Chapter 18 The Arrival and the Past

We'd done everything we could think of to prepare, and it still felt like we didn't have enough time. I took a deep inhale of breathe before releasing it shakily, trying to get the unease and anxiety out of me before the other Diamonds arrived. It wouldn't do to show any weakness in the coming moments.

"It's alright My Diamond, we'll be fine. You, will be fine." Pearl stated, resting a hand on my shoulder supportively while Steven stood to the other side of me fidgeting impatiently as we waited for the Diamonds ships to arrive.

"We'll keep you safe." Jasper added, trying to send a comforting smile my way as well.

"Thanks guys, that means a lot." I said back with a smile, although the smile itself was a bit reserved.

While a few days was a short amount for of time for humans I found myself loving the fact that Gems didn't actually need sleep, which meant we were able to get the Base repaired and the new wings finished before we moved out to the edge of the forest and started setting out what was in retrospect a HUGE landing pad. When Peridot told me that we'd needed more space and we just ended up cutting down more and MORE tree's?

'I need to make sure to go plant another forest somewhere on the Earth.' I thought to myself as I looked around the now rocky outcropping cut out of the side of the forest.

We'd placed stones down as well just to make it a bit more civilised than just a big patch of dirt, and had plans at some point to convert it into a proper landing pad, with a road that led up streets to the base with houses and whatever else we were going to need for the first city of our colony.

The ground shook a bit as Peridot's tablet pinged and Pearl got an alert on hers, both Gems mostly ignored the notifications on their respective devices as the clouds above us parted and two huge hand shaped spacecraft slowly made their way to our landing pad.

"Alright. This is it." I said, mainly to myself before looking over the others. On the inside I was still a strange mixture of nervous and giddy. "Does everyone know what to do? And what NOT to do?"

"Yes My Diamond." "YEP!" "Memorised P." Came the chorus of answers.

I nodded and looked as the ships slowly landed before remembering something "Oh, and Jasper. You have permission to salute me again if you want to or if the other Diamonds order you to."

"Of course My Diamond." She replied, still giving me a nod of respect. I felt a little swell in my heart of pride when she smiled at me and I smiled back. She'd really taken to the freedom and liberty I'd given her, while she still had a way to go when it came to respecting the Earth and it's Humans I could tell she'd really grown.

With a mighty thunk the ships themselves landed in unison, palms faced to the sky as a single finger crept down onto the ground, creating a basic ramp. Beside me I could hear Steven gasping in excitement at seeing his first space ship, I placed a placating hand on his shoulder just in case he had any ideas about running off towards them. My hand brushed over one of the two embroidered pink diamonds Pearl had sown into half of Steven's shirts and I felt...

He looked up at me and I smiled down at him, giving his shoulder a small squeeze to try and show I knew his excitement as well. Steven's smile lost some of it's excitement but he gave me a quick hug before stepping back and giving a regular human salute, standing beside me like the perfect little soldier. Seems like he'd grown as well while I was busy with Pearl and Peridot doing some boring administration stuff, if not physically then a little mentally.

Finally a Blue and Yellow bubble ascended from the ships in front of us, and then revealed the Diamonds within.

"Pink!" Blue practically yelled as tears started to flow, leaving her Pearl in the dust as she quickly reached our position and scooped me up in her hands bringing me to her face and giving me the best hug she could manage. "Oh you may look a bit different but it really IS YOU!"

"It's good to see you too Sis." I managed to mumble out as my face was smooshed against hers relentlessly, it was at this point I was forced to remember Blue's power as I started tearing up against my will. I pushed back against her face though which surprised her into simply holding me in her hand and I smiled before asking "Would you mind easing up on the tears though? It's hard to see you through all the water works."

"Indeed." I heard from beside Blue as Yellow made her way next to us and Blue relaxed her powers so all of us would stop crying. Yellow examined our surroundings with no hidden amount of distaste "To think, you've been here the whole time. I'm almost insulted you didn't call for us straight away."

"What no hug?" I asked in reply, arms wide open while stood on Blue's hand. "You DID miss me didn't you?"

Yellow in her defence looked scandalised "Wha-OF COURSE I MISSED YOU!"

"Good enough for me, Blue. You thinking what I'm thinking?" I said looking at up at her.

She seemed a little lost at first before I could see the idea dawn on her and she actually gave a light little laugh "You've barely changed a bit, but yes. I believe I am."

With a few quick steps that Yellow hadn't expected Blue had enveloped Yellow in and hug and I stood on jumped over to her shoulder, trying to give Yellow the biggest hug I could manage as well. We must of made a funny sight, the three of us embraced like that but somehow I could tell that Yellow enjoyed it.

"All right, thank you for the affection Pink. And you as well Blue." Yellow said as we broke apart, trying to keep her composed image. "But I believe I came here for more than a simple reunion."

I nodded and jumped out of Blue's hand, landing in front of Steven and Pearl. With both Blue and Yellow now standing in front of us I gave Pearl a nod and she summoned her spear giving it a few flashy spins before clacking the stone below us and standing in a perfect guard position behind me.

In trained response the other Gems and Steven knelt and gave a Diamond salute before saying all at once "At your service My Diamond's."

Blue looked surprised to say the least as I stood, a leader in front of my followers behind me with pride, Yellow on the other hand smiled. The smile grew bigger and she gave a light chuckle before looking down at me endearingly.

"You've certainly improved on your welcomes, well done Pink." Yellow said as I gave another nod to Pearl and she tapped her spear twice, the order for everyone to stand at attention, which they did. Well Steven was a little sloppy as usual but none of us had the heart to tell him he was doing it wrong. "Your Gems appear quite disciplined, trying to impress me?" She added, a smile halfway to a smirk on her features.

"As always, although I think I might've gotten something right this time judging by that smile." I replied with a proper smirk of my own. "But you're right, we've got things to discuss."

With a gesture I caught the Diamonds attention and we made our way over to the base, at a rather slow pace for the Diamonds but a march for the rest of us. Pearl seemed proud to be at the head of the column next to me as Jasper led Steven and Amethyst behind us. While those two gave the occasional whispered joke and chuckled a bit I noticed that Jasper didn't reprimand them, nor bring attention to it. I felt proud once again for her at that, she must finally be developing a relationship with them.

"And here we are, home base." I stated as we stopped next to it, the Drill while not operational was still on display in the courtyard outside where we had been working on it.

"This is it?" Yellow asked, her tone of voice as if she'd tasted something sour.

"Yellow!" Blue said in a hushed tone with frustration before turning to the Gem's and I. "It's wonderful Pink, although it's... a little small. We were hoping to get a tour."

"I...I think that could still be arranged, although you'd either have to wait until I can get Peridot to build a camera or shrink yourselves down to fit." I suggested, mainly off the cuff.

"Shrink down?" Yellow asked offended. "Why would we ever do such a thing? We're DIAMONDS Pink."

"It's fine, we can wait." Blue retorted, putting a calming hand on Yellow's shoulder. "Is that what you intend on destroying the Cluster with?" She added, pointing a finger towards the drill.

"While it's an option no, I mainly intended it on simply being a means of accessing the Cluster." I replied with a glance towards the device. "I was actually hoping you two had an idea as to how to deal with the problem."

"Hmm, well I suppose we could...no no no..." Yellow said as she brought a hand to her chin and stroked it as she pondered. "Are you sure that we couldn't just create a giant hole and simply pull it out? It is only about half the size of the Earth's Moon, so chances are your planet will survive intact."

"Do me a favour and think about the life on the planet too." I asked, my arms crossed as I replied. "We need to make sure that whatever damage we make is fixable and doesn't effect the planets ecosystem to badly."

"Well, perhaps the idea of using the drill is still the best then." Yellow stated, with a look over to the device. "Although we'll need to make a new head for it, the current material you're using is fine for digging through Earth and stone. But it appears to be a drill from an injector yes?"

"I believe that is correct yes." I replied.

"Well an injectors drill is made to NOT penetrate or damage Gems." Yellow said, causing most of us to pause in response. "But I'm assuming you already knew that since you said you only planned on using it to GET to the Cluster."

"Uhh yep, Definitely knew that." I replied with a thumbs up, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment. 'Well at least I know why the drill wasn't so effective in the show now.'

"Oh good, then you've already thought of an alternate material?" Yellow said with a bit of excitement. "Or perhaps you've already developed something that can break Gem's?"

"I'm sorry I-" *Ding* "I'm sorry I didn't think of it before, but it was uhh... Well it's complicated." I said as thoughts and worries filled my head. I'm pretty sure I started glowing a little Pink as the path ahead made itself clear to me.

"What's complicated?" Blue asked curiously. "And what has you so worried?"

"I uhhh, could-Could I get some alone time with my Gems for few minutes. We suddenly have something very important to discuss." I quickly explained, turning to the Gems and gesturing towards the base.

"Surely whatever is so important can be spoken of in our presence?" Yellow said more than asked. "We did travel quite a way to see you after all."

"As I said, REALLY complicated. It's some Crystal Gem stuff." I stated as I rushed the other Gems into the building.

"Crystal Gems?" I heard Blue ask in confusion. "Why does that sound familiar?"

"I believe that was the name the Rebels fought under while Rose Quartz was-" Yellow stopped her sentence there and we all froze in response as she levelled her gaze down at the Gems I was hurrying into the building. "Pink, this IS Your Pearl. Correct?"

"Uhhh yep, she's all mine." I said nervously as Yellow knelt down to examine the Gem's more closely.

"And yet she bears the star of the Crystal Gem's." Yellow stated, her eyes moving over the others. "In fact that overcooked Quartz and that Human bear the star as well. I'm not even going to BOTHER asking why you have a pet with you, you always did like organics..."

"And wearing it proudly as well, my big D." Amethyst replied unfalteringly, throwing a lazy Diamond salute as well. If it didn't complicate things I would've high fived her.

"I can explain." I said quickly, standing in front of Amethyst before giving her a look of disappointment.

"You believe you have an explanation for consorting with these Rebels?" Yellow asked, getting more frustrated by the second it seemed.

I met the glare she was sending my way with one of my own. "In fact I do." I fired back. "Although I'd rather discuss it later."

"I think both Blue and I would prefer if you shared your reasoning now." Yellow retorted, crossing her arms.

"Pink?" Blue simply asked inquisitively as a response, turning towards me.

I stared at them as they both stood there, waiting expectantly for an answer. It was a strangely familiar image in Pink's, and I suppose my memories. Yellow stood waiting for an answer that wouldn't please her and Blue had a hopeful look in her eyes but I could sense her disappointment. Something of the old Pink stirred in me and I could almost feel anger and frustration building, but that isn't who I am now.

I took a deep breath and remembered the plan before replying. "They saved me from you."

Given the looks of shock on their faces it wasn't the answer they were expecting. Yellow stumbled over her words until she righted herself and looked down at me in anger.

"And just HOW did these insignificant pebbles save YOU from US?!" Yellow bit out at me. "You were SHATTERED by their leader ROSE QUARTZ!" She added, her voice finally building up to a yell.

A quick glance over at Blue told me she was at least trying to comprehend the words I'd said instead of outright denying them. Never the less I brought my eyes back to Yellow and pushed on with the story.

"Rose Quartz wasn't at that battle, what everyone including you saw was a last ditch plan against a surprise attack." I explained, grabbing both of their attention now. I stopped and let the words sink in a bit, I was glad when Yellow hummed and leant back, staring me down but gesturing me to continue. "The palanquin was being attacked by rebels and they appeared to be winning, so with no other options I could think of at the time I ordered my Pearl to shape shift into the enemy leader Rose Quartz and uhh *Poof* Me. I'd prepared some convincing shards to make it seem like I'd been shattered and they were left behind while my Pearl escaped with my Gem safely in hand."

Yellow raised a hand and stopped me "While that was indeed a cunning plan, which we WILL talk about later." She said, her words gaining an edge. "I fail to see how that extends to these rebels saving your life."

"The Beam." Blue said slowly, as things slowly came together in her head. Even if it was only the series of events I wanted them to think happened. I saw Yellow's eyes widen a bit as she put some pieces together as well, but she still turned towards me.

"You never did say HOW you survived our blast..." She said, looking between the Crystal Gems and I curiously.

"The way My Pearl and the other Gems tell it we were caught on a battle field while I was still regenerating, and then the sky lit up." I said, both of the Diamond's rapt by the tale at this point. "My Pearl was saved by Rose Quartz's shield, as was another Gem who isn't here today. After that the war was over and there was no way to get home or contact, nor did I admittedly want to try after that."

I could feel tears start sliding down my face a few seconds before I was lifted off of the ground and brought into another crushing hug from Blue, I could hear the other Gems below me sobbing along with her as her power caused tears to flow freely from every Gem.

"Oh Star's Pink! I'm- We're SO SORRY!" Blue cried, holding me close. "If we'd had any clue that you were still alive we would have NEVER done this!"

"Blue I understand your pain, I do. But it's hard to hug you when I can't see you." Yellow said through some tears and a sob, her voice broke mid sentence as her very real sadness broke through her usual stoic facade for a moment.

Tears stopped flowing so readily between us as Yellow joined in on the hug. Feeling the genuine emotion from them almost flowing through me as we embraced each other made me hurt inside at knowing I couldn't tell them the truth. 'Not yet, They're not ready yet.' I thought to myself as the hug lingered.

"I appreciate the love you two, but I really do need to discuss some stuff with my Gems." I stated, breaking off the hug. I gracefully jumped off of Blue's hand and slowly floated to the ground landing next to Amethyst who gave me a smile and a thumbs up, she was obviously glad that the Diamond's bought it.

"Of course, if you think it will help us help you in removing or destroying the Cluster..." Yellow said, her tone a bit softer after hearing that tale. "Please, take all the time you need."

"Jasper, Peridot. Please stay with Yellow and Blue in the meantime, as I said. Crystal Gem stuff." I stated, garnering a disappointed look from Jasper but still getting a nod in reply.

"Yes My Diamond." "Of course My Diamond." They both replied, Both of them saluting me.

With that I walked into the base with Pearl, Amethyst and Steven, quickly shutting the door behind us with the button on the wall and I took a deep sigh once I knew we wouldn't be heard. I looked back to the confused faces of the Gems before me... I wasn't looking forward to this conversation. Even if I knew we were going to have it eventually I could only see trouble coming from it.

'I just hope all that trouble is worth it, she's got to see that it will be what's best for the planet.' I thought to myself as Pearl spoke up.

"What's this about My Diamond? You seem a bit... well cautious." Pearl asked, her worry for me written plainly on her face as her brows furrowed in thought. "It's not Blue and Yellow is it? Are they bringing up some bad memories?"

"In a way." I replied, narrowing my eyes in thought before looking back up at her. "They were bound to make some memories resurface, good AND bad. But they made me remember something, or rather someone."

"You can't be thinking of Garnet she's halfway across the country by now P." Amethyst said more than asked, I shook my head in reply. "I don't know what she'd have to do with this anyway."

"It's not, and honestly...Uugh this has been a long time coming but I need to tell you guys about... about something else Rose did." I managed to let out, the words being harder to say than I planned. All three pairs of eyes went wide in response to this.

"NOT MORE SECRETS!" Steven let out with a cry. "I'm not sure how much more I can take!"

"This kind of had something to do with this particular Gem making something to kill me with, or her with. Rose." I replied hurriedly, trying to keep Steven calm.

"Why would any Gem that we know want to kill you or Rose?" Pearl asked in confusion, a hand on her hip and the other raised to her chin in thought. "Everyone loved Rose..."

"But they wouldn't of made it to hurt Rose would they?" Amethyst said grabbing Pearl's attention. "They would have been fighting against Pink Diamond and the other Gems."

"But the only Gem we had capable of creating something like that would... Would be..." Pearl looked at me with a mixture of hope and sadness in her eyes. She gave me a hard glare before blinking away what tears were forming in the corner of her vision and staring me down. "YOU are going to tell us EXACTLY what happened, without leaving out any details. My Diamond."

"If it's any consolation, she was trying to have me killed." Before she could reply I raised a hand and continued "And will probably attempt to shatter me as soon as she's freed as well."

I could see Pearl attempt to respond in defence to that but she gave up and sighed while nodding in agreement. "She really doesn't like you."

"Guys, WHO are we talking about?" Steven asked, almost pleading for the information.

"Yeah, I'm kinda feelin a little 'left out of the loop' here." Amethyst stated, looking a little peeved off.

I sighed again, glowing a little pink as the stress started to build up but took a deep breath and let the glow die down.

"Come on, this'll be better if we talk about this in the kitchen where we can sit down as equals." I stated, starting to walk off of the main hall towards the sleeping areas.

"Alright, but I'm making myself a sandwich while I'm there." Amethyst replied, still looking peeved but a little more calm now that food might be involved.

"Hey, can I have one too?" Steven asked, his stomach grumbling a bit. "I think we forget to do breakfast since your Sisters were showing up."

"I'll make you something Steven." Pearl replied with a tired smile, the tone of her voice still a little muted but her love for Steven still coming through.

A minute or two later we were sat around the kitchen table, Amethyst munching on some monstrosity of a sandwich with a raw egg in it while Steven had a simple PB and J. Pearl and I weren't eating as usual, and we tossed each other anxious looks across the table as I built up the courage to speak again.

Steven was mid bite of his sandwich when I finally took a deep sigh, grabbing the others attention as I did so. I looked into their waiting faces and almost didn't speak, but the fate of the Earth and possibly my friends replied on me telling them.

"Bismuth... She... she's alive, and in a bubble." I stated, Pearl's eyes widened. I noticed Amethyst with a lost look in her eyes but a big gulp brought me to look at Steven who asked the question before she could.

"Who's Bismuth?" His eyes held curiosity but a bit of worry as well, I imagine he might have had a bit of a scary picture of her in his head since the first words he'd heard about her was that She had wanted to kill the previous Pink.

"She was-IS a Crystal Gem." Pearl replied before I could find the appropriate words myself, she seemed conflicted as she spoke but pressed on anyway. "Bismuth made a lot, if not nearly all of the weapons and armour the Crystal Gems used in our war against home world. Rose... Rose told us she'd lost track of her during the battle for the Ziggurat, another lie I suspect." Pearl ended, giving me a hurt look. "I know you couldn't free her yourself because of... well you being you she'd immediately attack you. But I wish you'd have let Garnet and I know she was alive."

"I'm sorry." I replied, a little disappointed in myself for not dealing with this sooner. "I was to busy thinking about how I'd be affected if she were to come back, I didn't even think about how you guys would feel about it. I suppose I thought if you didn't know it couldn't hurt you, I'm sorry."

"Wait, so she already knows Pearl and Amethyst?" Steven asked curiously, looking between the two of them.

"Nah just Pearl, I emerged after the war was over." Amethyst said in reply relatively quickly.

"Oh." Was Steven's reply to that.

"But if she's in a bubble, where is the bubble?" Pearl asked quizzically. "And more to that if you thought she was so dangerous why bring her up now? Wait, what made you bubble her in the first place?!" Pearl almost yelled at me from across the table.

I took a deep sigh and sunk a bit down in my seat as I got ready to explain. "It's the same reason we need her now." Looking up I noticed I'd grabbed there attention and took the time I had to right myself in my seat and continue. "The reason Rose bubbled Bismuth was that She'd made a weapon. A weapon that could shatter Gems in an instant."

A collective gasp swept across the table and Pearl put a hand to her mouth in disbelief, but I continued before she could say anything. "She thought it could end the war, and so she showed it to Rose. Bismuth gave her a demonstration on some obsidian training dummies and explained how they might even be able to shatter the Diamonds with it. Obviously that worried Rose to no end. Not just because she WAS Pink Diamond, but because it was generally agreed upon that we should not shatter Gems. It would only make us as bad as them."

"Geez no wonder Rose bubbled her, I woulda done the same thing." Amethyst stated understandingly. But Pearl still seemed to be in disbelief.

"I-It's almost unthinkable! I can't...I mean I suppose she did have a bit of an edge to her but to..." Pearl made a defeated sigh as her thoughts caught up with her and she realised the truth. "But to win the war she would have done anything, and I bet she believed Rose would too."

I nodded in reply, a little sad as I finished the recollection "Rose tried to tell her that she was wrong, and couldn't use it. But Bismuth wouldn't listen, eventually the argument turned violent. After a quick fight Rose defeated Bismuth and bubbled her away."

"And the weapon she made?" Steven asked.

"I-Rose thought of destroying it, but saw use in it. As a last ditch effort in case the Diamonds never gave in, fled or couldn't be captured." I replied, getting a shocked look from everyone at the table. "So she put it back where Bismuth had placed it, locked away so only Bismuth could access it. And she hid Bismuth somewhere no one but her could get to. And so stopped anyone using it, even herself unless in great need."

"And we are in great need." Pearl stated, the pieces finally coming together in her head. "You want to use Bismuth's weapon on the Cluster."

"Yes, It's made for shattering Gems. I don't want to do it but destroying the Cluster is the only hope of saving Earth right now." I stated, not liking my own words my knowing their truth. "I'm more afraid of the end result of this technology. We NEED to make sure the other Diamond's don't know how to make it, so we'll need to destroy the drill after we're done as well."

"Yes, there's no telling what they would do with that weapon if they could make their own." Pearl replied, she took a deep breath though and looked at me after. "But we still need Bismuth for all of this to work, are you still willing to give her a chance?"

"Several, She's a Crystal Gem." I replied light heartedly, trying to lift the mood a little. "That means she's family...But maybe someone else can speak to her first?"

"We'll all speak to her at the same time." Pearl replied firmly, a frown on her face. "There's already been enough secrecy to last millennia between us. You said it yourself, she's family. And she deserves to know the truth."

I grunted a bit in frustration. I figured Pearl would be a bit more lenient after learning Bismuth wanted to KILL me but...I can't say no to her.

"Alright. As you say My Pearl, she deserves to know everything." I stated, feeling a bit anxious as the moment grew closer. With another shaky sigh I turned to Steven. "Steven, you're going to have to go and get her. She's bubbled in Lion's mane under the tree, you'll know her Gem when you see it. It's a rainbow innie."

"She-She wont hurt me will she?" Steven asked, a little fearful. I shook my head in response.

"No, she'll probably be a little confused at first but she'd never harm a Human." I replied, putting a calming hand on his shoulder. "Now please, go find her bubble and bring her back."

I took another heavy sigh as he nodded with purpose and disappeared down the hallway in search of Lion who was most likely napping in Steven's room. Pearl got off of her chair and came to stand next to me, and though I saw a very slight hesitation she still put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I could almost feel the support flowing through her touch.

"Things will be fine, Amethyst and I will be here to protect you." She said with a smile, although it's strained nature told me how stressed she was feeling. I place my hand on the one she'd placed on my shoulder and squeezed back. I smile grew that little bit brighter.

"Yeah, Crystal Gem or not she'll have to get through us." Amethyst added, a confident grin smeared across her face. Along with a bit of egg from her sandwich.

"I just hope nothing bad happens." I said to the others as well as myself as we sat, waiting for Steven to return.

A/N DUND DUN DUN, ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

Welp that's another chapter down as we get close to bringing another of my favourite characters into the limelight!

anyway that's another chapter down and I don't know how many more to go, Make sure to leave a review if you liked what you read! Hell even if you didn't! I live on reviews!

Stay Tuned for More!