyl’s puzzle scenarios.”, she thought to herself.
“Then the attack won’t come.”, Connie replied, “The Jaspers will see that we are defended and they will attack later when we are unprepared.”, Connie replied before turning back to Garnet, “You said that we had 2% of our armed forces able to aid us with this attack. In your vision where were these forces?”.
“They were interspersed throughout the capitol. I didn’t see them.”, Garnet replied.
“So we can use those forces to stop the terrorists.”, she concluded.
“I say that we position them around the palace!”, Jasper, the High Captain of ground forces spoke up, “They’ll meet the enemy head on, and the terrorists won’t even be able to get close to our Steven!”.
“Hold on Jasper.”, she replied, “There’s a chance that the presence of these gems would scare off our attackers if they were met with such a force. Our enemy needs to be captured and stopped, not a single enemy gem can escape. So before we can plan a strategy, we need to know how many troops we have on hand. Jasper, how many gems constitutes 2% of our total forces?”.
“That’s around 500 gems.”, Jasper replied.
“500 gems against 30.”, Connie muttered to herself, “If we surround the gems, and engage them, they might be able to fight their way out and retreat. Tanks and cannons are easily recognizable from a large distance, so they’ll probably run off before they even get close. There has to be a way to look at this problem differently, to flip it on its head.”.
“Wait. Jasper, how many of those gems are Amethysts?”, Connie asked, the beginnings of a plan forming in her mind.
“Well, they’re quartz soldiers, so Amethysts make up around 1/5 of our total forces. I’d say about 100 then?”, Jasper replied.
“Is there any way to find out for sure?”.
“It was 23rd and 324th ground force divisions that were unused in my vision.”, White Sapphire spoke up.
Jasper quickly pulled up a screen from her gem, bringing up the aforementioned divisions.
“There will be 124 Amethysts able to aid us, ma’am. What did you have in mind?” Jasper replied.
“We will only need around thirty Amethysts for what I’m thinking, but we will use the shapeshifting abilities of the Amethysts to our advantage to infiltrate the enemy’s ranks as they go about their attack on the palace.”, Connie replied.
“And how will they be able to do that? They can shape shift, yes, but it’s not perfect.”, Topaz 7UJ before spoke up.
“Do you recall the preferred pastime of most Amethysts, 3F3L 7UJ?”, Connie asked.
When she was met with silence, Connie continued, “A great many of our Amethyst forces like to act and host plays at the Amphitheater here in the capitol. Yes they shape shift, but they also use Era 3 tech to modify their appearance and voice to match that of who they play as. We can use that same technology to have the Amethysts gradually replace the enemy forces, that way we can corner their leader. We can also use the same projectors to camouflage non-Amethyst troops to use as defense in this room and the throne room, thus preventing casualties.”.
“So we whittle down their squadron as they make their way through the palace, and then overwhelm them in the throne room. You’re turning their very target into a trap!”, Jasper exclaimed, a mixture of awe and excitement in her voice.
“Yes, well it is a rough idea.”, Connie explained bashfully, before turning to Chrysoberyl, “We need to create a more specific plan of attack now. Are we able to pull up a map of the Palace?”.
“Sure.”, Chrysoberyl replied, doing just that as a large three-dimensional model of the building displayed before them.
“Garnet, can you trace out EXACTLY what paths they took?”.
The gems planned on long throughout the day, eventually putting together a strategy that ensured that the enemy forces of the two lesser teams would be dwindled down to 1-2 for each group given a conservative margin of error. Connie even suggested cutting off their own power in order to convince the leading team that their other groups were successful, a strategy that Chrysoberyl was quite impressed by.
* * *
“So if the first enemy squadron takes the path shown here, we should be able to position ambush teams, here, here, and here.”, Connie stated, pointing to specific corners on the Palace map, “Moreover, in each of these areas, there is potential for error and mistakes. So we will need to have backup troops hidden close to each ambush point, to aid the Amethysts should something go wrong.”.
“That’s a lot of large mesh protectors…”, Dot spoke up.
“Well, we can have some ambush points share contingency groups, to avoid using too many projectors. Do you think we need to engineer more?”, she replied.
“Well, let’s see.”, Dot muttered, focusing on the map, “If we want to have 8-9 ambush points for each group, and each ambush point requires a mesh projector, we will require 27 projectors.”, Dot deduced, before pulling up a screen from her gem, “And it looks like we have 30 in storage at my lab, so nope! We should be good, ma’am!”.
“Very good.”, she smiled.
“Alright. So the thirty Amethysts are divided across three teams, Alpha for protecting the generator, Beta for protecting this room, and Prime for protecting the throne room. Moreover, each team is divided five to ten sub-groups of each team, based on the number of ambush points.”, Jasper replied, taking notes on the points that Connie covered, “Assuming that each group is successful, the lead squadron should be down to two enemy gems by the time they reach the throne room. However, we should have a backup plan, just in case this doesn’t work.”.
“We will have large squadrons stationed in this room, the generator room, and the throne room. Troops that specialize in projectile spears and weapons that are favorable to tight-quarters combat should be given special consideration.”, she replied, “Ideally, since the generator room is the smallest, we will station 30 troops there, whereas this room will have 50 troops, and the throne room will have 100, in addition to myself. So, all in all, we will have 180 troops assigned to the target points, and 30 Amethysts interspersed throughout the palace itself, so 210 troops in total.”.
“So we overwhelm them, once the trap has already been sprung, and there’s no way out.”, Jasper smiled and gave a hearty laugh, “I like the cut of your gem, ma’am!”.
“Thank you, Jasper.”, she smiled back, before turning to Topaz and the Clarities, “Topaz 3DF, now that we have a plan of attack, you are to work with the Clarities to build a training simulation for this mission. Have it completed as soon as possible, but do not cut corners.”, she paused, and addressed the Clarities, “Garnet, White Sapphire, see to it that the resulting simulation is flawless. We need our troops to be fully prepared for this battle, and we cannot afford a single mistake.”, Connie ordered as Topaz, Garnet, and White Sapphire bowed.
“I want those 210 troops sole assignment to be training for this mission.”, Connie spoke up, turning back to Jasper, “They are to be in the training simulators constantly, only leaving during their leisure periods. They are to know this mission thoroughly, as if it were the facets of their own gem. Understood?”, she ordered.
“Yes ma’am.”, Jasper replied, “I will gather them for briefing as soon as our meeting is adjourned.”.
“Lastly, we will need some way of quietly poofing the gems in a way that doesn’t alert the other guards.”.
“Oh!”, Dot spoke up, “High Guard Connie, I believe that I can help with that! There’s a prototype for an Era 3 disruptor back in my lab! With some modifications, we should be able to use it for this application.”.
“And how long would these modifications take?”, she asked.
“Not long, ma’am two, maybe three cycles at most.”, Dot replied.
“And how long would it take to make sixty of these weapons? Each gem will need to have one spare rod as backup.”, she replied.
“Given the right resources, that should be able to be finished in around another three cycles.”.
“Good, that leaves a minimum of 48 cycles left to train and prepare.”, Connie replied, turning to Bismuth, “See to it that Dot has all of the resources and help that she needs to make these weapons. As soon as they are done, get the weapons over to the Amethysts in the training halls, they’ll need to familiarize themselves with these new weapons as much as possible.”.
“We won’t be able to get the weapons standardized with the Homeworld Armaments Board”, Bismuth sighed.
“They won’t be standard issue for troops then.”, she replied, “Work around the red tape if you have to. If they still give you trouble, tell them that they can take it up with his Radiance himself.”.
“Got it.”, Bismuth shuddered at Connie’s change in tone.
“Alright then, is everyone clear on what their next steps are?”, she turned to address the room.
A chorus of yes’s and other affirmations filled the room.
“Good.”, she replied, before taking a deep breath, “Things may look harrowing as more and more of these terrorists rise up against us. But we will not let them win! Thanks to the premonitions of Garnet and White Sapphire, we have the opportunity to prevent a tragedy, so let’s not waste it. What once was a great threat is now our opportunity to capture some of their most elite soldiers and gain useful information! Together, we can turn what would have been a night of great grief into a moment of triumph! We will make it a night where not a single gem will shatter!”, she proclaimed, strengthening the wills and resolve of her fellow gems.
“Now go forth and complete your orders!”, she cheered, adjourning the meeting.
At that the rest of the gems cheered as well, before bowing and leaving the room to begin their orders, with Chrysoberyl remaining in the room.
“You handled yourself incredibly, ma’am.”, Chrysoberyl praised, “Soon, there won’t be much else for me to teach you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your teaching, Chrysoberyl.”, she smiled.
“You are most welcome, ma’am.”, Chrysoberyl replied, “I will see to it that the simulations are programmed properly, and then aid wherever else is necessary, unless you need me elsewhere?”.
“No.”, Connie replied, “That will be good for now.”.
“Very well, High Guard Connie.” Chrysoberyl responded, “However, may I make one request?”.
“Yes Chrysoberyl?”.
“I wish to be among the gems standing guard amongst Steven in the throne room. Not that I doubt our forces!”, Chrysoberyl quickly amended, “Only that should something go wrong, I wish to be there to protect my Steven if necessary.”.
“That is perfectly fine, Chrysoberyl.”, she replied, “After all, I’m going to be stationed in the throne room as well.”.
“Thank you ma’am.”, Chrysoberyl bowed, “Well, I best be off now.”, she finished, before turning and leaving the room. Leaving Connie, Steven, and Pink Pearl the last members in the room.
Worn out from the day’s planning, Connie and Steven retired to the throne room, Pink Pearl trailing close behind. While Connie herself was still focused on the plan she put forth to the other gems, she could tell that Steven was pretty shaken from the day’s events.
“Are you okay?”, she asked, voice full of concern.
“No, I’m not.,” Steven replied, voice unsteady, “I’m scared Connie. Garnet saw you die. That’s not something that I can just shake off.”, Steven began before he was interrupted by Connie wrapping him in a tight hug.
Slowly, Steven returned the embrace, both of them on the throne now, “I can’t lose you. I- LOVE you Connie.”, Steven sobbed as his declaration sunk in to Connie.
“I love you too Steven.”, she tightened her hug, tears running down her face, “That’s why nothing is going to harm us. We know that it’s coming now. We can be prepared to fight. And when we fight, we fight together. You won’t lose me, and I won’t lose you.”, she finished, punctuating her promise with a kiss.
* * *
At first, Steven was confused at to what was taking place, all he could tell was that something very, very soft had been placed against his lips. However, that confusion was quickly replaced with shock as Steven opened his eyes to see Connie kissing him.
“What!? She’s - we’re!?”, Steven’s mind stuttered.
“I mean yeah, we’ve been dating for three years, and I did just say ‘I love you’ to her for the first time, but all we’ve done before is just hold hands with the occasional kiss on the cheek!”, Steven mentally screamed before he realized that he should probably kiss back.
Steven wished that this moment could last forever. Despite all of the fear, despite all of the panic and planning that preceded this moment, he knew that this made up for it, because she was right. They knew now, and they were going to be okay. Sinking into this newfound peace, Steven’s gem began to glow.
All of a sudden they couldn’t feel Steven - no Connie kissing them back anymore. Was something wrong? Did they pull away? Opening their eyes, they noticed that the person they were kissing was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, they were a good deal taller than they were previously. Looking down at their hands and body, the answer became far more clear.
“Oh! I fused!”, Stevonnie laughed to themselves, the emotions and dialogue from just before rushing back to them, “So you two ‘love’ each other now! That’s exciting!”, Stevonnie exclaimed, before turning to Pink Pearl, “Hi Pearl! How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, My Stevonnie. How are you?,” Pink Pearl replied.
“I don’t know.” Stevonnie replied, “I feel very different? Steven and Connie were pretty scared and on edge with all of the counterattack planning, but then they felt hope? Determination is probably more accurate, but then all of that was overwhelmed with the love that they have for each other, and I feel that now too? I feel happier, and a good deal stronger as well, and I don’t know what that means.”.
“Well, it seems like whatever happened was positive.”, Pink Pearl replied, “Would you like me to summon High Clarity Garnet? Perhaps she could provide some insight into how you are feeling.”.
“That’s a good idea Pearl. Ask her to come by sometime after she is finished helping Topaz with the simulations.” Stevonnie replied.
“Yes, My Stevonnie.”, Pink Pearl bowed in the Diamond salute once more.
At that, Stevonnie breathed deeply and focused themselves. Whatever happened, they would be prepared. Whatever happened, they would be together.