Little Homeworld Life chapter 25: A Temple Divided (originally published on June 12, 2023)
AN: At long last, everything begins coming together in the first part of this two-part finale to Little Homeworld Life. Afterwards, we only have Snake Eyes left to cover before finally closing the door on Steven Universe: Alternate Future. Almost every single plotline we've been setting up throughout the entire series will reach what I hope is a satisfying conclusion here, from Black Rutile's control over the Internet, how the Crystal Gems' actions have consequences, the return of Cinnabar, and many more. I think this might be one of the darkest chapters of the series yet, so hold onto your butts as it all comes crumbling down.
Synopsis: With some new and old allies by her side, Black Rutile begins making plans for her latest revenge on the Crystal Gems by breaking them up using some long-forgotten secrets. Meanwhile, President Eduardo Suarez fights for his life against Black Rutile's human supporters.
Cast:
Noël Wells as Black Rutile
Della Saba as Aquamarine
Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Ruby, Doc, Navy, Army, Leggy, Mega Ruby
Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate
Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye
Estelle as Garnet
Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, Famethyst
Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl, The Black Pearl Brigade
Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot
Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli, Phoenix Lapis Lazuli
Uzo Aduba as Bismuth
Erica Luttrell as Sapphire
Tom Scharpling as Greg
Kimberly Brooks as Jasper, Dalmatian Jasper
Lauren Ash as White Topaz
Jon Wurster as Marty
Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove
Casey Robertson as Neil Michaels
John Kassir as Reginald Anderson
Lin-Manuel Miranda as President Eduardo Suarez
Wendie Malick as Vice-President Theresa Maxwell
GZA as Major General Wade Grant
Tim Curry as General Lloyd Waller
Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon
Martha Higerada as Topaz
Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald, Chest Emerald
Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite
Melissa Fahn as Demantoid, Eyeball Demantoid
Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope
Olivia Olson as Citrine Twins
Avi Roque as Cinnabar
Gina Torres as Andesine
Awkwafina as Kyanite
Allison Janney as Pyrite
Zehra Fazal as Zoisite
Lena Hall as Bloodstone
Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime
Idina Menzel as Amazonite
Halsey as Tanzanite
Mia Barron as Apatite
Sarah Jessica Parker as Dumortierite
Cavetown as Diaspore
Barbara Dunkelman as Amber
Kristen Schaal as Howlite
Christoph Waltz as Francis von Bowling
Featuring Stephanie Beatriz as Arleen Suarzez
Xolo Mariduena as Huey Suarez
Leslie Grace as Riley Suarez
Peter Barto as Secret Service Agent
With Alyson Hannigan as Lavenderine
And May Calamawy as Chrome Chalcedony
--
One lovely summer day in Beach City, the Crystal Gems were getting ready for a party. But it wasn't just any party, they were preparing for Ruby and Sapphire's wedding anniversary party and the anniversary of their professional alliance with the Diamonds. The Gems were hard at work on making sure the party was perfect, but little did they realize that this party would be pooped on very soon.
"Okay Zirconias, just put that banner over to the right!" Pearl ordered the Heaven and Earth Cubic Zirconias to move a banner reading 'HAPPY ANNIVERSARY RUBY AND SAPPHIRE' into her requested position. Unfortunately, the two Cubic Zirconias were far too small to carry it and made it fall down. "Okay, maybe I should've told someone else to do it."
"What do you mean you're on a wedding cake shortage?!" Amethyst complained over the phone to a bakery. "Who in the world could possibly want that many cakes?! Oh, the Royal Family? Yeah, that makes sense. I'll just call someone else. Thanks anyways, choom."
"So, how's the happy couple doing right now?" Bismuth asked Ruby and Sapphire as the red and blue married couple oversaw the preparations.
"We're doing wonderful Bismuth, thank you." Sapphire smiled gently.
"Can you believe it's only been four years since we learned Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond?" Ruby asked. "Sometimes, I feel like it's been even longer. Like, way longer!"
"It does feel that way sometimes with everything we've done since then," Pearl added. "Between going to Homeworld, meeting White Diamond for the first time, starting Era 3, the Demantoid & Pyrope crisis, building Little Homeworld, the Spinel crisis, and fighting Black Rutile, it's just been too much."
"Hey Lapis, how's the weather looking?" Amethyst called to Lapis, who was high in the sky to check the weather.
"Looking pretty good, so far!" Lapis replied. "Though I think a storm might be coming soon." She added, pointing to some faint storm clouds in the distance. "Should we start worrying about that? I mean, can't have bad weather on a wedding anniversary."
"I'm sure it won't matter." Ruby declared. "No silly old storm can keep us down! Right, my laughy Sapphy?"
"Oh Ruby, you dog!" Sapphire laughed as Ruby held her one-eyed wife in her arms and kissed her. However, the storm would unknowingly become the least of their worries. Hidden in the distance, Black Rutile snuck into the beach house with a plastic bag full of Gem shards in her hand, hoping that her enemies were far away enough to not notice her entering.
"This had better work." Black Rutile muttered to herself while opening the door to the bathroom and grabbing the three bottles of the Diamonds' essence from the mirror. "I got a lot riding on these bottles to bolster my forces."
After filling the bathtub with water and pouring the essence in, Black Rutile pulled open the bag and dumped the Gem shards into the tub. She sat at the tub crouching in anticipation, hoping what she heard about how Jasper was resurrected after being shattered by a power-mad Steven was true. Suddenly, she saw a light emerging from the tub. "Yes, it's working!"
Black Rutile watched in excitement as Zoisite's deceased team of Phoenix Lapis Lazuli, Eyeball Demantoid, Chest Emerald, and the Citrine Twins were fully restored to life. "Happy welcome back day, my friends!" she exclaimed. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Black Rutile! You may remember me for rising to the top of White Diamond's court only to realize how much of it was built on a lie by my Diamond's demented sense of humor!"
"I'm sorry, I'm going to need a refresher here since I just came back to life." Phoenix Lapis muttered while getting out of the tub and shaking water out of her hair. "Your Diamond did what now?"
"Listen to me, I shall explain everything along the way." Black Rutile stated as she helped the rest of Zoisite's formerly deceased subordinates out of the bathtub. "Just follow me to this place called Little Homeworld that I'm forced to reside in here on Earth."
"Oh, you bet I'm going to need a heads up." One of the Citrine twins muttered as Black Rutile led the newly revived Gems out of the bathroom and onto the Warp Pad.