Iolite chased after Chrysolite as she fled from the warp pad away from the unknowing civilians. She caught up with the tiring Chrysolite and locked her into battle, but when Iolite swung her mace at Chrysolite she landed hard on the ground breaking apart. Almandine was thrown into a rock and knocked unconscious, but Emerald fell into a roll and landed on her feet. Emerald was ready to fight but Iolite wasn't interested in her and instead, Almandine. Emerald stepped in front of Almandine when Iolite began to charge. After exchanging a few blows, Emerald led Iolite away from her by taunting the purple gem. However, Iolite quickly caught on to Emerald's plan. She waited for the perfect moment, when Emerald would be too far from the downed gem, to shoot her weapon. She swung the mace 1, 2, 3 times flinging out light beams at Almandine. Emerald ran as fast as she could to try to protect her, but only got there in enough time to throw her arms up, shielding her face, as well as catching the full blow of all three beams. One of which nicked her gem, spidering a crack down the side. The force of the blow pushed Emerald back and into something.
Almandine had her by the back and was holding her up. Emerald reached behind her and put a hand on Almandine's face before she poofed. Almandine caught Emerald again and clutched her close to her chest. While Iolite laughed Almandine picked up the two other shards and after throwing a glaive at Iolite that exploded into light she sneaked back to the warp pad. Only one thought on her mind: I have to find Rose.
She warped back to the battlefield and was surprised to see all the giant red things littering it but she didn't have time to investigate them. Almandine wove around the red things and back to Rose's base camp. It was abandoned. Slightly panicked and a little out of breath she ran back to the warp pad. She cycled through five other destinations before losing hope. Apparently the war was over and Almandine had no other leads as to where the Rebel Rose went. She ran around aimlessly searching for any signs of her until she heard voices.
Meanwhile, back at the barn Steven and the gems were biding Lapis and Peridot fair well. They approached the crest of the hill Steven pointed out a figure in the distance.
Almandine paused as she laid eyes on the gems in the distance preparing herself for an attack. She scanned their faces in search of anything familiar. The tallest one matched the gem in one of Rose's story of a fusion that had made Earth home. Relieved that she was no longer alone she ran towards the fellow rebel rouser but slowed as the all drew their weapons.
"Wait, I'm an ally!" Almandine said as she came to a stop, she pleaded "Please, I need to find Rose!" The white pearl stepped forward simultaneously pushing a small creature behind her "what do you want with Rose?" she spat. None of them had lowered their weapons.
"Won't you put your weapons away? I told you we are allies." Almandine said still a little out of breath. "Rose had stationed us, er, me at the fifth quarter of the rebellion. Please I have to speak to Rose," tears started welling in her eyes, "we . . . no I'm the only one left." Almandine pleaded to the gems with her words and her eyes.
The gems relaxed a little but only the fusion put her weapons away. "Rose never spoke of an almandine fightin' the rebellion." She spoke accusingly. The small pale creature peeked around the pearl.
Almandine quietly said "I'll explain everything, but later. She needs help." Almandine finally dropped her hands revealing the cracked gem. The two small shards falling from the indentions they had made. At the sight of the green gem the creature pushed through the others and ran to Almandine. It put its hands under hers and calmly said "Rose can't be here now, but maybe I can help?" She nodded not know how it could help.
The pale thing made an awful noise and spat a large glob of saliva into her hands. Almandine tried to pull back but it held her tight with one hand and used the other to carefully put the two shards back in place. There was a slight glow as the saliva seeped into the cracks and dried "That should help but, it still might take time for her to reform." the creature said softly. Almandine was so happy but all the exhaustion had caught up with her and she collapsed to her knees. The fusion stepped up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder "Now start explain'n."
⭐️
