literature

The Last Battle of Pink Diamond

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Pink Diamond looked through the large stain glass window of her throne room, and saw all the slaughter and destruction that went on outside. Rose Quartz lead a crusade on her temple, and Pink Diamond watched as each side shattered each other in the names of their causes. She saw the smoke from fires stack up to the sky and cover half the battle field as they spread across the grassy plain.

Pink Diamond did not want this war. She did not want to join her sisters in their conquest of the galaxy. For Pink Diamond, being the youngest of the Diamonds, was gentle, and did not like to hurt. However, she was willing to do whatever it takes to better her people, and followed in the footsteps of her fellow Diamonds.

She arrived on Earth to make a colony for the empire. The idea of creating a colony on the green planet seemed promising, and progress went smoothly. Every shire that was built and every temple that was constructed gave Pink Diamond hope for the future of her people. One day, however, from the soils of the Kindergarten, a Rose Quartz sprang into existence.

The Rose Quartz showed much promise in her short time with Pink Diamond; she was intelligent, charismatic, and skillful in battle. Rose was truly gifted, so much so that she was asked by Pink Diamond herself to be her protege, much to the envy of her other court members.

Pink Diamond used to explain to Rose how every gem has a purpose in Homeworld society. She also explained the consequences of not having a purpose, and recounted how, on Homeworld, she once witnessed the unfolding of such an instance.

She encountered a gem long ago who would wander aimlessly. Pink Diamond noticed this gem on one occasion and noticed her standing on the edge of a cliff. Pink Diamond tried to reach out to the gem before she could do the unthinkable.

“My loyal subject,” She cried, “why do you brace for death?!”

The gem with sadness replied, “there is no hope for me, For I have no place in this world of ours. All the other gems boast of being soldiers or being part of a community, but I have none. And it is being alone that other gems refuse to include me in their fellowships. The only comfort I can find, is by ending it all right now.”

The good Pink Diamond heard the words of the gem, and replied “please reconsider your decision, and I will invite you into the sanctuary of my court. You will never have to be alone again, my dear gem.”

The gem replied, “my liege, your care and compassion is infinite, but I fear it is too late for me. For too long I have lived like this. Even if the change I seek is found, the hopelessness I have experienced has damaged me beyond repair. Farewell.”

Pink Diamond watched as the gem fell from the cliff and onto the ground below, shattering into pieces.

It was from this experience, that Pink Diamond decreed that every gem was to be assigned an occupation and a court, so that gems would never have to experience the pains of isolation.

Following the telling of this tale, there were times when Rose Quartz would often question her diamond about her purpose in life. There were times when Rose would come to Pink Diamond and lament how she was destined to be just another soldier for the rest of her life. There was one particular moment when Rose came back from a mission with tears in her eyes as she spoke to her Diamond. She told her of how she was forced to lay waste to a human village and asked her Diamond is she would ever have to do something like that again. For Rose, unlike most Quartz gems, was gentle and kind hearted, much like her Diamond.

Pink Diamond did whatever she could to reassure her protege that being a soldier was what was best for her, but her words only made Rose feel more and more awful. There were even times when Pink Diamond didn’t know how to respond to her protege’s woes. Pink Diamond was baffled, since many gems would often lament about not having a purpose in times before, but Rose would lament how she was assigned to be something she didn’t want to be. When Rose chose to rebel against her Diamond, it was the first instance of non-conformity she’d witnessed in her time as ruler, and unfortunately for her, it wouldn’t be the last.

Centuries passed and a terrible war broke out between the rebels, led by Rose Quartz, and the forces of Homeworld. Despite becoming enemies, there were moments when Pink Diamond would reminisce of times when she and Rose would converse and simply enjoy each other’s company. For when Rose was her protege, the relationship between master and student had blossomed into friendship.

Those days, however, were gone, and now war was threatening to tear apart the planet Pink Diamond seeked to build a colony on. Now here they were, Rose’s army, inching closer and closer to Pink Diamond’s temple.

Pink Diamond’s pearl observed the chaos going on outside alongside her Diamond, bemoaning, “Your highness, they’re approaching fast! Truly our destruction is imminent! What will we do if they reach the temple?!”

The Diamond looked down to her Pearl and spoke, “Remain steadfast, my pearl, for the battle is not yet theirs! I will lay down my own life before I allow them to claim this victory!”

The Pearl stared in awe of her Diamond who rose from her throne, revealing her gargantuan size. Pink Diamond summoned her long sword from the gem placed on her navel and stared at the plumes of smoke on the horizon through the large stain glass window.

“My Diamond, may I ask what it is you plan to do?” Pearl already knew the answer, but she was hoping for a different one.

“I am going to fight for my people. For too long these gems laid down their lives for my sake, now it is my turn to do the same for theirs.”

“My Diamond,” cried Pearl, “I must advise against this! Even with all your power, you haven’t battled in quite some time, and if Homeworld loses you...If I lose you...”

Pink Diamond knelt down to her Pearl and spoke in a hushed tone, “Pearl, I am going to fight, and I will do my best to survive. However, if I should not survive, will you honor this last request?”

The Pearl bowed her head and saluted her Diamond, saying, “My Diamond, what is your command?”

“If the unthinkable should happen, tell my sisters that I love them dearly. And tell my subjects and court members that I am forever grateful for their service to me.”

Pearl could feel her tears building. “M-My Diamond, I…”

“And Pearl, I need you to know, you are much more than just a servant that was assigned to me, you are my greatest ally and friend. I know wherever you go, people will cherish your wonderful presence. Get to safety, and should I fail this battle, you must return to Homeworld with the surviving soldiers.”

Pearl could feel herself beginning to weep, but halted herself from doing so and responded while saluting, “my diamond, should this battle be your last, I will honor this final request.” Pearl then left through the secret exit in the temple, and Pink Diamond watched as Pearl left.

The truth of the matter is, even Pink Diamond felt her chances of survival from this battle were small. As Pearl said, she had not fought in quite a while, as she needed to make sure that everything was going smoothly on her new Earth colony and back on Homeworld. In addition, she had soldiers at the ready who were willing to fight for her to the very end, and she did not need to fight up until this point. Nevertheless, she was willing to fight, because a victory here would mean victory for the the war for Earth.

Pink Diamond pushed open the large doors of her throne room which exposed the sunlight of the outside world. All around her, she could hear the sounds of swords clanging against each other, she could see explosions from canons all across the field, and she could see gems destroying each other without mercy.

As Pink Diamond revealed herself, several gems cried out in awe, “Pink Diamond has revealed herself!” The giant gem, made her way over to the field in which both sides were crowded at, and there she saw a pearl and permafusion fighting alongside each other, taking several gems in their wake. Indeed, she’d never seen anything like it, nor did she imagine she’d live to see it while she was alive.

She scanned the field in search of Rose Quartz, but the smoke from the fires made it hard to see. She walked further and further down the field to find her adversary, but several gems began to attack the diamond. Pink Diamond watched as the gems who were half her size attempt to inflict damage on her.

She stared sometime at the gems trying to hurt her until she prepared her own attack. Pink Diamond closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and mustered up the energy within herself, making the sword in her hand glow with pink energy. After building up enough power, she raised her arm, holding her sword, focused on the gems below, and brought down her sword to the ground that caused an explosion of energy that destroyed the gems within a matter of seconds.

Other gems that planned to attack the diamond tried to retreat upon realizing the awesome powers of their former ruler. Several brave but foolish gems, however, tried to attack the Diamond, believing that they were the ones who would defeat the diamond and liberate the planet. Pink Diamond, however, made quick work of the gems; she swung her sword and the gems were reduced to nothingness in an instant explosion of energy.

In her heart, it saddened Pink Diamond to slaughter the gems she once called her subjects, but she knew, like the other gems in this battle, that the way of life for all gem kind rested on this war. Such was the reason why Pink Diamond continued colonization of Earth, despite the green planet being inhabited by humanity. She knew, as leader, she had to make difficult decisions in order to better her people, no matter how cruel or inhumane. It was the one truth of ruling she dreaded, for Pink Diamond was good. It was not in her nature to hurt; but she did what she needed to, to protect her people.

So she swung her sword continuously, wiping out many gems in her wake, and she hated every second of it. As she prepared to strike once more, from a distance she could hear the cry of a familiar voice.

“Pink Diamond!”

Yes, the voice was indeed a familiar one, one she hadn’t heard in over a thousand years. Pink Diamond looked for the source of the noise and noticed a warrior approaching her quickly. The large warrior was clothed in a white dress, had a large head of pink hair fashioned into ringlets, had a sword and shield in each hand, and a pink gem on her navel, just like her former Diamond.

Yes, Rose Quartz had finally revealed herself to her former master. The long anticipated duel for the fate of Earth was finally at hand. Rose leaped high into the air and landed gradually in front of Pink Diamond. Pink Diamond looked down at her former protege and spoke.

“Rose Quartz, after a thousand years we meet once again.”

“So, Pink Diamond, you finally reveal yourself after all these years..”

Pink Diamond smiled as her former student spoke, and she gave her reply, “I must say, Rose, I never imagined that you would be able to amass an army of this magnitude. I also admit, that I never would have thought that you would be able to bring this war to a stalemate for so long.”

The two spent of moment in silence before they spoke once more.

“Rose, I feel that you and I both know what must happen now.”

“Please listen to me,” pleaded Rose Quartz, “it doesn’t have to end this way, you can still walk away from all of this and leave this planet. I just...I don’t want it to end like this.”

Pink Diamond acknowledged the pleas of her former student, and then gave her reply, “I will miss you Rose. I too wish we could have ended on better terms.”

The great diamond summoned her sword and Rose drew her sword as well and summoned her shield. The world around the two gems fell silent as they stared at each other, waiting for one of them to deal the first strike. Both sides ceased fighting in order to witness the epic duel that would ultimately decide the fate of planet Earth. The only sounds they could hear were the whistling of the winds along the vast plains.

After moments of waiting, the fight went under way.

Pink Diamond was surprised at how agile and precise her former student had become over the course of a thousand years. The diamond, being out of practice in close combat, found slight difficulty in keeping up with Rose; however, she managed to block every move made by her former student. Both of them proved to be an even match for the other as they exchanged blows continuously.

The fight for the temple lasted for seven days and six nights, and on the seventh day, fate had been decided.

Both Pink Diamond and Rose Quartz breathed heavily, tired after days of constant dueling. Pink Diamond even considered giving up from sheer exhaustion at several points, but she tried thinking of her people and her fellow diamonds to keep her from giving up.

“Surrender, Rose, you cannot defeat me.”

“You’ll have to break me, Pink Diamond, for I shall never give up.”

When Pink Diamond caught her breath, she spoke once more. “Rose,” she began, “For the longest time, it always baffled me how you fought against your destiny. All I ever wanted was for gems to feel as if they had a purpose, to feel as if they were needed. Of all the gems I’ve come across, you were the first who wanted more than what she was given. You were willing to fight for the sake of this planet, and let countless gems throw their lives away just for your creed of freedom. Yet, despite all the years of war and loss, you still fight for your beliefs. Why?”

Rose stood up and gave her reply, “because, Pink Diamond, I know the difference between what I am and what I’m not. I’m not just another quartz soldier and I’m not just another doll in your dollhouse. I am Rose Quartz, and I’m whoever I choose to be. With this rebellion, I want other gems to be able to live freely and choose who they want to be as well. You speak of giving gems a purpose, to make them feel included in Homeworld society. A noble gesture, I admit, but one that restricts gems from reaching their own potential and their feeling of individuality. Perhaps not every gem may not find their way with the freedom I guarantee them, but at least they would have the benefit of having a choice.”

Pink Diamond couldn’t help but smile. She seemed proud of how her former apprentice had become such a great leader who remained steadfast in her beliefs. “Rose Quartz, your convictions, they suit you well. I respect your ability to stand against me in single combat for your creed.” The smile faded as Pink Diamond spoke again, “but this is the end.”

Pink Diamond held aloft her longsword, summoned her energy once again, and swiped down a Rose Quartz, who seemed too exhausted to evade the oncoming strike. Pink Diamond brought down her sword, and an explosion of energy caused a crater in the Earth.

Pink Diamond looked to see the damage done, and alas, Rose Quartz was nowhere to be seen in the crater she created. So the duel had finally come to an end, it seemed. With the death of Rose Quartz, the rebellion came to a close, and Homeworld had won. Pink Diamond felt it was necessary to celebrate, but she could not quite do so. Despite being enemies, Pink Diamond had lost a good friend in Rose Quartz, and she couldn’t help but grieve over the loss of her former student.

Suddenly, Pink Diamond could make out a voice coming from above. She searched the sky for the source of the voice and, much to her shock, it was Rose Quartz. Rose came crashing down at high speed with her sword aimed toward Pink Diamond. Pink Diamond found little time to react, as she summoned her long sword to block the attack that approached her fast, but it was too late.

Within the blink of an eye, Rose came crashing down from the sky onto Pink Diamond with all her might. Rose Quartz’s sword, on impact, pierced through the chest of Pink Diamond. The force of the attack caused giant gem to topple to the ground.

The battlefield turned silent once more, the exception being the whistling of the wind. Pink Diamond found herself lying on the ground, injured to the point where the pain of the stab wound practically immobilized her, and Rose stood above her, her hands still on the hilt of her sword. All the gems from both sides gazed in disbelief as the great queen had been brought to her knees at the hands of one of her former soldiers. At first, Pink Diamond tried to rise up once again, but in her, a new feeling arose: acceptance.

For a millenia, Homeworld and the Crystal Gems had been engaged in a terrible war, one that Pink Diamond had the guilt of knowing she could’ve prevented. She looked all around her at the gems, rebel and Homeworld alike, who were thrust into all of this chaos, all for the sake of the notion of freedom to be whoever they wished. Pink Diamond looked to her former apprentice and marveled at her heroic stature as she glistened under the sun, and felt pride in knowing she became such an excellent leader. She thought, perhaps if Rose can lead the gems into the life that her creed promises, the future of Earth would be in good hands.

Rose Quartz knelt down breathed heavy with exhaustion and held on to her sword, as if to hold herself up. Once Rose caught her breath, she removed the sword from Pink Diamond’s chest and held the sword above her head.

“Now, Pink Diamond, you will…”

Pink Diamond waited for Rose to deliver the finishing blow, but she noticed that Rose remained frozen with her sword above her head. Pink Diamond looked closer and noticed tears streaming down the face of Rose Quartz and her arms were shaking as she was preparing to finish off her former master.

Pink Diamond spoke in a hushed tone, “Rose…”

“I’m going to end it, right...!” Rose hesitated once again, and suddenly broke down weeping over the body of Pink Diamond.

Pink Diamond couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her former protege. Even after everything they still cared for one another, even if their feelings seemed to be dormant for the past thousand years. Pink Diamond, looked up at her former student, smiled, and spoke.

“Rose, will you honor me by granting me this final request?

Rose was still weeping, but she looked to her former teacher and nodded.

“Promise me that you will continue to be a beacon of hope for the gems of Earth. Perhaps, if your convictions hold true, then you can create a world of peace and progress that even I could not have imagined.”

Rose seemed shocked at Pink Diamond’s request. She never expected her former teacher to give her her blessing, especially after everything that’s happened in the past several centuries. Even Pink Diamond was a little surprised at herself for supporting Rose in her future endeavours, but she didn’t regret what she said.

”Rose, I am proud to have called you my student. Even though this war has torn us apart, when I look at what a great leader you have become, I know I have done my duty as your teacher. I hope that you can lead others to the bright future that you imagined.”

Rose stood up once again and held aloft her sword, aiming it at Pink Diamond’s gem.

“My Di--...Pink Diamond, I will honor this final request.”

Pink Diamond closed her eyes as she braced for the final blow that would end her life.

Rose took a deep breath, brought down her sword, and shattered the Diamond. In an instant, the light energy that formed Pink Diamond vanished and her gem lay broken into pieces.

The great queen, Pink Diamond, was no more.  

When the other Diamond’s received word that Pink Diamond had been shattered, the halls of their grand palace were filled with cries of sorrow for their fallen sister. It was also in hearing of their sister’s demise, that the remaining Diamonds began to seek vengeance.

Their plot for revenge was two fold. The first step was creating a geo-weapon known as the cluster, created from the shattered remains of gems whose lives were lost during the war. When fully developed, the cluster would destroy the planet that was inhabited by the murderer of their sister. The second step was creating a bomb that would corrupt the rebel gems of earth, and transform them into horrific monsters.

After the war, the remaining three Diamonds, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, and Blue Diamond, decreed that every gem shall have a purpose, as their sister intended; however, any gem that would dare to break away from their intended purpose or is deemed defective would be broken.

Such was the legacy of Pink Diamond, but history did not forget her reign. The veteran gems of Homeworld, as well as the rebels of Earth and the inhabitants of other gem controlled planets would remember her for her rule, and her ability to touch the lives of all the gems she knew, even the ones who were against her.

Indeed, she was a good queen.
[LAST EDIT] - Fixed some errors and added a little more dialogue.

[AUTHORS NOTE]:

I've been reading a lot of old world literature lately for college, and it kinda shows here. I wanted to give a very old world and grandiose kind of feel to this short story to make it feel more authentic for the setting. (P.S. The first person who can tell me the literary reference made in the last line of the story will get a free drawing request ;))

When it was revealed that Rose Quartz shattered Pink Diamond, I thought to myself, "YES, CHARACTER DEPTH!" I'll be honest, I was starting to grow sick of the idea that Rose was always good and never did anything wrong, so I was pretty glad that she now has more complexity to her character.

This story was pretty much born from the thought of: was Pink Diamond really that evil? I mean, when the characters think back on how Pink Diamond was killed by Rose, they seemed pretty heartbroken and had a difficult time discussing it. Being the idealist that I am, I thought to myself, maybe Pink Diamond wasn't really that sinister. I thought, maybe she was actually a genuinely kind and noble gem who made difficult decisions due to the burden of leadership. Basically, I'm all for moral ambiguity and decided to portray the characters in such a way to fit that theme.  I mean, after all, Rose was such a good person, but even she was forced to kill at one point, despite the fact that she was against shattering gems as evidenced in the Bismuth episode. 

Speaking of which, I'm still working on my Bismuth fanfic, I just wanted to get this story out of the way first before I continue writing chapters for Bismuth.

Originally, I was going to make this into a long poem, but it was surprisingly difficult! I honestly don't know how people managed to do it back in the old days, but I guess now I can appreciate how much effort they put into them.

Let me know what you think in the comments below, feedback is always appreciated! 

Shakespearean version I did for fun: Last Battle of Pink Diamond, Shakespearean version

Steven Universe (c) Rebecca Sugar and Cartoon Network
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Shadamy4ever11's avatar
this is so awesome