As the sun settled on the Homeworld cities, the outskirts were still stirring. The only main soul for the moment was Kyra, limping away from the city with his bad leg. When he was far enough from the city to avoid detection, the draconian slowed to a walk, keeping his injured leg off the ground as much as he could. The warn winds of the setting day blew against him slightly, and each step was becoming rough to handle. For Kyra, his encounter hadn't gone as planned, and it left him a hole in him. The main idea was just to fight Yellow Diamond, beat her, and go. Instead, he felt betrayed by the Crystal Gems and Ponies for a choice he thought was a good thing. Pearl especially showed him that their intention to come to Homeworld wasn't the same as his own, and the stinging of the cut just became a reminder of the fact. Kyra didn't bother to retrieve his flower back, otherwise risking getting killed again. That Emerald made Yellow Diamond aware of him, and he didn't intend on having Emerald come along. Seemed many factors were against him by this point, some more expected than others. He didn't expect the Crystal Gems to go against him anyway. No matter the case, he had one more idea which will finally give the Diamonds their punishment. At one point in his walk, Kyra found a intent in the path, going down a steep hill. The path lead to a cave, which Kyra was for sure will be a better spot to rest. Not really a first choice in spots, but it was where he was going so he took it. Before he could go ...
"Kyra."
Guess somebody followed him. Looking behind him, turned out the Gem was Garnet. Garnet was about as shocked as anybody to see him here, and Garnet took it on herself to check him out after things got settled. Blue Diamond allowed her to go, and it took her a while before she managed to find him. Kyra only glanced at her.
"What is it, Garnet?"
"Okay Kyra. Let's promise to not lie to eachother, alright?"
Kyra only nodded. He wasn't in a state to drive her away, yet he continued on his way a little bit.
"If you insist."
"Good. Now how'd you get here? I know you weren't on the ship," Garnet quizzed, as Kyra went down the cliff path. Garnet didn't had trouble keeping up with him.
"Discord, how else? I'm surprised he himself didn't come here yet, to be honest with you," Kyra replied. Garnet could feel herself mentally slapping her forehead; she didn't consider Discord's magic where it should be. After all, he got them to Equestria just by some keys he made. Kyra just hobbled along.
"So you convince that Draconequus. Not easy to do."
"Just a few kind words was all it took that's all. Speaking of which, Garnet, what convinced the other Gems to the Diamond's graces?" Kyra asked, not stopping his stride until he got to the bottom. Garnet jumped down after a bit to see him.
"None of the Diamonds did anything, Kyra."
"Impossible; the Diamonds must've said something to make you join Homeworld. The Crystal Gems wouldn't leave Earth behind that fast, and you know it," Kyra retorted. Garnet could see where he was coming from, but at the same time it was rather quick to judge.
"We never abandoned Earth, Kyra -"
"Then why bother arriving, if I may ask? Homeworld hated the Crystal Gems, and the only reason you got here was this big future thing you saw in your head," Kyra firmly asked. Kyra went off to the cave in question as Garnet paused a little. Garnet did promise to be true to him really.
"I saw peace."
Kyra stopped and turned back to her, confused.
"Peace? What are you talking about?"
"With Homeworld. I saw the Crystal Gems, and Homeworld Gems in harmony together. It was beautiful." Every word Garnet said was true to the draconian, and she tried hard to get it right in the end. Unfortunately, Kyra shook his head.
"So you went through all this trouble for an idea that came to your head that may or may not happen? You're putting your expectations far too high, you're aware of that right?" Kyra questioned, finding the concept ludicrous. Garnet didn't answer him at first, as Kyra continued.
"The chances of such a idea to happen are almost zero, Garnet, these aren't just some random people you find on the street, these are Gems who tried to kill Earth! You think the same Gems trying to protect Earth can turn that around?"
"We did fine with Blue Diamond," Garnet bluntly stated.
"She's only nice to you because you're apart of her royal court. I saw you standing next to her, don't act like I didn't. If you weren't, she could care less about you or any of your Gems and Ponies," Kyra explained, heading into the cave. Garnet got in his way again.
"That's where you're wrong Kyra. Blue Diamond has been sympathetic towards the others in my group, it wasn't just because of Sapphire and Lapis."
"And I'm expected to believe she gave everypony in your group a right of passage, I suppose? And what about Yellow Diamond? If you had any affect at all, she'd changed something about how it's been running."
"We didn't had that much time with her," Garnet admitted. Kyra, feeling sore, eventually sat down facing her.
"Then that makes your protection even less reasonable, going as far as to slice through my leg. Did your Pearl learn that from Rose by the way?"
"Probably."
"Quite. Now, look Garnet. I've been tolerable with your decision to come back to Homeworld, but this wasn't what I had in mind. You should know not everything will change by simple words," Kyra reminded. Garnet sighed.
"Being violent won't help either, Kyra. I'm sure you know that by now," Garnet retorted. However, Kyra still remained unconvinced.
"And I'm sure you know by now that there's consequence to your actions. I tried playing nice, I really did, but the Diamonds could care less about what I had to say."
"Hence the duel," Garnet assumed. Kyra looked down to his deepened scar, knowing Garnet must've caught wind of his plan after all. It's hard to hide anything from her, apparently. All Kyra did was nod, as Garnet moved over to him.
"It's kind of a stretch I have to say, you single-handedly taking down the Diamonds."
"I'm glad they showed up at all. Yellow Diamond didn't bother herself, but the other three did. Blue, White, and Pink all showed, and I've managed to beat each one." Garnet wasn't sure how he managed to defeat three Diamonds at one time, but after seeing him slice Yellow Diamond's arm off with a few strikes of his tail, it couldn't be too hard to imagine.
"What were you hoping to accomplish, anyway?"
"To get through their heads to leave aliens alone, and to show organic life isn't as weak as they brought them onto be. I got three out of four convinced anyway, but it seemed Yellow Jacket didn't even bother to try."
Garnet found herself giggling at Kyra's nickname.
"Yellow Jacket? That your name for Yellow Diamond?"
"It suits her, anyway. But, that aside, I still have my own plans to take care of, and I'd appreciate it if you stop bothering me. These Diamonds hadn't changed much, and hadn't learned anything," Kyra groaned. He got up again, a bit gimpy on his bad hoof, and starting to go again. However, Garnet began to feel less convinced, and finally asked the question ...
"Kyra. What're you really trying to do?" Garnet asked. That's when Kyra had trouble. Should he tell her what he was going to do or no? Kyra tried not to.
"Garnet, I -"
"We promised we wouldn't lie to eachother, remember? You've been lying to me for a while now," Garnet reminded, making Kyra stop cold. Kyra knew she was right, and with his dwindling respects towards the Crystal Gems, and to Garnet, he just gave a rough sigh. Should he? Rather than tell her though, he kept going in the cave until it stopped at a dead end. He laid down on his good leg, keeping his bad leg and hoof in the open before answering.
"Garnet? You still remember some of Homeworld's lore, don't you? Or had you been gone for that long?" Kyra questioned first. If she knew already, then he didn't need to explain too much to her. Garnet thought for a moment before answering.
"It's been rather vague for me. Homeworld's more focused on advances rather than the past."
"I see ... Then here's a legend that'll put you on edge, I'm sure," Kyra said. Garnet waited to hear what Kyra had to say. Kyra turned to her.
"There is a creature on Homeworld. A creature brought to existence by the remains of the gems that had died, and only desires for destruction of Gemkind. It's known as the Osicone; a towering giant of Flint, who's body is impenetrable by any known weapon. Once it emerges from its grotto, the only hope for Gemkind is for the bravest Gems with harmony as strong as titanium, to come together ... Course, by what I see, Homeworld's just going to turn to rubble at this rate."
Garnet needed a minute to get the idea in her head. This Osicone sounds extremely dangerous put in such lore as a destruction being.
"You are hypocritical; telling me to not follow what I saw that can or cannot be real, yet you go through this trouble for the same thing."
"You're wrong; I've seen the Osicone with my own eyes. The Gems brought me here before, and I found it myself. It's alive, and it won't be long now before it's able to resurface. Even the historical Blue Diamond is unsure if it's alive or not."
"So let me get this straight; you heard of the Osicone when the Gems brought you here, and worried about the behavior of the Diamonds, and how it'll not save them. After consorting didn't work, you felt that being violent would get them to believe you and bring them together once the Osicone does arrive."
After rehearing it from Garnet's perspective, Kyra began to see the flaw in his plan.
"I lost patience, okay? They nearly had me dead because I won't follow any of them. If those stubborn demons want to die, then fine."
"And why'd you think we would help you defeat them, if you wanted them safe from the Osicone?"
"You're the Crystal Gems, for one. You -"
Suddenly, Garnet covered Kyra's mouth, getting him to quiet down. She took off her shades so he could see her stern expression.
"Kyra. When we first met, we saw you as a worshiper to Rose Quartz. You made your own prayer, praised her, and you shown hatred for the Diamonds and who followed them because of the Gem war. But now with this, I'm starting to think that you don't even follow Rose at all. Your reason with the Osicone had nothing to do with the Gem war, Rose, or the Crystal Gems, but instead about a legend you found on Homeworld that could destroy the Gem world. There's many flaws in your plan, Kyra."
"Look, maybe they were, or maybe they weren't. It doesn't matter now; Homeworld will be dead for sure, and that Osicone will wipe out everything, including you if you don't go. Well, if the Diamonds are going to be stubborn about it, then they might as well be rubble."
Kyra waited for a reply, but when he looked back, Garnet was actually quiet. She brought her hands up to the sides of her head, all three eyes closed.
"Garnet? ... What're you doing?"
Garnet didn't answer him at first, keeping her focus on something else. Her expression at first remained monotone, but it shifted to one of relief. Garnet opened her eyes, and looked right to Kyra. She didn't look upset with him, but more calm than most. She kneeled down to his level.
"You do have a lot to learn, don't you? You could simply have told us you know, and we would've listened instead of go through this entire façade of yours."
"It's a legend not even the Diamonds are sure if it's true, I didn't think you would."
"Now you're overthinking it," Garnet said with a small laugh. Kyra was starting to feel more regretful, but a little unsure with Garnet's behavior. He pretty much defied them back there, yet Garnet was taking it in stride.
"You are one-of-a-kind, aren't you?"
"You can say that. You know when the Osicone will emerge?"
"Very soon. I'm a fly compared to it in size, so, it won't be hard to find it. Garnet, I don't want you and the Gems shattered. You have to go before it does," Kyra pleaded. However, Garnet got back up, crossing her arms.
"Well, guess what? We're staying right here," Garnet decided. Kyra tried to get up, but his injury kept him down.
"Having trouble?"
"No, no. I just need to rest a while, that's all. Why, you going to watch?"
"I'll need everyone else ready for the fight," Garnet answered, beginning to walk away. Kyra looked to her in shock.
"You can't fight the Osicone! You may have fought many threats, but the Osicone -"
"Won't be any trouble. One thing though before I go?"
Kyra sighed.
"Ask away."
"The legend says that the bravest Gems with harmony would defeat it right? You thought they were the Diamonds, did you?"
Kyra didn't answer, as Garnet placed her shades back on.
"You do have plenty to learn. How about you wait it out? I'll come back later," Garnet promised. Then she went out. Suddenly, Kyra realized what she meant.
"Garnet!" Kyra called. But Garnet didn't stop, and soon Kyra was left all alone. He wouldn't be able to catch up to her this way, so resting was all he could do. He licked the cut on his leg for a little bit before resting his body down gently. He thought it over some more, and in the end he closed his eyes for a bit. As he laid there, his ears picked up something in the ground ...
A vibration.
"Here we go."