One thousand years ago, everything changed for the Crystal Gems. Their leader, Garnet, was separated into Ruby and Sapphire who had been imprisoned. The rest of the Crystal Gems fought as long as they could but were soon forced to retreat. They evacuated Beach City and went into hiding in another nearby town that was easier to defend. They managed, with the help of some new allies, to survive long enough for homeworld to get distracted and get involved in a war with a neighboring planet, called Raxacoricofallapatorius. With the attacks slowing, and finally stopping, as homeworld devoted their resources to the war Beach City returned home. Things were different now though. The gems felt lost without their leader and friend and as time went on and Steven grew older they began to grow introverted and reclusive. Steven no longer was a happy innocent child and only was ever seen smiling by his best friend Connie.
Two years ago, 998 years after she was imprisoned, Garnet was rescued by the pony Pinkie Pie. Together they learned how powerful a pony and gem fusion can be. When Garnet finally arrived home there was much rejoicing. A party was thrown that reunited humans and gems like they had been in Steven’s youth.
Garnet quickly grew used to the many changes that had occurred in her absence. Steven and Connie had grown up. They were now early middle aged people still in the prime of their lives. Steven and Connie were now married and she had moved to the temple. Connie was an excellent knight and Steven had long since mastered his gem. They had been kept alive and healthy thanks to Steven’s healing saliva, something that they discovered too late to save Greg Universe, Steven’s father. One thing Garnet did not learn about was the new friends they had made that were on homeworld.
Turquoise opened a door, using her gem, that was in a remote part of her house on homeworld.She went in and pressed an inconspicuous button that revealed a doorway that had been hidden behind a fake wall. Inside was a small room which near the back contained solely a single warp pad. Turquoise had kept this room clean and bare for the time she knew she would have to use the pad again. This was, unfortunately, that time.
Garnet was on her way out of the temple when she heard and saw the warp pad activate. Knowing that all of the others were still there, at the temple, she immediately summoned her weapon. “Crystal Gems! Get out here!” Garnet yelled, as the light faded and a light blue gem appeared. The gem was wearing a black body suit which had a blue stripe on each leg. She had her gem right below her neck and a belt that had violet stars beside a central yellow diamond. Her hair, a few shades darker of blue than her skin, hung loose down her back and went a little past her shoulders in length.
Within seconds Garnet had the strange gem pinned down, and was about to strike, when Pearl, followed by the others, rushed out yelling, “Stop! This is Turquoise! She’s on our side!”
Garnet let gem stand up.“You better tell me who you are and what you are doing here right now.” The gem nodded as she sat down and indicated to the others to do the same.
“My name is Turquoise,” she began. “I was made on homeworld 1,500 years ago. My first 100 years I was instructed, along with the rest of my class of Turquoise gems, on gem history and culture, the role of a Turquoise - to be a scout for the armies-, and the fact that we were constantly at war. (This was something that has always puzzled me.)”
Garnet broke in, saying, “It’s been like that for a long time, but it wasn’t always.”
Turquoise looked down sadly for a moment before she continued. “After our 100 year teaching, we moved on to the training part of our schooling. There we learned things like defensive maneuvers, quick and stealthy movement, and communication signals. I found these classes quite enjoyable and easily passed the final exam. After that, I was stationed in a troop that was bound for earth. I was so excited to get to see another planet and an alien race! We warped to the base on this planet’s moon, then I, along with another Turquoise, was sent down to the planet’s surface. When we arrived we separated and started scoping the place out, looking for any sign of enemies - namely you guys, the Crystal Gems. I was walking among the things you call trees, when I suddenly saw a male human youth staring at me from behind a bush. We had been instructed on the dangers of humans and told if we were to see any, to either, stay out of sight, or, if we were seen, to destroy the human. I summoned my dagger, and tried to prepare myself for what I had to do. As I walked closer, preparing to strike, the pair of big, brown eyes followed me. As I came around the bush, and could easily view the human, I noticed something odd. It had no fangs, sharp claws, or any of the other features I had been trained to defend against. In fact, it looked completely harmless! ‘I’m sure that’s just because it’s not fully grown yet.’ I rationalized to myself. I raised my dagger, aiming for the top left side, which I had been told was their weakness. But there was something in the eyes that made me stop. A look that I had never seen before. A look that I now know as kindness and trust. I dropped my dagger, which poofed back into my gem, and ran from the human. I didn’t know where I was running to, but I did know that I was expected to report back to the base soon. I had just decided to turn back, when, suddenly, I saw Amethyst, Pearl, Steven, and you, Garnet, on the beach through the trees. I carefully crept into a position behind a bush, where I could easily see everything, but could not be seen. I did not want to be seen again. As I looked out at the scene before me, I noticed some humans standing nearby. As you three had your weapons, and Steven his shield, I assumed that you were fighting the humans. Understandably then, I was surprised to see a corrupted gem jump down from a place that I could not see and attack you. Suddenly a thought crossed my mind. ‘Could they be protecting the humans? No,’ I reasoned with myself, ‘They rebelled against homeworld and destroyed countless innocent gems. The books never said anything about them helping humans.’ After watching for a little while, to see where you went, I returned to the warp pad and to the base. Even though I reported what I had seen (leaving out the part about the young human) I could not get rid of the small doubt I had and it continued to grow.
Within a few days of my revealing of your location we began attacks. We started small, but eventually grew in strength and size, as more gems were sent in. You couldn’t hold them off forever, and as they became stronger, you became weaker. Eventually the day had to come.There was no way to avoid it, no way to stop it from happening. I remember it all too well,” Turquoise said. Tears were starting to form in her eyes. “That was the day when Garnet was separated and Ruby and Sapphire were, as I thankfully wrongly thought, destroyed. That day I looked around and saw nothing but pain on the faces of gems and humans. It was on that day that my doubts about the Crystal Gems were realized, as I saw how much the humans had depended on you. Knowing what I now knew, I couldn’t just sit back and let it happen. It was an innocent alien species at risk! However, I also knew that there would be no way that I could stop homeworld. Even if I joined the Crystal gems, what good would that do? It had already been proven that they were no match for homeworld forces. I finally decided to do something that I still question to this day: I let myself get captured.
The day after Garnet’s defeat, I was sent on a mission. While everyone else was back at base celebrating, I had been sent to ensure that there would be no counter attacks from you. When I got to the temple I wasn’t completely sure how I was going to do this, but my decision was made for me when Pearl and Amethyst saw me and started attacking me. I fought back with a little effort, as I did not want them to be suspicious by me not resisting them in their efforts to destroy me.
Amethyst wrapped me in her whip. ‘What do you want!’ Pearl asked me.
‘Who cares what she wants! She’s probably from homeworld! We should just destroy her now while we have the chance!’ Amethyst said while glaring at me.
Pearl started to argue but I cut in. ‘No, she’s right. I’m just a scout from homeworld. Just destroy me! Please!’ I couldn’t hold the tears in for any longer. Amethyst and Pearl looked at each other in surprise. ‘I’m so sorry for what the—we did to you.’ I said between sobs. ‘I’ve seen what you do, and there is nothing that makes you deserve this! I have helped them destroy you. Now, please, destroy me. I’m too despicable to live in this universe any longer.’
I closed my eyes and lowered my head as I waited for the final attack. It never did come. Instead I felt a hand on my shoulder as Peal said kindly, “No. That wasn’t your choice, you were just following orders. You have shown us here and now what your decision is.’
Amethyst came over. “We know how hard it can be to go against your purpose, but when you do it gives you the chance to discover your real purpose.’
‘Wow Amethyst,’ Pearl said turning to her, ‘When did you learn such profound things?’
Amethyst gave Pearl a small grin. ‘I’m just repeating what a good friend told me.’ Pearl returned her grin.
Pearl and Amethyst took me back here, to the temple, where I met Steven and Connie. ‘I want to help you.’ I told them. ‘They still trust me and since I am a scout I can bring information to you and warn you of attacks, so that what happened to Garnet never happens again-to anyone on this planet.’
Pearl looked at me and said firmly, ‘No! It’s too dangerous. Do you know what they will do to you if you are caught?’
‘Yes,’ I replied slowly. ‘I know exactly what they’ll do, but it is better than what could, and will, happen if I don’t. I’ve done nothing for far too long, and I’m sorry Pearl, but this is something that I need to do.’
Pearl sighed but nodded. ‘Fine, but be careful.’
‘Of course I will.’ I said, as I started to get up and get my things.
Everyone walked as close to the warp pad as they dared to go for fear of guards or officials waiting for me. They all said goodbye and wished me good luck with my new ‘mission’.
I was soon able to help them evacuate the town and move into hiding. Unable to locate anyone, homeworld finally abandoned their efforts and turned to the war they had declared on the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius. I helped move Beach City back, but the time that I could spend here was growing shorter. I was chosen for the position of lead scout for the third squadron. I told the Crystal Gems that I would come back with news as soon as I could. This is the first time I’ve been back.”
“Well we are glad that you are.” Pearl said, putting an arm around Turquoise in a hug. Turquoise, who did not return the hug, looked grim.
“I don’t know that you will be so glad when I tell you the news. The war is over, and homeworld won. They have been rebuilding, and are now stronger than they ever were before!” Her voice grew more distressed as she spoke. “But the worst part is that, right now, they are preparing ships, supplies, and gems and are coming to destroy the entire planet!”
All of the Crystal Gems stared at one another in fear. Steven stood up. “We need to start evacuating immediately, unless someone has a plan to stop the ones that are twice as powerful as when they last beat us.” he said discouraged.
Garnet, who for the last few minutes had been in thought said, “I believe I might have your plan Steven. I just need to find some friends of mine.
