Here's the next one. Thanks for all the reviews!

:Fading Echoes:

Chapter X: My Diamond's Son

Yellow Diamond sat upon her golden throne.

Glistening silver stairs led to a being whose size was… baffling. She was a figure more imposing than the largest of soldiers. Angular features and a piercing gaze revealed her authority. In the eyes of her gems, she was the embodiment of perfection: infallible in all her decisions, benevolent in all her ways. She never ceased her work. Never wavered from the task of commanding her armies. Her fingers were moving across multiple screens, calculating, assigning, instructing, and overseeing those within her expansive, militaristic court.

A Pearl was always at her side, standing as stiffly as possible. Her arms were clasped behind her back, nose turned upward.

Beyond the glass dome of the moon base, a large planet was visible. It was green—greener than most terrestrial planets, with rivers spanning its entire surface like arteries and veins.

Even then, from hundreds of thousands of miles away, evidence of an invasion was clear.

Yellow starships approached and departed the planet in droves. Beneath, battles were fought and lost. New troops were deployed and withdrawn. Massive explosions scarred the surface of this planet.

And despite the war that raged below, Yellow Diamond sat comfortably in her seat, face twisted in annoyance as she communicated with one of her gems.

"My Diamond. We're trying. We really are-"

"Try harder, Hessonite!"

"But… but these organics—they're unlike anything we've ever seen."

"Are you making excuses, Commander?"

"Of course not, ma'am."

"Then listen. And listen well. You will take facet-9 before nightfall. You will eliminate these pesky organics. And you will write a detailed report to me upon your success. Or so help me, I will shatter you myself! Is that understood?"

"C-certainly, your radian-"

She ended the transmission before anymore could be said.

"Pitiful." The diamond sighed, exasperated.

She moved her hand across the air. The authority's insignia appeared on one of her screens. She pressed a single symbol, her own.

"My Diamond?" asked the pearl beneath her.

"What is it, Pearl?"

The yellow pearl bowed her head, now holding a screen of her own. "The soldier you requested has arrived. She's awaiting your instructions."

Yellow nodded. "Let her in."

"Yes, my Diamond."

Soon after, a pair of doors opened, revealing an elite quartz soldier.

It was a Jasper—the Jasper. Tall, muscled, and intimidating. The ultimate soldier. She walked through the doors, given entry by Yellow Diamond herself.

It was with great respect that Jasper approached one of the matriarchs of gemkind, her current commander. She crossed her arms and formed the diamond salute, stopping short of the lengthy ascent.

"You wanted to see me," said the soldier, having been waiting outside the control room for this meeting.

Yellow glanced at her, golden eyes roaming from one of her screens. She began to type. Her voice rang through the air, echoing tremendously. "One moment."

Jasper dipped her head, a single mechanical nod.

The golden gem traced her hand across the air once more. Different holographic images appeared, floating above as she typed. Jasper caught sight of nine separate locations, strange looking injectors, a valley, and the picture of a leaf symbol.

"I'm aware that you just returned from a mission," the matriarch intoned. "However, I have a new assignment for you. You're needed down at facet-9. The first battalion requires your immediate support."

Jasper nodded, glancing at that planet. She'd been itching for a chance to be deployed. For a chance to finally avenge him. A chance to destroy the lowly organics that took him away from her.

But for an instant, she wondered.

Why had she needed to be flown here in person to receive this mission?

Yellow Diamond could have easily given her an assignment through a report, or even sent her directly to the planet below. But here she was, standing before the towering matriarch.

Why?

"Is that all, Yellow Diamond?" Jasper ventured.

For the first time, the Diamond focused on her, turning and looking straight at the perfect quartz.

"How are you?"

It was a simple question, one that would have surprised any other gem. But despite its spontaneity, the elite soldier kept her hardened composure.

"I've been… well."

"Hm." Yellow Diamond moved, and the image of a particular soldier appeared on her screen. "This loss was not an easy thing," she said calmly—factually.

Jasper did not flinch. Her eyes landed on Onyx's projected image. "It wasn't. I plan on finding his shards when I go down there."

"You've been through much," stated the matriarch, an interesting change of tone.

"We all have," Jasper spoke. Her mind drifted to her original creator, her original diamond. Shattered on earth. A deep scar both she and Onyx had shared.

"Onyx was a fine asset to Homeworld. This loss is highly regrettable. A terrible blow, indeed. Many soldiers are still… demoralized by this event." There was a distant look in her golden eyes. Her hands subtly clenched the contours of her seat. "But the past is just that. The past. We must always look forward. Never back. Continue our expansion. Understood?"

It wasn't a question. Jasper raised her head. Showing strength. No weakness. Nothing to desecrate the order of the Diamonds.

Now, Yellow Diamond was no longer observing her, no longer gazing down from her faceted throne. Her moment of openness had ended, never to appear again, for the regal presence of a logical ruler had returned.

"I expect results, Jasper. You are dismissed."

(Crystal Temple)

"Will this really make me stronger?"

"It will."

"But how?"

"Who's the teacher here?"

A mumble.

"You are."

"And who's the one that's trained countless soldiers?"

"You are."

"Good. Now focus, Steven. Close your eyes. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth."

The young hybrid fidgeted impatiently, but he complied. He tightly shut his eyes.

They were in Steven's room, seated at the base of the bed, legs crossed. The television was off, minimizing all distractions. Though the massive hole in the wall was almost repaired (thanks to Greg), the calming sights and sounds of the beach still reached them.

It was afternoon. Naruto had just come back from work, and he had his eyes closed. His muscular form was still, silent. Save for his steady breathing, nothing else occurred. He was focused, feeling the air, feeling the life-force of all living things around them.

They remained like this for a few seconds.

Then one of the temple rooms opened.

Steven's eyes parted at the sound. Pearl stepped out of her room, freezing when she saw both he and Naruto meditating. She didn't stay long, quickly exiting the house when he caught her gaze.

"Your eyes are open," Naruto stated.

"Yeah…" Steven whispered.

"I know meditation may seem boring. But being strong isn't always about punching and kicking. Along with physical strength, there comes emotional and psychological strength." He turned to Steven, finally opening his eyes. "In battle, you need to be able to remain calm, even in the most hopeless circumstances."

"I'm sorry, Naruto," Steven apologized.

"What's wrong?" he asked—despite knowing it was because of Pearl's entry a few moments ago.

"It's just…" he looked down sadly. "You and Pearl," he finally said. "S-something happened between you two. And I know it was a long time ago, but it's still bothering her. She seems really, really upset. I… I shouldn't have made you guys spar."

"First of all, you didn't make us do anything." Naruto leaned back, hands behind him. "We chose to spar. Not you. If anything, Amethyst encouraged it more than you did."

"Especially when she turned into a chicken," Steven added, laughing softly.

Naruto smiled briefly, then cast a glance behind him—where Pearl had just been. She was outside, on the balcony, leaning against a wooden rail. "The war affected everyone differently, Steven."

Steven looked down.

"I get that, but can't you two just—I don't know—talk about it?"

"We could," Naruto said honestly. "And I promise you, I'll try talking to her. But in certain situations, time is all it takes to heal the hurt of the past."

The young hybrid nodded. He shifted on the rug, clenching his fists.

"Was the war really worth it?" Steven asked.

"Well, that's something for you to decide," Naruto answered. "A lot of gems were shattered during the rebellion. Even more were corrupted. But for the first time in history, gems like Pearl and Garnet and Amethyst have the choice to live freely on earth. So, in many ways, it was worth it."

Steven listened intently, letting his words sink in.

"I really want to be strong," the half-gem admitted. "Just like you and the gems."

"Why's that?" Naruto inquired.

"I want to protect everyone I care about," Steven said. "When you fought that corrupted gem alone, I wanted to help so much. But I knew I couldn't. Even when it attacked the boardwalk, deep down, I knew I wasn't strong enough."

"Strength isn't everything," Naruto said philosophically. Then he grinned. He tousled the boy's curly locks. "But it sure helps when protecting those you love."

The half-gem nodded, happily agreeing.

Then, for a moment, Naruto began to ponder something. Steven tilted his head, because the soldier had suddenly entered a state of deliberation. He reflected over many things in the span of a few seconds, inwardly coming to a decision.

"Let me tell you something," Naruto finally said, seriously. "Humans… they aren't as powerless as the gems think," he revealed. "In fact, of all the organic beings I've ever encountered, humans are nearly at the top, power-wise. At least, ancient humans were."

"Ancient humans?" asked Steven, awed.

"Yes," Naruto continued. "Long ago, humans possessed abilities comparable to that of gemkind. Surpassing them, even."

"Really?!" Steven blurted, almost bolting upright. "You're telling me that humans used to be as strong as gems?" Naruto nodded. "Then… then what happened? I mean, I believe you. But it's just… I don't see regular people fighting corrupted gems like we do."

"That's true," Naruto confirmed. "But you have to understand. Things change. Especially when it comes to organic beings. Humans have grown weaker with time, slowly lost what once made them so powerful."

Despite this revelation, Steven was a bit confused.

"So why are you telling me this?"

"Because I've decided. I'll teach you something that'll help when fighting off corrupted gems and any other threats we might face."

"Are you serious?" Steven asked, excited.

"Yeah," he replied, stroking his chin. "I'll admit, of all the people I've met on earth, you and Connie are the only ones that have the potential to learn what I'm going to teach."

"Me… and Connie?" the boy tilted his head.

Naruto nodded. "But since you're half human, the kind of training I offer might be difficult. Really, really difficult."

A fire burned in the young gem's eyes. "Whatever kind of training it is, I won't give up. No matter how difficult."

"That's what I like to hear." Naruto grinned.

Steven was almost bouncing with excitement. "So, when do we start?"

"Soon," Naruto simply said. "But for now, I want you to meditate."

"Aww, come on," Steven whined.

"Ah, so you don't want me to train you?"

Steven sat up straight.

"I do!"

"Then learn this first," Naruto instructed. "Concentrate. Close your eyes and breathe."

Steven finally conceded, nodding.

He crossed his legs, placing his palms on his lap. This time, he'd take it seriously.

He mirrored Naruto's posture and closed his eyes.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in…

Breathe out…

When Steven opened his eyes, he was floating.

His whole body stiffened, then relaxed, rapidly adjusting to the strange new sensation of weightlessness. It was relaxing, soothing, even. Like he was being held up by soft, gentle and loving hands. But this contentedness lasted only for a moment.

Suddenly, he was stricken with fear.

Because all around him was darkness—a thick, suffocating blackness unlike anything he had ever experienced. But strangely enough, he could still see his arms and legs.

After a time, the panic began to dull, abated by his curiosity. Steven advanced forward, floating about effortlessly. The darkness was everywhere, and despite his forward motion, nothing seemed to come closer. It was akin to swimming through an endless ocean.

Then, there was a flash of light.

Steven flinched, shielding his eyes. But he quickly realized that it didn't hurt to gaze at the blinding radiance. The glow faded a second later.

"H-hello?" he tried, voice trembling.

No response.

"Naruto?" he asked, fear welling up within him once more.

More flashes occurred. Nine in total. One after the other. And suddenly, he was standing before nine floating balls of pulsating energy. Each had a different color, ranging from blue to blood-red. These balls of energy were massive, towering countless meters above him.

The ninth ball of energy, glowing red, pulsated violently. A wave of energy washed over him, and Steven began to shake. Panic arose, and he knew for a fact that he had to get out of here.

But then, he felt a palm on his shoulder. A gentle, calming gesture that instantly put him at ease.

Slowly, he looked up. And Naruto was here, floating as well, a small reassuring smile on his face.

"Naruto!" Steven exclaimed.

Relief coursed through his being. Naruto patted him on the shoulder.

"Looks like you made it," the pale soldier stated.

"W-where are we?" Steven finally asked.

Naruto crossed his arms. "We're in a different plane, Steven. A place where all our senses are heightened."

Steven was utterly confused, scratching at his hair.

"Weren't we just meditating?"

"We were," Naruto confirmed. "It's difficult to explain, but just think of this place as an extension of the physical world. Here, we can feel and see things very few gems can."

"Wow," Steven whispered, awed.

He looked around once more, observing the nine glowing spheres of energy the still surrounded them, each pulsing like a heart. He shivered once he felt another wave of red energy wash over him. The ninth ball seemed particularly agitated. He could almost feel the turmoil within it, its pain, its helplessness.

Suddenly, he saw the image of a massive, orange fox with nine flowing tails.

"It feels so sad," Steven said softly, drawn to the glowing sphere. Unconsciously, he began to float toward the ball of energy.

Naruto held him back, stopping the boy in his tracks. "Don't get too close." No reason why. No explanation. Just a statement.

Steven swallowed, heeding his warning.

"What are these things, Naruto?"

The soldier sighed.

"These are the tailed beasts," he explained. "They were sealed beneath the earth, thousands of years before the gems came. They are natives of this planet, beings of pure energy, capable of wreaking unspeakable destruction. They're supposed to be resting peacefully. Deep within the earth." Naruto grit his teeth, fists clenched. "But Homeworld has been experimenting with them. And now, these experiments are incubating in the earth's mantle, soon to emerge."

"E-emerge?!" Steven exclaimed.

Another vision flashed before his eyes. Steven glimpsed a massive, ten-tailed beast, firing spheres of energy that shook the very planet to its core, changing the landscape, forming new continents and seas. Then he saw this monstrosity divide into nine separate beings, each with a unique appearance and personality.

For an instant, Steven saw a blond-haired, blue-eyed person.

The vision faded, just as a shockwave of crimson energy slammed into them, knocking both he and Naruto back. The Onyx soldier quickly grabbed a hold of Steven as they began to float further away.

"Something's not right," Naruto whispered. "Kurama…"

The ninth ball of energy continued to pulse violently, releasing wave after wave of scarlet energy—hot to the touch.

"It burns," Steven said, wincing.

"You need to wake up," Naruto urged.

"B-but how do I do that?" Steven asked fearfully. "I don't even know how I got here in the first place."

Naruto put both hands on his shoulders. "Focus. Just like we were doing earlier, ok? Close your eyes and listen to my voice."

Despite the sounds behind them and waves knocking into them and the burning sensation against his skin, Steven nodded. He closed his eyes.

"Now, like before," Naruto said. "Breathe in, and then breath out…"

Breathe in….

Breathe out…

"Steven?"

Pearl's voice cut through the darkness. He stiffened, jolted back to the physical world. He looked around, blinking rapidly, adjusting to the light that suddenly assaulted his eyes.

He was seated across from Naruto, but it seemed like the onyx gem was still in a trance.

"Steven," Pearl repeated while she climbed up the stairs that led to his room. "Did you not hear us?"

Below, Garnet and Amethyst were waiting on the warp pad, curiously looking at both of them. The fusion's arms were crossed, and the purple quartz's head was tilted. They were all confused, staring at the motionless Onyx.

"Garnet just spotted a corrupted gem," Amethyst stated. "What the heck are you guys doing?"

Steven stood upright. "We were meditating," he quickly explained.

"Sounds boring," Amethyst replied, squinting. "And why's whiskers still sittin' over there like that?"

"He's still not back yet," Steven began, panic in his voice. "I can't just leave him there. I have to go back!"

By now, Pearl had reached his room. She looked very concerned.

"What's happening?" she asked. "What do you mean you have to go back? Go back where?"

"To the place Naruto and I just were," he said hurriedly. "It was dark, and we were floating and there were these nine beasts incubating in the earth's mantle."

A shocked silence descended on the gems.

Both Garnet and Pearl stiffened.

"I-incubating?!" Pearl managed, paler than ever. "What… what do you mean?"

Garnet moved forward, climbing the stairs that led to his room. She stood in front of Steven, looking between him and Onyx. "Pearl, we should be calm about this," the fusion soothed, taking charge of the situation. "Let's give Steven a chance to explain to us what happened."

Steven nodded, trying to find the right words.

"Well, we were both meditating, talking about earth before the gems came-"

"Before gems came?" Pearl interjected. "How would Onyx possibly know about that? He wasn't made until after the war began."

"I don't really know," Steven continued. "But I'm sure he wasn't lying to me. He knows things about earth. Maybe even… more you guys."

"Not possible," Pearl said simply.

"I agree, Pearl," Garnet replied. "But, coming from Homeworld, he must have information concerning earth that we don't know about. Please continue, Steven."

"Yeah, ok, so while meditating," the boy said, "I woke up in this dark place. Like, really, really dark. And I could float." This statement grabbed everyone's attention. "It was actually pretty cool. But while in this place, I was surrounded by these balls of energy, and they were each beating like a heart. I don't really know how to explain it. Naruto said that they were creatures 'native' to the earth, and that Homeworld had been experimenting with them."

At those words, Garnet's eyes widened behind her visors. Just yesterday, Onyx had been talking to her about the diamonds messing with things they didn't understand.

"Whoa, this sounds freaky," Amethyst commented.

Pearl shivered at the thought of experiments being conducted on earth, even after so long. "But Homeworld abandoned earth. What use could these experiments be to them? For what purpose, exactly?"

"Simple," Onyx said. "They're weapons."

Everyone turned to the soldier, who had finally opened his eyes. Steven beamed, a large smile on his face. Onyx grinned, uncrossing his legs and standing up.

"I take it Steven has explained to you what happened," Onyx began.

"As well as he could," Garnet said. "But many things still aren't clear."

Onyx nodded, understanding. He turned to Garnet.

"Remember what I told you about the diamonds yesterday?" She nodded. "Well, this is part of it. They're experimenting with creatures that once roamed earth. These creatures are the biju, also called the tailed beasts," he explained.

"Tailed beasts?" Pearl asked.

"Yes," Onyx said. "They are beings of pure, natural energy. They've existed for thousands of years, long before the first colony ships breached earth's atmosphere. Long before the Rebellion. And long before the Crystal Gems."

Amethyst moved closer. Her mind went to that day at the Omega Kindergarten, when she had been poofed by something with massive, flowing tails.

Pearl stroked her chin in thought.

"Are these… tailed beasts intelligent?" Pearl inquired.

"According to the files on Homeworld, no they aren't. But Homeworld technicians don't know any better. To them, these beings are just pockets of energy under our feet, ready to be exploited," Naruto said. "But based on my experience, they are indeed sentient. They have emotions and memories and desires. Steven, you felt it too, right?"

The half-gem nodded.

"Are they organic?" Garnet asked, intrigued as well.

"Yes and no," Naruto answered. "It's complicated. They have both organic and inorganic properties."

"Then how is this possible?" Pearl questioned. "How can living beings be incubating beneath us?"

"Remember," Onyx began, crossing arms. "These are still beings of pure energy. They were sealed in the earth for thousands of years. In their weakened and immobile state, I suspect that Homeworld has found a way to absorb their latent energy, converting it, with plans to create highly destructive weapons."

Another shocked silence descended on the group.

"They took so much from us already," Pearl lamented, referring to Homeworld. "I thought they would at least leave the earth in peace."

Garnet clenched her fists. "We all did. But we can't give up. As long as the Crystal Gems remain, we will continue to protect the earth."

Everyone nodded in agreement, with Onyx smiling. This wasn't going to be easy. Still, he believed that they had a fighting chance.

He had to believe.

"So, what are they gonna look like when they pop out of the ground?" Amethyst asked. If what had attacked her was any indication, then it wasn't going to be pretty.

"I don't know what they'll look like, Amethyst. But these won't be normal gems," Naruto explained. "The diamond authority believes they can control them. But they're gravely mistaken. Based on what I felt, they will be uncontrollable."

All this while, Steven had been silent, just listening to what was being said. And he realized that there was so much that he didn't understand. Homeworld. Diamonds. Tailed beasts. Incubation. All of it sounded so foreign to him.

"How do you know so much about these things?" Pearl question. A glint of suspicion colored her gaze.

"I can't tell you that," Onyx said quietly.

"W-why not?" Pearl pressed the issue.

Onyx clenched his fists.

"Jeez, Pearl. He's already told us enough," Amethyst defended. "Not everything is our business, you know."

"Amethyst is right." Garnet crossed her arms. "This information is important enough as it is. He didn't have to tell us anything, but he chose to. Thank you, Onyx."

"Of course, Garnet," he replied.

"Now," the fusion continued. "When can we expect these tailed beasts to… emerge?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Onyx stated, stroking his chin in thought. "It could be a few months, or maybe even a few years. But before an emergence, I, as well as Steven, should be able to sense a massive spike in energy."

"Then what happened today?" Garnet asked.

"An anomaly, it seems," the soldier explained. "This new process Homeworld is attempting isn't perfect. And there are bound to be errors. That's what I suspect Steven and I felt."

"So, everything's okay?" Steven asked.

"Not quite," Onyx corrected. "The most agitated Biju—the one you and I witnessed—is located at my Kindergarten. And while I'm completely convinced that this tailed beast isn't emerging at the moment, it's still something worth investigating."

"Then it's decided," Garnet said. "We'll head to the Omega Kindergarten."

"Uh…" Steven interrupted. "What's a Kindergarten?"

"We can't bring him along. It's too soon. He's not ready."

"Not ready?" Amethyst interjected. "What the heck does that mean?"

Pearl frowned. "It means it's not the right time for him to see such a horrible place."

Amethyst grit her teeth. "Horrible place, huh? Just like my kindergarten, right?"

"This has nothing to do with your kindergarten, Amethyst!"

Garnet's brows furrowed. "Can you two stop so I can think?"

The bickering continued, with Naruto and Steven watching. The young hybrid looked down sadly, wondering when they would finally stop treating him like he was toddler, unable to handle the outside world.

Naruto nudged him encouragingly. "Go say something," he suggested. "They'll listen."

Steven hesitated, then nodded, approaching them slowly.

"Hey, guys?" Steven spoke.

They all paused, hearing his voice.

The half gem took a breath, then looked up with a small smile.

"Look, I get it, okay? There're somethings that you think I shouldn't know right now. And maybe you're right. Maybe I'm not ready to know them yet. That's completely fine. But all I want is to feel like I'm part of the Crystal Gems."

His words melted their proverbial "hearts". The argument instantly ended, with all of them looking at him with apologetic gazes.

"Oh, Steven," Pearl whispered. "You are part of the Crystal Gems."

"Yeah, dude," Amethyst jumped in. "Now and forever."

"I know, I know. It's just… sometimes it doesn't feel like it," he admitted.

At that, Garnet placed a hand on his shoulder. She seemed to stare into space for a moment, caught in a deep trance. Almost as though she was seeing beyond what was occurring at this very moment. Then she looked at Steven.

"How about this?" Garnet asked, her trance ended. "Let's split up."

Everyone turned to her, curious.

"We were already planning to taking you on a mission today," the fusion continued. "So, you, Amethyst and I will go together. And Pearl and Onyx will check on this tailed beast situation."

Pearl froze.

"W-what? Garnet, you can't be serious," she stammered. "I… I can't. Not with…"

"Why not?" the fusion inquired.

Pearl blushed deeply when everyone began looking at her.

"Yeah, why not?" Amethyst repeated.

"W-well, I… I…."

"This should be fine," Garnet continued. "We'll deal with the corrupted gem, as well as this tailed beast issue."

Pearl deflated, accepting defeat.

Realizing something important, Steven quickly agreed to the plan as well.

"Are you okay with this arrangement, Onyx?" asked the fusion.

A single nod answered her question. But the soldier looked intrigued, wondering why Garnet had come up with such a plan.

"Is this really a good idea?" Pearl inquired nervously, whispering to the fusion.

"No," Garnet replied, visors glinting mysteriously. "But it's necessary."

Soon after, the trio consisting of Steven, Amethyst, and Garnet stepped on the warp pad.

Steven looked at Naruto with hopeful eyes, mouthing the words: talk to her.

Amethyst grinned mischievously, saying, "Have fun, you two."

Garnet, however, was eerily silent.

The warp pad activated, leaving Pearl and Onyx alone.

(Omega Kindergarten)

She had only been here a few instances before. Twice, during the war. And a handful of times after that. But even then, her curiosity for this kindergarten never quite faded.

For one, despite its size, very few gems had been made here. In a place so vast, so rife with life, she wondered why Homeworld technicians hadn't utilized more of it. Especially when considering that this place had produced the most powerful soldier in gem history.

A gem that could fight Rose Quartz herself, pushing the rebellion's leader to her very limits.

Looking around, she was struck by the strangeness of it all. Injectors covered the landscape like viruses infecting its prey, but few exit-holes dotted the hills. Evidence of a waterfall (long since dried up) was also visible.

And then there were the statues.

Two towering statues, damaged by time, marked the peculiarity of Onyx's place of birth.

Pearl paused for a moment, observing the figures depicted. Two humans, staring into each other's eyes. And pondering their poses, she concluded that these carvings were meant to capture that instant before battle, that split second prior to an intense struggle.

All in all, it was an intricate display. The size. The sheer detail. It was a feat of ingenuity and artistry that managed to impress even her.

But how? Pearl wondered.

How could humans, who had been hunter-gathers when she and Rose first arrived, have managed to construct something so outstanding?

"It's pretty impressive, right?" Onyx said, snapping her from her thoughts. "I'm surprised that these statues have lasted for so long."

Pearl nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. Onyx led the way, stepping off the warp pad located in the center of his kindergarten. They walked in silence for a time, stopping when they approached a tunnel in the ground—recently formed by the looks of it.

"Here," he said. The soldier gazed down the deep hole, inspecting it. "This is where Amethyst was poofed. I think it's worth investigating."

Pearl cautiously peered into the hole as well. "So, you're proposing we go down there?"

"Yeah," he said. "Unless you have a different plan of action."

She shook her head. "It's very dark down there, though. I can produce enough light, but you'll have to stay close."

Onyx agreed, and they entered the cave.

It was much steeper than they expected.

The moment they descended the cavity, Pearl's feet left the ground. Naruto quickly reached out, grabbing her by the arm and steadying her. She stiffened at his touch, then quickly found her balance, putting some distance between them.

The light from her gem was bright, but the darkness below was thick and suffocating.

"Let's take a different approach," Naruto suggested, getting low to the ground. He slowly began to slide down the tunnel. Seeing this, Pearl mirrored his action.

With a more controlled form of movement, they descended the tunnel steadily, picking up speed with each passing second. Pearl's light kept things ahead visible, just enough for them to evade any obstacles in their path.

For about 3 minutes, they continued their descent, and Pearl was surprised by just how deeply this tunnel went. Eventually though, the steepness began to even out, and the ground became flatter and flatter, until they finally reached the end of the tunnel.

"Ready?" Onyx asked.

Pearl nodded, shining the light from her gem into what seemed like the entrance to an even bigger area.

And when they took a step forward, both gems were stunned by what they saw.

It was a massive, underground cave.

It spanned hundreds of meters in diameter, resembling a dome.

"Astounding," Pearl whispered, glancing around. Her white light brightened the once dim cave, revealing it's strange, yet alluring beauty. "We have to be at least half a mile underground."

"This place isn't natural, that's for sure." Naruto crouched down, placing his palm on the ground. Beneath them, he could feel a sort of pulsing.

"Look over there," Pearl said, gaining his attention. Her light was now pointed ahead, past hundreds of stalagmites. In the distance, there was a green control station, complete with a screen and keypads.

Both gems quickly moved forward, rushing ahead until they arrived at the station.

"Can you access it?" Pearl asked.

"It's an old system, no longer in use, but…" Onyx leaned close, pressing a few buttons on a green keypad. Pearl watched as he typed in a few words, going through a complicated sequence until a massive holo-screen popped up in front of them.

"Fusion… experiments?" Pearl whispered, eyes widened. Though written in the gem's native language, the words were very clear. "What is this?"

"It's exactly what it seems," Naruto said grimly. He pressed a few more buttons, revealing a set of diagrams. "Homeworld technicians, just before leaving earth, artificially fused the shards of thousands shattered Crystals gems, leaving them to incubate beneath the earth, across various locations."

Pearl felt sick.

She kept looking at the documents. Images of misshapen shards being forced together sent a tingle down her spine.

If she felt this way, she could only wonder how Garnet would react.

Naruto moved through more images, more diagrams. Thankfully, there were no small-scale fusion experiments being conducted under his kindergarten.

However, they discovered something much, much worse.

Naruto selected a file, titled: Number 9

Another diagram appeared, displaying a truly horrifying process.

A massive clump of highly reactive, artificially fused shards was implanted deep into the earth's mantle—where it would begin to absorb the energy of a sealed tailed beast. In turn, this would created a creature that would not only be destructive, but substantially unpredictable.

It was the forceful fusion of two forms of life—inorganic shards syphoning the essence of an immobile tailed being.

Pearl trembled, looking away from the screen. She didn't entirely understand the process, but the implications were clear enough.

Once they emerged, these beings would be a force unlike any they'd ever faced.

"This isn't right," she whispered, disgust in her voice. "Fused shards? H-how could they be so cruel? And how didn't we realize this was happening?"

"Hey," Naruto soothed. "There's no way you could have known about this. This isn't your fault. Even I didn't know until a few months ago. That's why I returned to earth as quickly as I could. If anyone's to blame, it's Homeworld—the diamonds."

"Don't act like you're still not one of them," she hissed, blinded by her emotions. "Don't act like everything's suddenly okay. Because it's not. I haven't forgotten the war. I haven't forgotten what we went through because of soldiers like you. Everyone might have fallen for your little act, but you can't fool me-"

"Pearl," he interrupted sharply, anger in his eyes. "If I didn't care about the earth, why would I come back? Why would I tell you all of this?"

"Maybe you're on a mission," she said, in denial. "Maybe you just like to toy with us."

"We've been through this already. I don't care if you believe me." The soldier relaxed, sighing. "But I do care about Steven. He wants me to get along with you. He wants us to stop this constant fighting."

"He's Rose's son," she retorted. "She stood against everything you fought for during the rebellion. Steven's the same. He's just like her. Just as kind and loving. Everything you're not. You don't care about him."

Naruto looked her in the eyes. Despite her harsh words, he remained calm and collected.

And he said something.

Something that shook Pearl to the core of her gem.

"How can I not care about my diamond's son?"

-O-

Her legs were shaking.

Automatically, against her will, Pearl's hands moved to cover her mouth. Tears formed in her sky-blue eyes, and she could only stare in… in shock. Pure, unadulterated shock. Her world had suddenly been turned on its head—all because of a single statement. For years, she kept it buried away. No, she had been forced to keep this secret buried. She thought no one knew. Only her and Rose shared this knowledge. It was a pact between a Diamond and her Pearl. Something sacred, yet so cruel.

She felt a part of herself give way. She felt angry—like he'd stuck his nose into something that had nothing to do with him. But at the same time, surprisingly, relief seemed to course through her very being.

She was afraid.

She was at peace.

And above all, she was uncertain.

What now?

Onyx knew her deepest secret.

Would he tell Steven?

Stuck in a dazed stupor, Pearl didn't even notice what had begun to occur around them. Was the ground shaking? Or was it just her body trembling? Were rocks pelting her skin? Or was it just the sweat painting her flesh?

It was both.

The world had begun to shake. Violently. So much so that the ground started to crack. The tunnel they came from instantly collapsed. Even then, her mind and body were elsewhere, and Onyx was holding her, shaking her, trying to snap her back to reality. She could hardly feel his hands upon her shoulders. Could barely hear the words that came from his mouth.

But the pain pulled her back.

It felt like hundreds of fists slamming against her body.

She was thrown into the air, crashing through dozens of rocks until she skidded to a painful halt. There was a loud ringing as she struggled to stand. The sudden dust blotted her sight.

She stood, pulling out her spear.

More arms burst through the smog, and she cut them down, slicing the appendages to pieces. But this didn't stop the onslaught.

A foxlike creature (the size of Steven's lion) sprinted toward her. Growling. Snarling. Nine arms, like tails, protruded from its hindquarters. She bobbed and weaved, dodging the arms as best she could.

She pointed her spear, firing bolts of concentrated energy at her growling foe. Each blast struck true, piercing the beast with much force, until it disappeared into a puff of smoke.

However, no gem was there to claim.

"What in-"

More fists slammed into her, from every angle. Her face. Her chest. Her stomach. Pearl gasped, thrown backward once more. This time, however, she righted herself mid-air, landing gently on the earth.

The attacks continued. Now, two new foxes had erupted from the ground, charging her with wild and deadly eyes. She anticipated the tail-like arms, ducking beneath each blow.

She turned, summoning another spear, twirling them masterfully. The two foxes circled her, lunging forward. She spun on her heel, extending her spears forward, and skewering both beasts through the eyes.

A puff of smoke signaled their defeat.

Pearl's eyes darted left and right. She listened, trying to pinpoint Onyx. She heard fighting in the distance, the sounds of sword meeting flesh. She quickly moved in that direction. Despite the dust that was steadily growing worse, she did not shine her light, lest she become an even bigger target.

Four more foxlike creatures gave chase. Claws outstretched, one lunged at her, slashing at her side, tearing into her clothes and skin. Pearl winced as pain spiked up her side. She swiftly plunged her spear into her four-legged assailant, poofing it.

By now, panic began to creep in. Around her, despite the dust, she could see dozens of glowing eyes staring at her.

Just how many of these things were there?

Pearl bumped into something—into someone.

"Pearl?" Onyx inquired.

Despite herself, she was so relieved to see him. They stood back to back, alone in a cave of darkness.

Immediately, Onyx surrounded them in a spinning barrier of wind, keeping both him and Pearl safe for the time being.

"Are these things tailed beasts?" Pearl asked. Her side throbbed painfully.

Onyx glanced around, observing them closely. He could feel traces of Kurama's chakra in them.

"Yes and no," he said. "By the looks of things, these creatures are only a glimpse of what this particular Biju will look like. They're spawns of some sort, created by that spike of energy Steven and I experienced earlier."

Pearl took a long look at these creatures, fists clenching with trepidation. It reminded her of the Centipeetle, which had the ability to produce countless smaller versions of itself.

"How many are there?" Pearl queried, grip tightening around her spear.

"Hundreds…" Onyx said grimly. "I can feel them all around us."

"And the tunnel we came from?" she inquired quietly.

"It collapsed."

Her eyes went wide.

"We're… trapped," Pearl whispered.

Onyx turned to her, placing both hands on her shoulders. This forced her to look at him. And for the first time, she did not shy away from his touch. Pearl gazed into his eyes. She saw nothing but determination.

"We'll get through this. I promise," he said firmly. "But you have to work with me, Pearl. You have to trust me. Can you do that?"

She nodded, despite any grievances they might have shared. She tossed them aside for the sake of their survival.

"Do you have a plan?" Pearl ventured.

Onyx smiled weakly.

"Don't get shattered?"

"I… I suppose even the simplest plans can be the best," she supplied.

"We're surrounded, so we have to watch each other's backs."

Pearl agreed, looking around once more. She saw nothing but a sea of snapping, snarling teeth.

At this point, his wind barrier could no longer hold. Dozens of foxes had begun to break through, hundreds more waiting to enter. This situation reminded him of being stranded on that planet, fighting alongside a squad of Rubies and a certain Peridot.

He formed a hand sign, and twenty shadow clones popped into existence. A minor distortion ran through his physical form, but like yesterday, he ignored it.

Pearl followed suit, summoning six holo-pearls.

"Can you keep the barrier up while we fight?" she asked. "It seems to be slowing them down, if just a little."

"I'll try," Naruto said. One of his clones raised its hands, focusing on holding the barrier.

Finally, one fox slipped through, launching itself toward them. Naruto moved forward with his swords, cutting it down with a series of swipes.

Dozens more began to enter. Beyond the barrier, hundreds of glowing eyes could be seen. Waiting to attack. Filled with senseless, animalistic rage.

And both gems braced themselves for a battle like no other.

Onyx was a monster.

A fighting machine.

Even with his gem cracked, she was having trouble keeping up. Onyx and his clones were at the front, forming a circle around her holo-pearls.

Her pearls focused on long range attacks, firing bolts of energy from the weapons she'd given them.

It was an effective strategy. For the first hour, at least.

A fox managed to push past their defenses, dispelling the clone that was maintaining the wind-barrier. And for a moment, their shield of air collapsed, and dozens of foxes rushed at them.

Odama Rasengan.

A massive sphere of energy instantly formed above Onyx's palm. Wasting no time, he drove it into the nearest fox, launching twenty others away in the process, creating a blast of pure energy.

More glitches ran up his physical form, but that didn't stop him. He quickly created another barrier of wind, much smaller than the last.

Pearl continued to fire bolts of energy, trying to keep the foxes away from Onyx while the glitches continued.

It seemed like the more energy he used, the more violent the distortions were.

"Thanks," he called, then threw himself back in the fray.

A compressed blade of air sliced five foxes to pieces.

Air Bullet.

He held out a palm, letting loose a gust that decimated a dozen more foxes.

Shockwave.

A pressurized, omnidirectional blast of wind tore through countless foxlike creatures, poofing them in the process.

However, almost immediately, a dozen foxes replaced the fallen ones.

His clones were dwindling in number.

The barrier grew smaller and smaller, pushing him and Pearl closer and closer, until they were literally back to back.

Pearl skewered a fox through the eyes.

Onyx cleaved one in two with a powerful swing.

They continued like this, never faltering, determined, and unrelenting.

With time, the battle grew fiercer. A multitude of arms descended on them, but both gems continued their resistance.

The barrier of air no longer protected them.

Naruto's clones were gone.

Pearl's holograms were gone as well.

The area surrounding them was akin to a warzone, with craters and displaced stone surrounding the pair.

Pearl felt massive claws rake against her back, tearing into her flesh. She faltered, falling to her knees as agony shot up her body.

A moan of pain escaped her lips.

She didn't know how much more of this she could take. She felt like she would be poofed at any moment, leaving her as nothing but a burden.

But Onyx was in front of her an instant later, taking blow after blow—hits that would instantly poof a regular gem.

He let loose a primal battle cry, protecting her, shielding her, doing everything in his power to keep her safe.

She'd never seen anything like it.

Usually, she was the one putting herself in harm's way for others.

For Rose.

Because she was a pearl.

She didn't deserve to be protected.

But Onyx didn't care. He glanced at her, eyes determined.

Get up, he seemed to say, even without words.

And she did, rising to her feet once more.

She found the strength within, flowing from her gemstone. She raised her spear, firing blast after blast after blast.

Until all was silent.

Onyx's body glitched sporadically, but he still stood tall.

The dust had settled.

They'd done it.

They poofed all of them—hundreds of these creatures.

However, Pearl was not relieved.

Because one more fox remained.

And this one was massive. Nearly as large as a building. It released a piercing roar that seemed to shake the world.

A dark sphere slowly began to form in its mouth. And suddenly, the air was cold.

Naruto looked on in horror.

Though it was half the size of a regular rasengan, he knew the immense damage a bijudama, even one this small, would do.

He turned to Pearl, throwing himself at her—just as the black bomb was fired from the fox's gaping maw.

The sphere moved faster than most beings could perceive, sailing over their heads as Naruto knocked Pearl as far away as he could.

Then, the explosion occurred.

Unlike anything she had ever experienced, Pearl was frozen with shock.

It was like the world was ending.

The whole cave began to shake. Cracks formed up the walls; and that small sphere created a blast that went straight into the earth, tunneling and tunneling without end.

Shockwaves slammed into both gems, tossing them through the air. But Naruto held onto her, taking the brunt of the blast. He made sure they wouldn't be separated, even as they were thrown further into the cave.

Pearl's light was the first thing he saw.

She was still in his arms, eyes tightly shut.

The blast had sent plumes of thick, black smoke in every direction, bringing visibility to nearly zero.

Naruto grit his teeth, picking himself from the ground.

Rocks fell from above like rain, cutting them deeply; Naruto quickly put up a sphere of wind. One that managed to protect them from severe damage. He could only maintain it for so long, before he collapsed to his knees, clutching his gemstone as violent glitches assaulted his physical form.

Pearl was at his side in an instant, worry on her face.

"It's getting worse," she whispered. "You can't keep fighting with your gem like this."

True to her words, his gemstone was worse. The crack was deeper and longer, running past half of his faceted stone.

"I… I have to get you out of here," he replied, trying to stand. But the glitches continued. Pearl wrapped her arm around his waist, keeping him from falling. "Steven can't lose you, Pearl. Not now."

"And he won't," Pearl reassured. "He won't lose either of us."

Arms still around him, she helped them find cover behind a group of rocks.

It took a moment, but the glitches began subsiding. Onyx inhaled and exhaled, calming himself amid the smoke and flames. In the distance, the last foxlike creature let loose another piercing roar. A roar that was all too familiar to him, reminiscent of an old friend.

"One more to go," he said.

"We've gotten this far," she whispered, eying the creature with trepidation. "We… we can win."

Onyx remained silent, uncertainty in his gaze.

She frowned.

"How did Homeworld think they would be able to control this thing?"

"I don't know," Naruto said quietly. "And this isn't even the real deal. Just another spawn."

Pearl trembled.

The real one was still incubating beneath them.

She could only imagine the sheer power it would possess when it finally emerged.

She didn't want to think about it.

Because another roar shook the massive cave, and more rocks fell from above. A shockwave of pure energy erupted from the fox's jaws, kicking up mounds of earth and stone, tossing debris in every direction.

Given little time, Naruto and Pearl were knocked backward once more.

The cave began to crumble, and the beast advanced. It dug its claws deep into the earth and opened its jaws.

Pearl and Onyx lay side by side on the earth, battered and bruised.

And for the first time, fear entered Pearl's eyes.

She wondered if they would make it out of here. Wondered why Garnet had even let them come to this place.

She slowly turned to Onyx.

"I'm sorry," she suddenly whispered. Her mind went back to that day during the war, when he had been shattered. "It… It was my fault. I should have-"

"Don't say anything else," he interjected, picking himself up once more. "We're not done yet, Pearl."

Despite the state of his physical form and his gemstone, Onyx entered one final stance. He stretched out his hand and grit his teeth.

"Rasen… shuriken."

A blue sphere formed in his hand, followed by four spinning blades. The blades continued to grow and grow, rotating at unimaginable speeds. A peculiar sound filled the cave—a dull ringing that sent chills through Pearl's body. The air around him felt different, warmer, laced with his own personal energy.

The glitches returned, more violent than ever before. His gemstone continued to crack, but he didn't stop preparing his technique.

"We're getting out of here," Onyx said through grit teeth.

And then, he threw it.

The warp pad glowed, and Garnet and Amethyst appeared in a flash of light.

Rain fell mercilessly, utterly soaking them. Lightning raced across the sky with each passing moment, illuminating a sight they weren't expecting to see.

"What the heck happened?" Amethyst asked, worry and fear seeping into her voice.

Garnet's hands trembled, fists clenching at her side.

In the center of Onyx's kindergarten, smoke billowed from a crater in the ground, rising into the darkened sky. It was a great depression, a hole extending far into the earth, so deep that they could only wonder what kind of explosion had caused such a scarring of the land.

"Come on," Garnet urged, rushing to the scene of what seemed like a recent blast.

They raced across the kindergarten, stopping short of the massive hole. Smoke continued to rise, blanketing the world around.

"I… I shouldn't have let them go," Garnet whispered, a tremor in her voice. She'd seen a possibility of this happening. But for the sake of earth's future, she knew Onyx and Pearl had to go through this ordeal together. Even then, guilt still filled her mind.

"Garnet?" Amethyst asked. "W-what do we do?"

The fusion began approaching the crater. "We have to go down there."

Amethyst approached as well, looking down nervously. It was so deep, and if the endless smoke wasn't an indication of danger, nothing else was.

"You sure?" the purple quartz began. "I mean, we don't even know what's down there."

"I'm sure," Garnet said, preparing to descend into depths unknown.

But something stopped her. A sight that made all three of her eyes widen. Her visor disappeared, and she stooped down, gazing deep into the crater.

Amethyst followed suit, peering down; and like Garnet, she was filled with shock, then pure excitement.

"It's them!" she exclaimed.

True to her words, it was Pearl.

She was climbing up the crater, teeth grit, covered in cuts and bruises.

Onyx was with her. But he looked far worse than her. And Pearl was practically carrying him as they moved, climbing with one hand, and using her other to support him.

Garnet wasted no time. Her arm began to glow, stretching down into the depths, her fingers wrapping around both gems. She gently pulled them out of the crater, then softly set them on the ground.

"Garnet, Amethyst!" cried Pearl, relief coursing through her.

Garnet was at her side, pulling the petite gem into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry," the fusion whispered. "I… I don't know what I was thinking, letting you two do this alone."

But Pearl wasn't angry. Just weary. "Don't worry about that." Her expression morphed into one of concern. "Onyx needs help. His gem, it's on the verge of breaking."

Amethyst was already kneeling beside him. He was lying flat on his back, eyes tightly shut. Distortions rattled his physical form every second. His gemstone was severely damaged, the original crack spreading to every facet.

"We gotta help him. Like, right now!" Amethyst urged.

"But… Rose isn't here," Pearl said quietly.

"What about Steven then?" inquired the purple quartz. "I mean, Rose could heal. So can't Steven do the same?"

Pearl and Garnet shared a glance.

"She has point," the fusion agreed. "Let's get him to Steven first."

Garnet stooped down, gently picking Onyx from the ground. He didn't protest, eyes still shut, mind distant, even as the fusion held him in her arms. It was the first time they had seen him like this. So vulnerable. Unable to do anything but rely on them, his former enemies.

To Naruto, all that transpired next was a daze. Reminiscent of the first time his gem had been shattered.

Garnet was gentle, holding him like he was the most important thing on the planet. Even then, Pearl kept looking over worriedly, making sure his gem was still intact. Amethyst led them back to the warp pad, activating it.

At the temple, Steven was waiting. Alarm spread across his features the moment he saw them.

Pearl tried to explain to him about Rose's healing tears, and Steven genuinely cried for him (something that he'd never forget), but it was to no avail.

The physical distortions became worse, his gem cracking all the more.

They quickly went to Rose's Healing Spring, a place overflowing with vines.

It took a while, but they finally managed to get rose's tears flowing again.

And then, Garnet slowly placed him in.

Healing tears surrounded him as he slowly sank to the depths. His injuries were instantly healed, and he could almost feel the cracks on his gem disappearing, mended by Pink Diamond's powerful essence.

He was finally whole again.

And it was time to save the world.

(Later)

Night time in Beach City was peaceful, especially during spring. Soon enough, however, according to Mr. Smiley, when summer came along, the beach would be teeming with tourists from all over the country. Naruto couldn't wait to meet new people, so he could see how much humanity had changed since its shinobi days.

But for now, he would enjoy the silence of the beach.

He was seated at the shore, legs crossed. His eyes were closed, his mind focused as he felt for any unusual spikes in energy. Thankfully, there were none. All seemed to have returned to normal.

For now, at least.

"Am I interrupting something?" inquired Pearl, walking up from behind him. She paused. "I could come back later…"

Naruto smiled, opening his eyes. "It's all right. Stay."

"Meditating?" she asked.

"Just finished," he replied, then patted a place in the sand. "Here, have a seat."

She hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to him—closer than he'd expected.

"Can you believe we were down there for only a few hours?" he asked.

"Felt like ages," she said, a tiny smile on her lips.

"You okay?" Naruto asked, referring to her injures.

"Yes, just about," she replied. "I may not heal as fast as you, but we Pearls still recover rather quickly."

He nodded, glad she was all right. "Still, you could've just used the healing spring, you know?"

She laughed softly, a bit embarrassed. "I know. But we were so worried about getting you in there, that it completely slipped my mind."

"Oh? You guys were worried about me, huh?" he teased.

A light blush tinted her cheeks. "Mostly Amethyst and Steven," she retorted. "They'd never forgive me if you didn't make it."

He chuckled, glad they were getting to talk.

"How is he?" he asked.

"Steven? He's fast asleep." She then frowned. "Though, he did seem rather disappointed at the fact that he couldn't heal you."

Naruto sighed, figuring that would happen. "I'll talk to him in the morning. It wasn't fair to put him on the spot like that."

She nodded. It really hadn't been the best choice to force such a task on him. So spontaneously, too. But they'd been desperate.

Pearl pulled her legs into her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. She stared straight ahead, eyes flickering to Onyx.

"I've been... very unreasonable lately," Pearl admitted, to which Naruto rose a brow. "The way I've treated you since you came back. It wasn't the best. I… I just can't seem to stop dwelling on the past." She tightly shut her eyes, face twisted with shame. "Whether it's the fact that Rose is… gone, or that you're here on earth, trying to move on from what happened during the Rebellion."

"It's not just you, Pearl," Onyx assured. "Don't beat yourself up like that. We all dwell on the past. More so than we should. And that's okay. We're not perfect, and here on earth, we don't have to pretend we are."

Pearl found herself agreeing with him.

"But even though we're not perfect," Naruto continued, "That doesn't mean we can't try to be better every day."

"You're right," she said softly, gazing up at the stars—at Homeworld's distant galaxy.

Naruto turned to her, a sad look in his eyes.

"I know that you've been wondering about what I said," he ventured cautiously. "About Rose…"

She perked up, arms still around her knees.

Her body began to tremble.

She had never been able to speak of Pink Diamond's identity, no matter how much she wanted to. But finally, there was someone who knew the truth. Someone she could reach out to.

"H-how—?" she whispered, hands reaching up to cover her mouth. It was all she could manage, but Onyx understood.

"How do I know about Rose?"

She nodded silently, sincerely curious. Her hands still clamped around her mouth. Naruto frowned, not liking the sight at all.

"The simple answer is, I can still feel her energy in Steven," he answered. "I know what a Diamond's power feels like. Pink's energy literally pours out of him in waves. I knew this from day one. I didn't want to believe it at first, but the evidence was clear." He took a breath, sounding tired. "I don't understand why Rose did what she did, and quite frankly, that's not my number one concern right now."

Her hands finally left her mouth, and Pearl turned to him.

She hesitated, then asked, "What is your number one concern?"

"You, Pearl."

Her eyes widened, head tilting with intrigue.

"You've kept this to yourself for so long—against your will too." His features were so sincere, Pearl could not believe it. "How… how have you been doing all these years?"

That one question was all it took for the tears to begin falling from her eyes.

She didn't know him very well.

They'd been enemies, fighting on opposite sides.

But that didn't matter right now.

Because he was genuinely concerned for her. A Pearl.

He'd shown his true nature in that cave on multiple occasions, putting himself in harm's way to protect her.

And truly, she no longer had a reason to mistrust him.

AN: That's a wrap!

Finally, Naruto and Pearl talk to each other. Though somethings remain unresolved, i.e. Naruto's shattering and the Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond situation, at least they're now on good terms.

And what?! The Biju are being turned into weapons? Yep, but as we just saw, a weaker spawn is still a formidable foe. Homeworld is in for a rude awakening if they think they can control the monstrosities they are attempting to create.

Anyway, I drew a rough, unfinished "sketch" of Fusion-experiment Kurama on my Deviant-art: Blackstar-eternal. Just so you can get an idea of what I envisioned.

Thanks for the all the reviews.

Next Chap, Lapis Lazuli arrives.

Wait!

One more thing.

What did you guys think of the season 5 finale? Good? Bad? Perfect? Was it rushed? Tell me in your review if you want.