Steven Universe Snake Eyes chapter 5: Be Prepared (originally posted on September 25, 2023)

AN: We only have one chapter to go before the big halfway point, and I got quite a few things planned for it. We'll be getting the long-awaited rematch between Steven and Black Rutile, the beginning of the end of the Rutile Rebels, the true nature of Prince Nosiop's plans for the universe, and many more. Tensions will run high as the story reaches the second half, and the endgame will be the most epic that Alternate Future has seen yet. Now without further ado, let's get things started.

Synopsis: Black Rutile and her subordinates find themselves caught in a scheme by the insidious heir to Serpentes's throne to conquer the universe, and Black Rutile is all too eager to get in on the plan for the sake of revenge.

Cast:

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Jason Marsden as Prince Nosiop Jormagundr

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Doc, Navy, Army, Leggy

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Gina Torres as Andesine

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Barbara Dunkelman as Amber

Kristen Schaal as Howlite

Idina Menzel as Amazonite

Halsey as Tanzanite

Mia Barron as Apatite

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Keith David as Pyth

Cissy Jones as Princess Naja Jormagundr

Aurelio Voltaire as King Cobralan Jormagundrr

Shirley Millner as Queen Constricta Jormagundr

Zach Callison as Steven

Zach Steel as Ronaldo

Atticus Shaffer as Peedee

Matthew Moy as Lars

Julissa Aguirre as Lady Imagineer

John Mulaney as Flipso

--

Prince Nosiop Jormagundr wasn't always the way he was today. When he was a young snake, Nosiop was a prince with big dreams for the future of his race. However, not everyone was willing to listen to him because he was so young, but he didn't let that deter him. One year, during the 419,982nd annual Contest of Champions, Nosiop tried once again to plead his case to his father.

"Conquering the Ood? Surely you jest, my boy!" King Cobralan objected to what his son had just said as the two slithered through the castle halls. "You know we'd be no match for their psychic abilities! It would be utterly stupid!"

"But please, Father, our lives could be so much easier with a hivemind serving us!" Nosiop stated, but his father still wouldn't listen. "In fact, tons of races and planets would be of great use to our people, like the Shamoians, the Mooninites, and the Watchdogs. Maybe we could even abduct ourselves a few Gems!"

"Enough, my son." Cobralan urged his future successor. "I can see you have big ideas, but unfortunately, they don't align with our culture. Now, I'm going to speak with the Universal Lords for a bit. You go off and have fun at the Contest with your mother and your baby sister." He then began to slither away. "I'll see you again soon."

Although Cobralan left the conversation with a smile, Nosiop wasn't as happy as his father. "He just doesn't get it!" Nosiop grumbled angrily. "We could be perfect conquerors, just the two of us ruling the universe as father and son!"

"It truly is a shame that your father wouldn't give you the time of day," Pyth said as he appeared behind Nosiop. "My father was like that too when I was your age. Unlike yours, however, he didn't live long enough to see things my way."

"Are you suggesting I kill my father?" Nosiop asked curiously, causing Pyth to laugh at the idea.

"No, my boy, I'm way past killing parents!" Pyth chuckled loudly. "What do you think I am, Uncle Claudius?!" After another round of laughter, Pyth decided to get serious as he put a hand on the young prince's shoulder. "Come with me, child. There are many things I wish to teach you."

Nosiop obediently followed the royal family's grand vizier down the hallways and into a hidden room within the castle walls. As loyal as he was to his father, the prince of the Slytherophidians often believed that Pyth was more of a dad to him because of how much they agreed with each other on certain topics, chief among them being what should the future holds for their race.

--

Little Homeworld Life chapter 26: Hostile Takeover (originally posted on June 19, 2023)

AN: It has all come to this. The end begins here. The final episode of Little Homeworld Life is here at last, and after that will be Steven Universe: Snake Eyes. It has been an honor delivering such consistent quality writing to this fandom, and I'll be damned if I don't enjoy doing it again one last time before I finally decide to move onto other stories I've left to dry for too long.

Synopsis: Connie returns home from college just as Black Rutile takes over Little Homeworld and holds the Crystal Gems captive. With their alien friends in danger, the people of Beach City decide to repay the Crystal Gems by joining together to save them from Black Rutile.

Cast:

Grace Rolek as Connie

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper, Skinny Jasper, Carnelian, Superfan Rose, Hippie Rose, Shy Rose, Cherry Quartz, Biggs Jasper

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon

Martha Higerada as Topaz

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Doc, Navy, Leggy, Army

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald, Chest Emerald

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid, Eyeball Demantoid

Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope

Jon Wurster as Marty

Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove

Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite

May Calamawy as Chrome Chalcedony

Susanne Blakeslee as Pietersite

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, Famethyst, Tiger's Eye

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl, Volleyball, Black Pearl Brigade

Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot

Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli, Phoenix Lapis

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Dee Bradley Baker as Lion, Concretes

Tom Scharpling as Greg

Matthew Moy as Lars, Dante

Kate Micucci as Sadie

Indya Moore as Shep

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Priyanka

Crispin Freeman as Doug

Andrew Kishino as Kevin

Reagan Gomez Preston as Jenny, Kiki

Godfrey as Kofi

Zach Steel as Ronaldo

Brian Posehn as Sour Cream

Lamar Abrams as Buck Dewey

Colton Dunn as Mr. Smiley

Toks Olagundoye as Mayor Nanafua

Joel Hodgson as Bill Dewey

Eugene Cordero as Jamie

Atticus Shaffer as Peedee

Billy Merritt as Mr. Fryman

Kristin Chenoweth as Sheena Synstylae

Nancy Linari as Martha

Brian George as Mr. Frowney

Jackie Buscarino as Vidalia

Aparna Nancherla as Nephrite, Lemon Jade

Ian Jones Quartey as Snowflake Obsidian, Bixbite

Michelle Maryk as Larimar

Auli'i Cravalho as Orange Spodumene

Kimiko Glenn as Blue Chalcedony

Tara Platt as Heaven Cubic Zirconia, Earth Cubic Zirconia

Tara Strong as Grossular Diopside

Phillipa Soo as Chrysocolla

Anika Noni Rose as Watermelon Tourmaline (fusion), Watermelon Tourmaline

Aimee Carrero as Moonstone

Gal Gadot as Desert Glass

Willa Holland as Albite

Maddie Ziegler as Serpentine

Courtenay Taylor as Beryl

Sarah Jessica Parker as Dumortierite

Cavetown as Diaspore

Emily King as Kunzite

Alex Newell as Monazite

Alyson Hannigan as Lavenderine

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 Stiles as Spinel

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine, Citrine Twins

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

John Kassir as Reginald Johnson

Stephanie Beatriz as Arleen Suarez

Xolo Mariduena as Huey Suarez

Leslie Grace as Riley Suarez

Pierce Brosnan as Bane Jones

Hugh Jackman as Beckham Jordan

James Monroe Iglehart as Coach Matt Monroe

Karen Fukuhara as Makoto Fuji

Matthew Rhys as Dr. James Brenner

T-Pain as Sam Galley

Christoph Waltz as Francis von Bowling

Rob Paulsen as Mr. Shreds

David Kaye as Collar

Roger Craig Smith as Tank

Alex Hirsch as Lawrence Abrams

Zach Callison as Steven, Onion, Cactus Stevens, Topiary Stevens

Featuring Christopher McDonald as Carl Grove

And Betsy Sodaro as Maureen Grove

--

"It just feels so good to be bad." Black Rutile gloated to the Crystal Gems as she held them prisoner in a makeshift prison. Today had quite possibly been the best day she has ever had on Earth. Black Rutile had now converted multiple Gems to her coalition of rebels, whether by force or through coercion, her enemies were now hers to torment, and their precious Little Homeworld into her newest evil lair. "I haven't felt this utterly delighted to be victorious since the siege of Tweenis 12, I feel like singing! Maestro?"

Amazonite turned on a music player at her master's command, causing Black Rutile to sing a reprise of a familiar song. "Wither the rose! Growing shadows! Sow a world of chaos! Wither the rose! Only highs, no lows! In a world of chaos!"

"Is this really the time to be singing?" Pearl muttered as she tried to break free from her chains.

"Ha!" Black Rutile laughed in response before looking out at her various enforcers. "Come on minions, hurry along! Soon, Beach City will be gone! I could squeeze myself with glee, first the Diamonds and then this galaxy! I really stopped at nothing, gaslighting, terrorism, and lying!" she declared. "Whatever it takes to get revenge, you really can't blame me for trying."

Little Homeworld soon began hovering over Beach City, casting a dark shadow over a large portion of the town while the townies had no idea what was going on. Suddenly, the water holding the Gem village in the air began firing at the humans, making them scurry in fear as Black Rutile finished her song. "Wither the rose! Growing shadows! Sow a world of chaos! Wither the rose! Don't you doze!"

"This planet is basically ours!" Aquamarine sang along.

"We have control over its superpowers!" Eyeball added triumphantly.

"You are helpless to resist!" Holly Blue proclaimed.

"There's no way for you to persist!" Cat's Eye declared.

"Saying sorry just won't cut it!" Cinnabar boomed.

"This universe will be ours, bit by bit!" Andesine stated.

"You thought you could contain us," Black Rutile sang out in victory. "but you can no longer discuss!"

"Genocide, slaughtering, jingoism, in enemy blood, we shall wade!" the seven Gems joined together in harmony. "Rutile Rebels come celebrate, as we make these foolish Crystal Gems fade!" By the time the song ended, Black Rutile looked out at the destruction below her and began making a speech. "People of Beach City, do not look away!" she bellowed to the humans below. "You witness a Rutile's revival, and the birth of her new empire!"

"What do you want now, Black Rutile?!" Lars yelled from below.

"What I want is recognition!" Black Rutile responded. "As you can see, I have officially conquered Little Homeworld and taken the Crystal Gems as my prisoners. The means as to how it can fly can all be blamed on their dear friend, Lapis Lazuli." She looked over at Lapis, who was sitting on the Warp Pad with a blank look on her face. "Despite what the Crystal Gems believed, Little Homeworld was the aspiration of idiots and dreamers! A mere tool to indoctrinate poor, unfortunate Gems who were living lives free of their tyranny. But unfortunately for them, I am far smarter than the average Gem, so I continued planning my revenge for months on end, which leads me today." She then sent out her drones, ready to attack at any moment. "Either surrender to me at once or else your pathetic little town will go bye-bye! Bye-bye."

Down below, Jasper and White Topaz were watching the carnage the entire time, lying in wait for an opportunity to strike back at Black Rutile and save their friends. "So, any idea on how to stop her?" Jasper asked her girlfriend. "I mean, it's just a bunch of us Gems that she could convert at any moment with those Blasters."

"Well, one thing's for certain, Black Rutile has gone too far this time." White Topaz declared. "We kept giving her second chance after second chance, but she always used them to try and destroy us! I've had enough of this! Once we defeat her, she's going straight to Revanche 666 where she belongs!"

"Someone's got leftover issues they need resolving." Teal Zircon added as she popped up behind the two big Gems. "Okay, Topaz and I have spent the last few minutes coming up with a plan."

"If it involves doing something astronomically stupid, then I don't want in." Jasper stopped Teal before she could finish. "What makes you think you could come up with an intelligent plan?"

"Because outside of being the obnoxious but lovable comic relief, I am actually far more observant than you think I am." TZ declared. "Which is why I am 10,000,000,000% certain that my plan will work."

"I'd like to see you try." Jasper scoffed before White Topaz placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on honey, just hear her out." White Topaz suggested. Jasper knew she couldn't disappoint her lover, so she relented with a sigh.

"Okay, proceed." Jasper groaned and let Teal explain.

"I say instead of just saving the day ourselves, we team up with the humans to save the world from Black Rutile!" Teal declared proudly. "The people of Beach City have been around us long enough to know what to do in situations like this, and we've gained a few allies over the years to back us up."

"I get what you're saying now." Jasper nodded proudly. "Like him for example!" As if on cue, Dr. James Brenner walked up to the three Gems. "I found him falling to his doom when Black Rutile threw him out. He's her psychologist, ergo, he should know exactly what she's thinking!"

"You are indeed correct, Jasper." Brenner declared. "I have been forced to watch as Black Rutile's schemes took shape, hoping that maybe my advice would get through to her, but alas, my words fell on deaf ears. Perhaps joining forces with all of you can help me redeem myself for being so powerless to help her."

"Great, we have our first recruit!" Teal Zircon cheered while giving the psychologist a hearty slap on the back. "Okay guys, I'll go gather the troops! You two on the other hand will have to find a very special someone."

"Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" Jasper then asked White Topaz.

"I think so Jasp, but Pete Rose?" White Topaz replied oddly, making Jasper raise an eyebrow at such a non-sequitur. "I mean, can we trust him?"

"No, I think Teal means we should fetch Connie!" Jasper yelled. "You and I both know she's been throwing a wrench in Black Rutile's plans multiple times! Her first invasion of Earth, the Steven monster crisis, and the alternate universe business, all of them had Connie involved and she played some role in stopping them all! You see what I'm getting at here?"

"Yeah, I get it now!" White Topaz exclaimed. "To Connie's house!" Just as the two raced off, a small black spy drone was watching the pair and quickly began following them.

Little Homeworld Life chapter 22: Seeing Black (originally posted on May 22, 2023)

AN: After almost a year of waiting, the Black Pearl Brigade have finally returned from their final battle with Cinnabar! It's been a while since I last wrote them, so bear with me as I try to get back into the swing of writing five or six characters who are almost the exact same. And in addition, we got another batch of new characters joining Black Rutile, one of whom we've already seen in De-Clustering during Tanzanite's flashback. The plot begins to thicken as we reach the epic climax of Little Homeworld Life.

Synopsis: The Black Pearl Brigade, now retired after defeating Cinnabar, decide to move to Earth. Meanwhile, Cinnabar is broken out of prison by another of Black Rutile's minions.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Nacre, Pearl, Pearl Guards

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Gina Torres as Andesine

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Matthew Moy as Lars, Dante

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Nancy Linari as Martha

Kate Miccuci as Sadie

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball

Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite

Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove

Zach Steele as Ronaldo

Uzo Aduba as Demantoid's Bismuths

Miriam Hyman as Demantoid's Bismuths

Shelby Rabara as Demantoid's Peridots

Featuring Barbara Dunkelman as Amber

And Kristen Schaal as Howlite

--

"Don't get too cocky, Andesine!" the red-clad captain of the Black Pearl Brigade yelled from her captain's chair at the other ship they were dogfighting with. "All systems, fire!"

"Will do, Cap!" Pony, the blue-dressed second in command of the Brigade, saluted before pointing the Servant's weapons at the ship. In the months since the fall of Black Rutile and Cinnabar, though the Black Pearls had planned on going wherever the winds took them, there were still members of the Rutile Rebels hiding across the universe that needed to be brought to justice. Andesine happened to be one of them. A former sergeant of Yellow Diamond feared far and wide for her sadism and patience, best demonstrated as Andesine heartlessly used her fleet as shields, the orange Gem dressed in samurai-like armor led an entire army of fellow Rutile Rebels in trying to conquer what territory had been lost by her master and comrades.

Along with Andesine were a long-haired orange Amber dressed in a tan jacket, brown zip-up overalls, and an orange scarf around her neck, and a Howlite with black veins spreading across her face wearing a turtle-necked sweater and a visor over her eyes.

"Lady Andesine, we seem to be evenly matched with these Pearls." Howlite cautioned her superior as Andesine's ship was at war with the Servant and the Sun Incinerator. "What do you suggest we do now?"

"I say we should keep firing, nerd!" Amber yelled at Howlite's face. "There's gotta be a weak point we can exploit or something!"

"Not everything can be solved with violence, you hotheaded clod!" Howlite argued with Amber. "Sometimes, we have to make a plan and wait for an opportunity!"

"Sometimes, plans don't always work out, and opportunities will fail too." Amber retorted. "Game, set, and match! Nailed it!"

"Can it, you fools!" Andesine commanded her two minions to cease their bickering. "While I agree with Amber that sometimes brute force can get good results, my current plan might be more Howlite's speed." This caused Howlite to stick her tongue out at Amber while Amber pulled down an eyelid. "What the Pearls don't realize is that I'm planning to break Cinnabar out of prison and bring her to Black Rutile, wherever she may be. My idea is to feign surrender so we can be taken to Revanche 666 and stage a breakout."

"That's a brilliant idea." Howlite agreed while side-eyeing Amber, who just rolled her eyes while folding her arms. "But how can we convince the Pearls that we surrender? Surely they'll get suspicious about what you have planned."

"Just follow my lead," Andesine answered before ordering her ships to stop firing and opening communications with the Black Pearl Brigade and the Off-Colors. "I'd like to arrange a formal meeting with the enemy fleet to reach a truce."

"What kind of truce?" Cap asked suspiciously.

"This better not be a trap, Andesine!" Lars shouted.

"No, there is no trap," Andesine promised while crossing her fingers behind her back, letting Amber and Howlite know she was telling a big, fat lie. "As of today, my associates and I peacefully surrender."

"Wait, already?!" Lars exclaimed. "We kinda thought that you'd resist just a little longer! What's with the sudden change in attitude?"

Andesine glanced at Amber, causing her to start speaking too. "Oh, well, uh," Amber stumbled over her words. "we just felt so tired by all the chasing and fighting and thought that it was time we tried changing ourselves for the better."

"That's right!" Howlite added just as shakily. "All this time, we were so lost and directionless; all this warfare just seemed so senseless!"

"I still do not trust them!" Braids, the Brigade's yellow-wearing strongman, said bluntly. "Bring them aboard our ship to see if they truly mean what they say!"

"Hey, you want a fight, Pearl?!" Amber yelled at Braids. "That's right, you and me! Right now! We're having it out! Come on, come on!"

"Everybody, calm down." Fluorite soothed the tensions between all three parties. "Now then, Andesine, are you really certain you surrender?"

"I am as certain as the universe is vast." Andesine replied before quickly flashing her two cohorts a smile. "Please bring us to Revanche 666 so we may consider what we've done."

"IQ, what can you make of this?" Braids asked IQ, the green-garbed intelligence officer of the team.

"Hm, I can indeed conclude they are suspicious." IQ nodded in response. "But if they want to surrender, that makes our jobs easier."

"Andesine is going to surrender, but she has something sinister planned!" Padparadscha Sapphire exclaimed.

"Ignore her," Andesine stated. "Please, take us away, for we are now the last of the Rutile Rebels yet to be arrested!"

"She's right, it's only this fleet left to go, and then we've caught them all!" Pony added. "In any case, you're all under arrest! Lay down your arms, and we'll take you in quietly!"

"At long last, we have them all." Tails, the pink-wearing sharpshooter, smiled in relief. "What a relief."

"Okay, you three, just stay right there while we take you to prison," Lars ordered the three Rutile Rebels as he ended communications with Andesine, who began grinning evilly as soon as their eyes were off her.

"Flawless victory." Andesine declared to Amber and Howlite. "Once we receive our sentence, we shall form a plan from there."

"I like the way you're thinking, boss!" Amber said, rubbing her nose with her thumb and smirking.

"You always were a very patient Gem who loved taking advantage of whatever situation you got in," Howlite added as Andesine's ship was seized by the Black Pearls and the Off-Colors, causing the three Gems to raise their hands in surrender. "I hope you know what you're doing here, Andesine."

"Trust me; I know exactly what I'm doing," Andesine assured with a smirk.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 16: Shining Diamond, Part 2 (originally posted on July 25, 2022)

AN: It all comes down to this, the epic final battle against Cinnabar. Although it seems hopeless with the Black Pearls brainwashed into becoming mindless soldiers again and Cinnabar using the Vosania Syndicate to take control, there could still be a way to turn things around just in time for Alternate Future to end. But how, you may ask? Well, join us and found out.

Synopsis: In an epic war for control of Homeworld, the Black Pearls must make a choice.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Shell/Nacre, Black Pearl-SC0, Aubergine Pearl, Orange Pearl

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Matthew Moy as Lars Barriga

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire, Orange Sapphire, Purple Sapphire

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate, Fire Agate

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite, Violet Morganite

Alex Newell as Monazite, Yellow Monazite

Amy Sedaris as Blue Zircon, Yellow Zircon

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Charlyne Yi as Navy

Dee Bradley Baker as George, Elaine, Cosma

Martha Higerada as Blue Topaz

Jonathan Hyde as Supreme Intelligent One

Beau Billingslea as Sheriff Spiegel

Steve Blum as Deputy Edward

Christopher Lloyd as Batsputin Vosania

Shelby Rabara as Squaridot

Featuring Maggie Robertson as Painite

--

"Greetings, fellow Gems of Homeworld and beyond!" Cinnabar announced in a broadcast sent out across the Gem Homeworld and all connected planets they resided on. "Congratulations on being conquered! Now you may wonder how I could amass so much power in such a short time." She added rhetorically. "Well, it was all thanks to the diligent tutelage of my dear master and your future ruler Black Rutile, my now-dissolved alliance with the crime lord Torius Vosania, and some help from some very special friends I have here today." She then turned to speak to someone offscreen. "Come on, girls, don't be shy!"

"How could we have lost so easily?!" Yellow Zircon panicked while fearing for her life as she and Blue Zircon were surrounded by Black Pearls holding them at spear-point. "Please, have mercy on us! But mostly me!"

"Oh, put a sock in it, you coward." Blue Zircon growled. "You were the one to use me as your little shield from the Pearls."

"I was only allowing you the chance to repay me!" Yellow Zircon began arguing with her blue-hued rival.

"Repay you for what?! For bailing you out of going to prison for associating with Black Rutile?!" Blue Zircon yelled back.

"Exactly!" Yellow Zircon exclaimed, and the two kept arguing while Cinnabar motioned the camera to return to face her.

"Well, while they're off settling their troubled relationship, I also have some extraordinary news!" Cinnabar declared while presenting mugshots of Hessonite, Lars and the Off-Colors, Monazite, and Citrine next to her. "We have some executions scheduled for later today. Hessonite, Citrine, Monazite, Fluorite, Rhodonite, Rutile, and Padparadscha Sapphire are set to be shattered for their numerous crimes against the Gem empire. Be sure to save the date! And to anyone who dares to stand up for me," her pleasant façade turned dark as her face got uncomfortably close to the screen. "you can expect to join them all on the chopping block."

The screens then cut to a custom-made card with the Rutile Rebels' sigil, declaring "WE NEED THE TRUTH, BLACK RUTILE IS THE TRUTH" as Gems prepared for the upcoming execution. Tenno and Concretes stoically patrolled the streets, capturing whatever Gems were plotting to take back their home from Yellow Diamond's former commander and forcing them into slavery. Everything that Era 3 had established was on its way to being long gone as ships were being sent out to reclaim the colonies that were once freed from the Diamonds' control, and weapons were redistributed courtesy of Pyrite, who was more than happy to do the job.

"Oh, how I missed this!" Pyrite sobbed happily as she started throwing weapons everywhere she looked. "It's everything I could've ever wanted! Thank you Cinnabar, thank you so much!"

"Looks like someone's reacclimating quick." Bloodstone commented while handing a Rejuvenation Blaster to a Ruby. "Here, use this in case anyone starts resisting, got it?"

"You have no idea how much I'll abuse my power with this!" the Ruby exclaimed happily while running away with her new blaster.

"Ah, it brings a tear to my eye whenever someone makes good use of my work." Bloodstone chuckled happily.

"YOUR work?" Pyrite added, offended at her part being ignored by the mad scientist.

"Sorry, our work." Bloodstone corrected herself, bringing a smile to the con artist's face before she began pondering. "You know, as amazing as it is to finally triumph over those Pearls, I think I miss them a bit. The smart one especially, she was a great challenge to my intellect."

"Yeah, and I still fondly remember how I fooled the strong one into taking that bad makua motor." Pyrite laughed nostalgically. "Hey, didn't they have a ship of their own, and maybe a robot companion hanging with them that doesn't do much?"

"Yeah, I think they'll get decommissioned soon." Bloodstone responded. "Real shame too. Hope I can make some use over what parts I'll be allowed to find."

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 15: Shining Diamond, part 1 (originally posted on July 18, 2022)

AN: At long last, the two-part series finale to The Black Pearl Brigade is here! Almost everything that I've been building up to over the past fourteen chapters will all come to this, so strap in everyone, this is going to be one crazy rollercoaster! Or at least, the best rollercoaster that I can make.

Synopsis: While the Diamonds are away, Cinnabar uses this as a chance to conquer Homeworld, and the Pearls must stop her.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Black Pearl Guards

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Dee Bradley Baker as Concretes, George, Elaine, Cosma

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate, Fire Agate

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite, Violet Morganite

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Charlyne Yi as Navy

Matthew Moy as Lars

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire, Orange Sapphire

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Nicole Sullivan as Sylvia Spectre

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Alex Newell as Mozanite

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth Guards

Miriam Hyman as Bismuth Guards

Shelby Rabara as Peridots

--

"Darkness, all I know is darkness." Xenotime morosely monologued to herself in a prison cell. "I have no one to trust anymore. They have all abandoned me due to my arrogance. And now, there is no one left to stand up for me anymore. All that is left is the soul-crushing reality of loneliness." However, her despair was cut off by her jailmate pounding on the wall between their cells.

"WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN?!" Cat's Eye yelled. "Your whining is so annoying!"

"Like you're one to talk, Little Miss 'I Was Once One Of Homeworld's Biggest High-Rollers Only To Lose Everything Because I Was Outsmarted By a Pearl'!" Xenotime argued with Cat's Eye.

"Hey, keep it down in there, you two!" the Bismuth standing guard ordered the bickering prisoners.

In the time that passed since the Rutile Rebels' base on Revanche 666 was destroyed, the facility was quickly rebuilt to serve as a prison for any supporters that the Black Pearl Brigade had arrested on their missions. Xenotime happened to be one of its many prisoners, and her jail mates included a Violet Morganite, an Orange Sapphire, and a Fire Agate. But some of its most notable inmates were Holly Blue Agate, Morganite, Cat's Eye, and the Ruby commonly known as Navy. Serving as its faculty were numerous Black Pearls that were rehabilitated by the Diamonds, along with many Bismuths and Peridots that formerly belonged to Demantoid.

"You cannot keep us in here for long!" Holly Blue yelled from her confinement. "Black Rutile will attain victory over the Crystal Gems, and she will free us from the prison you put us in!"

"Yeah, right." A Peridot replied with a sneer. "So you can go back to being an irritating bootlicker."

"She's right, you know." Fire Agate waspishly agreed. "There's a reason why so many Gems hate you. You're not only just so abusive, even by our standards, but also completely incompetent at your job as well. I mean, the Crystal Gems could only get away with ruining your life because you didn't notice that the Pearl didn't bother covering her star!"

The other Gems began erupting in laughter at Holly's expense, at least until one of the Black Pearls calmed them down. "Quiet, all of you!" the Pearl commanded her prisoners.

"Yes, ma'am." The imprisoned Gems obediently replied just as alarms began going off, catching the Pearls' attention as they raced to investigate what was happening.

"What's going on?" Morganite asked.

"It's a riddle!" Navy exclaimed cheerfully.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up." Orange Sapphire declared. "It would take a miracle for something to go our way."

Contrary to Orange Sapphire's defeatist attitude, a miracle was indeed coming to rescue them. Fresh off abandoning Torius Vosania and pitting the crime lord against the Pearls so she could cover her tracks, Cinnabar had piloted a Vosania Syndicate ship to fly to Revanche 666. She was plotting a massive breakout to bolster her ranks and conquer Homeworld in the name of her superior and old teacher Black Rutile.

"Look at this. Our old base now a symbol of oppression." Dalmatian Jasper sighed disdainfully. "How did it come to this?"

"Well, you won't have to worry any longer, my friends!" Pyrite declared as she handed each of Cinnabar's colleagues a laser gun to use. "With some help from Bloodstone and Cinnabar, I give you all what I call Rejuvenation Blasters. They're essentially an upgraded form of Black Rutile's override command, which means one zap of these can reduce a Gem to what they originally were made to do with no trace of who they became."

"Whoa, cool!" Kyanite exclaimed and began pointing her Rejuvenation Blaster around before Cinnabar put a stop to her reverie.

"Don't point that thing and accidentally hit one of us!" Cinnabar yelled angrily. "Pyrite just said these blasters will reset a Gem to their original settings!"

"I'm sorry Cinnabar!" Kyanite shrank down in fear of criticism from her boss. "Please don't hurt me!"

"No, no, I won't." Cinnabar said nonchalantly. "With these blasters, we can strengthen our army once again and release all of our allies from this prison. Since the Pearls are probably too occupied with stopping Torius Vosania right now, that will give us the chance to take everyone by surprise. Zoisite!"

"Landing as we speak, my Cinnabar." Zoisite announced as she sat at the pilot's seat and began bringing the Vosania ship closer to the prison. "This should be fun."

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 14: Light the Way (originally posted on July 11, 2022)

AN: We're officially at the climax of Season 2 and the entire series everybody! Man, I've been waiting ages to say that. Only just this chapter and the two-part grand finale are left till I can end this story and move onto greener pastures. Though I'm kind of debating on if I should take a longer break since I have school and other stories to write, or maybe if I should change my release schedule. Eh, doesn't matter right now! Onto the chapter!

Synopsis: Hessonite and George have a lead on Cinnabar's current whereabouts in the aftermath of Torius's attack on Cavenousya.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania

Dee Bradley Baker as Bobbite, George, Elaine, Cosma

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Nicole Sullivan as Sylvia Spectre

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

John DiMaggio as Uranus Brickhead

Rob Paulsen as Saturn Brickhead

Featuring Alex Newell as Mozanite

--

It had been a rather grueling past few hours for Cinnabar. Just today, she and her new companion Torius Vosania had plotted to murder his brother Batsputin, ruler of Cavenousya and one of the Universal Lords. Zoisite had been sent to Cavenousya to enact the assassination, but unfortunately for her, the Pearls had caught wind of the plan and were hired to be Batsputin's bodyguards. Not only that, but Batsputin's majordomo had an insidious plot of his own. Everything started crumbling apart when Zoisite exposed herself during a meeting of the Universal Lords and tried shooting Batsputin down in the resulting battle, only to injure Torius by accident and force him to call for retreat.

This enraged Torius like no one's business. He had not only lost his chance at finally beating his brother at something, but it was all thanks to one of the Gems who he believed pledged loyalty to him. This could not stand one bit, so Cinnabar and her colleagues needed to be removed. However, they were far quicker than he imagined and managed to escape his wrath via one of his ships. Where they were going, he had no idea now.

"Is everyone still emotionally well after that harrowing experience?" Kyanite asked her fellow Gems while the ship they hijacked flew farther and farther away from Torius's warship. "Raise your hand if yes."

"We're all fine, Kyanite. It's that I fear Torius Vosania may have become a liability to us." Cinnabar declared as she piloted the ship. "He has the intelligence, the charisma, and the military might for sure, but his demeanor is that of a pouty child who can go berserk at the slightest hint that things won't go his way. It's a wonder we've gone this long without him tearing us apart."

"So, where do we go from here, Cinny?" Pyrite asked her superior. "Go find Black Rutile and ask for her help?"

"No, I can do this by myself." Cinnabar rejected the con-artist's suggestion. "We just need to play our cards right. Perhaps if we manipulate both sides against each other, I can proceed with my greatest plan yet completely uninterrupted."

"Ooh, pray tell, what could the plan be this time, boss?" Dalmatian Jasper wondered sarcastically. "What, are we going to carpet-bomb Homeworld?"

"You serious?! That's where all my stuff still is, in the Scientific District!" Bloodstone exclaimed in horror. "Plus, that's what Black Rutile will take over once this is all done! Are you planning to betray her?!"

"No, I would never!" Cinnabar replied hotly while turning around to yell at Bloodstone. "I'm planning to pit both Torius and the Pearls against each other one last time, and when the time is right, I can seize control of the Vosania Syndicate and use their resources to conquer Homeworld!"

"I like the sound of that, Cinnabar." Zoisite agreed confidently with a fold of her arms. "Now, how will we pull this one off, if I may ask?"

"Simple, with a little misdirection." Cinnabar replied before opening up some communication channels. "Someone, please help us! We are under attack by a band of thugs; please come save us!"

"Excellent theatrics, my dear." Pyrite complimented her master's acting as the message went through. "Now we wait until someone picks up, and we can just proceed to the next part without anyone noticing!"

"Which reminds me, what do we do next?" Kyanite wondered.

"Simple." Cinnabar declared while setting a course for a familiar world. "We plan a breakout."

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 13: Lords of the Universe

AN: Three chapters left until the end. Only one regular chapter to go then the big two-part finale, afterwards we'll take a break so I can start readying the remainder of this universe, and I've already been writing outlines for Little Homeworld Life's first season lately. But as for Black Pearl Brigade, we finally get a chance to shine some light on the backstory of one of our main villains so that we may give him a proper send-off in the next episode. That's right, Torius Vosania takes the stage once again!

Synopsis: Batsputin, one of the Universal Lords, finds his power over his corner of the universe being challenged by Cinnabar.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Featuring Christopher Lloyd as Batsputin Vosania

With Anna Akana as Dionna of the Sands

Peter Stormare as Reximillian

Elizabeth Maxwell as Vigrid

James Earl Jones as Wobbla the Butt

Barrett Wilbert Weed as Ezlipsia

And William Houston as Mr. Bartok

--

The Diamonds aren't the only ones with absolute control over the universe. Though they only lay claim to 36.3% of the known universe compared to the Diamond Authority's 63.7%, the Universal Lords' power was infamous the cosmos over.

Each of them had control over their own galaxies. Dionna of the Sands and her army of warrior women claimed mainly desert and paradise planets in the Bogon Galaxy and Sky Canopy Domain. The dinosaur-like Reximillian oversaw the Aeron Galaxy, the Pegasus Galaxy, the Ford Galaxy, and the Seraphia Galaxy. Vigrid, a witch-like Universal Lord, ruled over her domain known throughout the galactic communities as the Upside Down, which also happened to be rich in Illudium Q-36. The sluggish crime lord Wobbla the Butt ruled his planets from the spaceport known as Hellknight's Lot, and some of his favorites included the Makyo Star System, Melmac, Spira, and Cepheus-18. Finally, the princess of Umbran Ezlipsia, the young ruler of Aldebaran, inherited her parents' massive empire at the age of 20 and has guarded such planets as Thra, Zeenu, Shuggazoom, and Petropia.

Many have risen and fallen over eons of the Universal Lords' existence, but Cinnabar had planned to put an end to one in particular. And her partner Torius Vosania knew just the one.

The Black Pearl Brigade chpater 12: Will of Iron (originally posted on June 27, 2022)

AN: Four chapters left till the end. This time, we'll be featuring more characters who will soon make their debut in Steven Universe: Snake Eyes, and we'll be getting some major lore drops on this version of Steven's universe as a whole along the way. I think I'm gonna have a lot of fun with the Transformers references here, especially since a good portion of the cast will be franchise alumni. Now, let's transform and roll out!

Synopsis: The Metals contact the Brigade with a mission to stop an attack on one of their colonies.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Featuring Peter Cullen as Titanium

Frank Welker as Tungsten

David Kaye as Steel

Corey Burton as Chromium

Bumper Robinson as Gold

Scott McNeil as Iron

Jeffrey Combs as Mercury

Hailee Steinfeld as Zinc

--

Before time began, there was an ancient race of beings that seemed older than the universe itself. Not a one knows where they came from, only that they held the power to create entire worlds and fill them with life. That is how two similar races were born, the Metals and the Gems. For many years, they were locked in constant war. The Metals believed they could coexist in harmony with other species across the universe, but the Gems only saw other worlds as nothing more than resource farms.

And so began a great war that ravaged planet after planet in the two races' quest for supremacy. And just when the universe was on the brink of extinction, the Gems realized that they weren't so different from the Metals in how they separated members of their kind into castes and offered to sign a peace treaty with their sister race. The Metals agreed to the terms, and together, they enacted the Ferrum Accords. The Mighty Metals, consisting of the barbaric Tungsten, the flamboyant & narcissistic Steel, and the sophisticated & collected Chromium, would not be allowed to conquer any Gem territory, and likewise for the Gems with Metal territory. This peace would be enforced for many centuries afterward, at least until now.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 11: Through the Fire and the Flames (originally posted on June 20, 2022)

AN: Five chapters left till the conclusion, and this one features a character that was already set up last chapter. It's going to be tough ending this story, but as we all know, when one door closes, another one is sure to open. And by another door, I mean court drama dealing with how Black Rutile basically brainwashed the entire world into wanting a child and his friends dead like she was a Steven Universe critical!

Synopsis: The mischievious Magman Envyrno causes trouble for the Brigade on a routine mission.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania, Drunken Pervert

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Featuring Kari Wahlgren as Envyrno

Daisuke Tsuji as Mr. Tengu

Aleks Le as Chioro

Paul Nakauchi as Kappapa, Bartender

Monica Ray as Tanukitsune

Haley Tju as Onna

Stephen Oyoung as Shinigami

--

On a cool night in a tavern on a distant planet, the Magman mercenary Envyrno was helping herself to a cold mai tai to celebrate another successful hit. Her latest target, a local small-time trafficker who was indebted to her boss Torius Vosania, was currently a half-melted corpse that she left in the bathroom for someone to try and throw out like the trash he was. "Oy, barkeep, bring me another!" she commanded as soon as she finished her drink.

"Another one, miss?" the bartender sighed nonchalantly. "That's your fifth tonight. I think it's about time you pay the tab and leave."

"I KNOW WHEN I'M DONE, BUCKO, NOW MAI TAI ME!" Envyrno petulantly roared and breathed fire in the bartender's face.

"Right away, madame, please don't burn me alive!" the bartender hurriedly complied with the bounty hunter's request and served her another mai tai to drink and cool off with.

"Thank you." Envyrno thanked innocently and began drinking from the glass just as her phone started ringing. It was a message from the boss, and she picked up the phone to read "NEW TARGET" followed by mugshots of five Pearls. "Ooh, Gems! This should be an interesting hunt." Envyrno cooed while melting her glass in her hand with a smile. "Job accepted."

"Hey hot stuff, over here!" a drunken barfly cried out for Envyrno before laughing at his pun. "Get it, hot stuff? Because you're hot in more ways than one? Come on; I'm hilarious!"

"Look, pal, you got a good sense of humor, but I'm on a tight schedule here." Envyrno said as she got up from her melted stool. "So why don't you stop with the sexual harassment and let me leave?"

"No, stay! We can have so much fun together!" the wasted patron suggested while groping Envyrno's chest with one hand and her rear in the other, too hungover to notice he was burning himself. "Just the two of us, you and me!"

"I said I'm not interested!" Envyrno yelled and expanded the size of her fist to punch her admirer in the face, leaving him more burn scar than man as he flew into a wall. "Well, anyone else wants some?!"

The other patrons roared furiously at Envyrno, thus sparking a massive barfight that none of them stood a chance of surviving. Stools, booths, light fixtures, pieces of walls, and beer glasses began flying everywhere as the barflies all went to town on each other. The bartender gently ducked behind his bar as Envyrno kept giving her opponents anywhere from fourth to sixth-degree burns.

By the time the dust settled, Envyrno stood triumphant over the mountains of horribly burned bodies, destroyed furniture, and shards of glass that were somehow raining above. As the bartender reemerged, he had only one thing to say. "You still have to pay. Not just for the tab, but all the damages too."

"Fine, here's your damn money." Envyrno scowled and put a few measly credits on the table before she left.

Looking over at the money he was given, the bartender was not very pleased by how little he got. "I hate my job."

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 10: On A Clear Day, I Can See Justice (originally posted on June 14, 2022)

AN: Once this chapter is up, we'll only be six chapters away from the finale of The Black Pearl Brigade and we can move on to greener pastures. I've already got quite a bit planned for the future of the Alternate Future-verse, and some of the characters that'll feature here will be seen again down the road.

Synopsis: The young superheroine Sylvia Spectre believes the Black Pearl Brigade to be evil, and they must prove her wrong.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Featuring Nicole Sullivan as Sylvia Spectre

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania

Rob Paulsen as Saturn Brickhead

John DiMaggio as Uranus Brickhead

Chi McBride as Leader of the Coalition of Galaxies

Elisabeth Moss as Grace Spectre

And George Newbern as Samuel Spectre

--

On a dark, cold night on a city planet in a different galaxy, two thugs who dressed like Earth truckers had finished a big robbery and were racing for their lives away from the cops with their loot. The driver had his eyes firmly fixed on the road, and brick-skinned hands tightly gripped the steering wheel of the hover vehicle they had stolen, while his larger sidekick was right next to him with their loot in his arms.

"Step on it, bro! They're gaining on us!" the bigger thug yelled to his small-built compatriot at the wheel. "I told ya we shoulda used those meltin' sticks on the vault!"

"Oh, quit your whinin', ya big palooka!" the smaller driver complained to his hefty brother. "Those meltin' sticks would've taken forever to get through the door! I prefer to get things done quick, ya hear?!"

"No need to give me any lip, shrimpy!" the big brother hollered hotly. "You're the one who decided to blow the dern thang up!"

As the pair of thugs growled at each other, a third party phased through the car door and turned herself visible while sitting between the two with arms around their shoulders, revealing a young woman with blue skin, long red hair with rainbow fringes, cerise eyes, and wearing advanced armor. "What are you Brickheads arguing about this time?"

"AHH, SYLVIA SPECTRE!" the driver Brickhead shrieked at the sight of superheroine Sylvia Spectre sitting between the two crooks. "GET HER OUTTA HERE, YA IDJIT!"

"Why do I always have to do all the work?!" the bigger brother whined before he grabbed Sylvia and tossed her out of the vehicle, never once letting go of their stolen goods.

"Because I'm the only one between us with a driver's license, moron!" the smaller crook argued with his fatter brother again while Sylvia tumbled on the street behind them.

"Oy, must we do this every time?" Sylvia rolled her eyes at the arguing brothers with a smile before closing her eyes and phased straight through the road below her. Using the sewers to hide from the pair of crooks, Sylvia raced through the city's sewage with a loud, cheerful laugh before making herself tangible again and cornering the brothers when they least expected it. "Miss me?!"

"I always keep forgetting she could do that!" the smaller Brickhead brother shouted before the intangible heroine held out her hand and put the brothers' heist to a screeching halt. The hover vehicle was left severely dented while the Brickheads were sent flying out into the streets, where the cops patiently awaited them.

"SATURN AND URANUS BRICKHEAD, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!" the police chief barked at the Brickhead brothers through a megaphone. "Get on your knees and put your hands in the air at once!"

"I blame you for this, Anus." Saturn growled at Uranus as the two brothers did as the police told.

"Same to you, Sat-Turd." Uranus snarled back before Sylvia touched down on the ground before the bickering brothers.

"Alright boys, let's hug and make up here. We all get better things to do than watch you argue." Sylvia said confidently before returning the brothers' stolen loot to the proper authorities. "Here you go, officer, all in one piece."

"We congratulate you for your assistance once again, Miss Spectre." The police chief thanked Sylvia with a shake of her hand. "Once again, the city planet of Novira is in your debt."

"Hey, all in a day's work for this super girl." A blushing Sylvia declared before she prepared to fly off. "Laters!" She took off to the skies, laughing once again as she flew above the city with her arms out, spinning around like a pinwheel in the air and pulling some extreme flying stunts before finding a skyscraper to perch on. "Man, I love fighting evil." The free-spirited supergirl sighed to herself as she lay on the edge of the building to watch the night sky, just as her wrist communicator began beeping. "What's the sitch, chief?"

"Sylvia, good evening to you, my little see-through superhero." The chief of Sylvia's workplace, the Coalition of Galaxies, greeted her with a fatherly smile. He was another humanoid creature with fifteen eyes decorating his head, a few of them being covered by cybernetic eyepatches. "I hear you successfully stopped the Brickhead Bros' latest job."

"Yeah, those two knuckleheads were too busy arguing about using melting sticks versus blowing up a vault door to focus on getting away from me." Sylvia explained to the Coalition's chief as she sat up and playfully kicked her legs. "Anything else for me to do, or am I free for now?"

"Actually, I do have one more mission for you to complete tonight." The commander revealed as he presented a wanted poster of Torius Vosania. "Torius Vosania has recently been spotted by Coalition spies in what we refer to as the Twilight Zone." He explained to Sylvia before revealing another wanted poster, this time dedicated to Cinnabar. "Word has it he is now in league with a former Gem commander wanted by the Great Diamond Authority known as Cinnabar. She has been on the run for the past couple of weeks for crimes against their new order, such as reclaiming old colonies for her superior's empire."

Upon hearing about Cinnabar, Sylvia's expression darkened, the previously energetic, tomboyish agent of the Coalition grimacing in disgust and hatred at the mere mention of Gems. "Those guys again. Where can I find them?"

"As I stated, Sylvia, Cinnabar is in the Twilight Zone with Torius." The chief said worriedly. "Look, my dear, I can see you're still grieving the loss of your planet and your parents. If you want, I can give you the rest of the day off and send another ranger after her."

"No, chief, this is a score I have to settle myself." Sylvia snarled quietly before cutting off her line to the chief and flying off. "I knew that Steven brat was lying when he said he reformed all the Gems." She muttered to herself. "Once a colonizer, always a colonizer."

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 8: Black, White and Red All Over (originally published on May 2, 2022)

AN: At last, here we are at the season finale! Last we left off, Cinnabar has gained and lost a new ally who was plotting behind her back, and was forced to team up with the Black Pearls to capture her. But as the heat gets turned up, will this be the Pearls' chance to finally bring Cinnabar in once and for all?! Tune in for this exciting finale to find out!

Synopsis: The Brigade catch up to Cinnabar's faction, but the war is only beginning.

Cast

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine, Emerald's Citrines

Matthew Moy as Lars

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Dee Bradley Baker as Concretes

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

--

The Belligerence soared through the cosmos as its occupants milled about the ship. Zoisite and Kyanite were ordered to stand guard over the imprisoned Xenotime, while Dalmatian Jasper piloted the bounty hunting vessel. Pyrite and Bloodstone, on the other hand, bared witness to a side of Cinnabar they were sure no one had ever seen before. The commander nervously paced back and forth around the room the three were in, fear having taken hold of her after Xenotime's failed betrayal.

"This can't be happening; I swear this can't be happening!" Cinnabar began panicking to herself. "First, we had to sacrifice our base, then one of our minions turns out to be a traitor! It seems like the universe is conspiring to ruin me! What will Black Rutile think?!"

"Cinnabar darling, are you alright?" Pyrite asked worriedly. "Or is the pressure of filling in Black Rutile's shoes finally catching up to you?"

"No, I think she's just catastrophizing." Bloodstone suggested, just as concerned for her leader's mental state as the con artist was.

"I am not stressed; you're just making assumptions!" Cinnabar yelled angrily. "Look at me and tell me I'm stressed!" Through her gritted teeth, twitching eye, and bulging veins, Cinnabar obviously looked very anxious. "Someone, get Black Rutile on the line so I may give her the bad news!"

"And maybe ask for a little emotional support too?" Bloodstone remarked while bringing up a holographic screen to contact Black Rutile with, even though no one had heard from her for weeks. Miraculously, they managed to find a connection, but rather than Black Rutile to talk to, Cinnabar was faced with White Topaz instead.

"Hey, Cinnabar!" White Topaz cheerfully greeted. "So, I know you may be wondering about where we've been lately. Well, we're all stuck on Earth now; the resistance has been reduced to just me, Black Rutile, Aquamarine, and Ruby; the rest have either changed sides or been captured, and the Peridots & Bismuths we scared into helping us were returned home! Pretty crazy day, I'll say."

"Oh please, you won't even believe the day I had," Cinnabar grumbled. "You ever heard Black Rutile talk about a Gem named Xenotime?"

"I think I may have overheard her a few times." White Topaz replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, we now have her in the brig because she tried to take over the organization for herself." Cinnabar explained. "And at the same time, we have been dealing with a group of traitorous Black Pearls that have kept me from reclaiming the Diamonds' old colonies in the name of the Rutile Rebels!"

"You want I should tell her?" White Topaz wondered. "My Rutile's gonna try and make a big speech now, so maybe I can at least interrupt her for a bit, if you want."

"Yes, she must know about these traitors and be on the lookout if she ever crosses paths with them!" Cinnabar declared in a panic. "End transmission!"

"Okay then, bye-bye!" White Topaz exclaimed with a pair of finger guns as a farewell before the transmission shut off. As soon as Cinnabar got the chance, she stormed out of the room, marching past Xenotime's cell and locking herself away in Dalmatian Jasper's quarters.

"What's with her?" Xenotime wondered.

"I don't wanna know." Kyanite replied.

"I think we should leave her alone for a bit." Zoisite added.

"I will make you proud." Cinnabar muttered determinedly while hiding herself in the room, fighting back tears as she looked back on why she decided to train under Black Rutile in the first place.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 7: Seeing Pink (originally posted on April 25, 2022)

AN: We're almost at the end of this season, ladies and germs! When last we left the Black Pearl Brigade, though they successfully managed to overcome Cinnabar's latest scheme and destroy Black Rutile's base, Cinnabar is still out there plotting revenge. But where could she have possibly ran off to this time, and can the Pearls stop her once and for all? We shall see.

Synopsis: With help from Lars and the Off-Colors, the Brigade pursue Cinnabar to a jubilee held in her honor.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Matthew Moy as Lars

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Featuring Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

--

This was Blacropolis. It was a dreary, perpetually rainy metropolis that seemed never to sleep no matter how dark it was outside. The perfect setting for a cyberpunk story or the current hiding place of Cinnabar following the evacuation from Revanche 666. Despite the racism she and her cohorts suffered since arriving in Blacropolis, Cinnabar remained undeterred in his conquest of Homeworld's former colonies. With any luck, once Black Rutile is located, and her campaign against the Crystal Gems can start again, Blacropolis shall become the first to fall to their combined might.

"And stay out, ya damn stone!" an angry shopkeeper yelled as he forced Kyanite out of his store.

"Been nice seeing you too!" Kyanite cheerfully replied, only for the owner to close up shop in response. "Hm, talk about a grouch."

Kyanite then began strolling through the streets of unending pouring rain, trying her hardest to stay dry throughout her walk while getting nasty looks from the seedy folks of Blacropolis. "Uh, good evening, sir." She politely said to a mutated man with a newspaper.

"It's afternoon." The man scowled at Kyanite before looking back at the papers. "You blue-skinned freak."

"Hey, I take pride in my appearance, thank you very much!" Kyanite hmphed in disgust before she kept walking. Eventually, she came across a dark alleyway illuminated only by a single streetlamp, and she knocked on the nearest door she could find. "Hey, it's me. Open up."

"What's the password?" Dalmatian Jasper's voice echoed from the other side of the door while she peeked through the sliding peephole.

"When did we have a password?" Kyanite wondered, seemingly unaware of the rule.

"Just come up with anything; I don't care." Dalmatian Jasper grumbled in annoyance.

As DJ said, Kyanite came up with her own password on the spot. "Pearl sent me."

"Good enough." DJ declared and opened the door, allowing Kyanite to enter Cinnabar's dingy new lair. "Come on in. She's expecting you."

With most of their forces gone, Cinnabar's group has turned to the criminal underworld of Blacropolis for shelter until they could find help, but until then, they had to keep on their toes lest they anger the criminals and lowlifes they've fallen in with.

"Hey, Cinnabar, where are you?" Kyanite looked around the bleak speakeasy for her master while seeing how her comrades were adjusting to their surroundings. Pyrite was hawking her wares to the patrons like she always did. Zoisite treated herself to a game of pool, and Bloodstone was carefully analyzing the chemical makeup of the liquor sold at the establishment.

As for Cinnabar, she was hiding in the bathroom with a bulky communication device on her lap, desperate to pick up a signal from any allies she or Black Rutile might have left. "Come on; somebody pick up already!" Not a very dignified way to be seen.

"Hey Cinnabar, how's the search going?" Kyanite asked her boss as she stepped into the restroom.

"Not well." Cinnabar growled in defeat. "I could've sworn we had more allies willing to take us in, but it seems they're either still in hiding, or those Pearls have already captured them all." Suddenly, the device began beeping loudly, giving the two Gems a scare as Cinnabar scrambled to find out what was causing the noise. "What, who is this?!"

"Well, answer it!" Kyanite answered in a panic, forcing Cinnabar to pick up the receiver as someone began talking from the other end.

"Hello, is anyone there?" a semi-robotic British accent asked, an accent that Cinnabar recognized a little too well.

"Ah, you must be Xenotime." Cinnabar smiled. "Black Rutile has told me about how she saved you from shattering. Where have you been lately? Your time-controlling abilities would've been so useful to our cause earlier."

"Just been in hiding for the past couple thousand years." Xenotime responded. "So, what made you decide to call me, Cinnabar?"

"No, I didn't call you, I was merely looking for allies when you picked up my SOS." Cinnabar replied. "Listen, my crew and I are in a bit of a pickle right now. Our base on Revanche 666 has been destroyed, and my attempt at a race of supersoldiers needs finetuning. Is there any way you can assist us?"

"Oh, of course I can." Xenotime declared. "In fact, I was just planning a party to throw in your honor for all you've done for the Rutile Rebels' cause, and you, of course, are the guest of honor!"

"A party, for little old me?!" Cinnabar gasped elatedly. "You really shouldn't have! Just give me your location, and my entourage will be there ASAP!"

"You are too kind, my Cinnabar." Xenotime grinned. "As it turns out, we're in Blacropolis right now as we speak! You may find us in the Quadruplet Complex, top-floor ballroom. You can't miss it; it's the four big towers."

"I shall inform everyone immediately. Thanks for your time." Cinnabar said as the call disconnected. "Well, Kyanite, it seems we're back in business!"

"Awesome, I loves me a good party!" Kyanite exclaimed cheerfully. "I wonder if they're in the market for a big ice sculpture? I can make a really good one for the occasion."

As the two Gems left, neither of them realized that a small orange listening bug was eavesdropping on the conversation and had begun transmitting what it heard to its controller.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 6: Hard as Stone (originally published on April 18, 2022)

AN: And so, we end our introductions to all our main characters with the leaders of both sides. For the entirety of BPB up until this point, Cinnabar was shown as a cold, logical commander who inspired fear and respect in her subordinates and did not tolerate failure, not unlike her sister in arms Black Rutile. In comparison, Cap has yet to receive such characterization, just being the leader of the Brigade and not much else. That shall all change here! With an all new army of minions made from concrete and old Crewniverse drawings that got them in trouble with fans in the past, tensions are sure to run high!

Synopsis: Bloodstone unveils a new breed of super soldiers made from concrete to rid Cinnabar of the Black Pearl Brigade.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Dee Bradley Baker as Concretes

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

--

A couple of hours after Cinnabar's campaign on Sergione-29, the acting leader of the Rutile Rebels had now returned to Revanche 666 with her bodyguard Kyanite by her side, where Bloodstone eagerly awaited them. "Oh Lord Cinnabar, it is an honor to show you the fruits of my labor! If you would just step this way to my laboratory, please."

"Enough bootlicking; I only want results." Cinnabar stated chillingly.

"Yes, ma'am!" Bloodstone gave a nervous salute and led the way to her lab, with Cinnabar and Kyanite following behind. Along the way, Cinnabar made a stop at the brig section of Black Rutile's base, where some of her minions were imprisoned for their failures in stopping the Pearls. Pyrite nonchalantly waved her cane about like a conductor's baton, while Zoisite laid on her bed and gazed up at the ceiling of her cell. But for Dalmatian Jasper, as soon as she locked eyes with her master, the Jasper growled with fury and glared at her.

"If we didn't swear to serve you with our lives, we'd find a way to break out of here and help the Pearls stop you!" DJ roared angrily, though her master was nonplussed. "Maybe when you're stuck in a cell someday, you'll see how we feel!"

"Oh, quit your crying, DJ. I'm sure you'll get a second chance at some point." Cinnabar replied, snapping her fingers to order some Jaspers to throw Kyanite in a cell of her own. "But in the meantime, I already have plans to replace you."

"Wait, replace?" Kyanite exclaimed while her cell door closed behind her. "But I'm your bodyguard; I can't be replaced like this!"

"Oh, don't worry Kyanite, I'm just making a change of plans." Cinnabar turned to Kyanite with a grin. "Unfortunately, you won't be playing a part in those plans. But I'll try and find a way to squeeze you into future events somehow."

"She's right; I'm sure she'll have a use for us again somehow." Pyrite tried to ease the tension in her typically smarmy fashion. "You got to always look on the bright side of life."

"Yeah, a real bright side indeed." Zoisite chirped sarcastically.

--

A few minutes later, Cinnabar was seated at a desk in front of Bloodstone, standing next to one of the stone warriors she caught a glimpse of earlier. "Okay, Bloodstone, show me what these Concretes can do."

"I would be delighted to." Bloodstone replied before she turned to her Concrete. "Concrete, you may begin the demonstration."

"Hmm." The Concrete nodded and lifted its cobblestone fists to the air, doing some shadowboxing and smashing the ground beneath it, to Cinnabar's mild intrigue. Next, the Concrete was surrounded by turrets that began firing at it, yet the supersoldier showed no signs of damage. Instead, the bullets bounced off the beast and flew all over the lab. The third ability it demonstrated was the power to shapeshift into a boulder and roll around at will before changing back to its normal body. Finally, its mouth opened up to reveal a laser beam that fired straight above Cinnabar at a target.

"I'm impressed, Bloodstone. You made a perfect soldier right out of the gate." Cinnabar smiled, satisfied with the demo's results. "How did you do it?"

"Well, I learned from some of the misfires we made during the testing process." Bloodstone nervously said before she proceeded to show off said misfires.

The first failed prototype turned into its boulder form and glitched out, rolling around and crushing some of the Peridots in its path before transforming back. Looking down at its Gem, the Concrete then changed its hand into a massive spike and stabbed itself in the chest, causing it to shatter.

The second one, which Cinnabar guessed to be an even bigger failure than the last one, tried taking off its head like a helmet, but that caused it to accidentally poof. It was what made Cinnabar happy that they managed to make the third one successful, to begin with.

"Yeah, we all make mistakes, as they say." Bloodstone declared. "So, how many do you fancy, Cinnabar?"

"I want five of them produced, one for each member of that Brigade." Cinnabar ordered. "And make it snappy. We're wasting daylight here!"

With a proud salute, Bloodstone raced away to oversee the production of more Concretes while Cinnabar turned to the successful prototype, who looked down at its master while Cinnabar looked back with a sinister smile.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 5: Giddy Up (originally posted on April 11, 2022)

AN: While Bloodstone is off setting up the episode after this, we're heading straight into Wild West territory for this installment, and focusing on both Pony and Kyanite too. This shall be a pretty fun one to write, so let's giddy up.

Synopsis: On a Wild West-inspired planet, Pony learns how to be a good second in command from the local deputy while the Brigade searches for Kyanite.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Yellow Pearl

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Kimberly Brooks as Navy Jasper

Christine Pedi as Yellow Agate

Jeff Bennett as Attendant

Kevin Michael Richardson as Bartender

Christopher Swindle as Creenuit Chief

April Winchell as Queen of Alabastaquerque

Frank Todaro as King of Yooka

Tru Valentino as King of Zooka

Travis Willingham as Sheriff of Clyde

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Featuring Steve Blum as Deputy Edward

Beau Billingslea as Sheriff Spiegel

And Crispin Freeman as Mr. Manco

--

It was a dry, sunny day on the desert planet of Sergione-29. All around the Pearls and their new robot companion Sculder as their ship landed at a spaceport, it was like they stepped right into an Earth western film, with plants resembling cactuses jutting out of the sand and massive plateaus & canyons all around. However, the locals weren't as friendly as the scenery implied.

"Good day, sir." Cap greeted an attendant, who gave her a mean look. "We're on the lookout for a Gem named Cinnabar allied with the local crime family ruling over East Walleef. Would you be so kind as to point us in the direction of this town, and maybe give us some supplies too?"

"Sure, take all ya want. It's all your kind is good at doing." the attendant sourly declared as he handed some supplies to Cap before storming off, unaware of Sculder preparing to fire his arm cannon from behind. "And tell your Diamonds they can shove it for trying to colonize us too!"

"What was that all about?" Cap wondered while passing the supplies to IQ. "All we did was ask for directions."

"It seems that there is still a lot of prejudice against Gems across many planets despite Steven's efforts." IQ replied. "Frankly, I wouldn't blame them, considering we were once sociopathic conquerors."

"But they still didn't give us any directions." Pony added. "How will we find East Walleef?"

"Oh, you still wanna go to East Walleef?!" the attendant shouted before tossing a map the Pearls' way. "Here, now don't go terrorizing folks, you blasted rocks!"

"How about I give you a little terrorizing?!" Braids hollered back, but IQ gently tugged on her arm and opened the map.

"It says we should make a few turns at Alabastaquerque." Tails read the map with her squad. "And then turn north at the border between Yookia and Zookia and make a right turn at Clyde." She nodded in contemplation for a bit. "Sounds easy enough."

"Púrén, enter this map into your system." Cap commanded Púrén while handing the map to the AI.

"Request granted, captain." Púrén said and began running calculations while scanning the map. "Coordinates entered. Better climb on board girls, this may take a while, and I don't think walking will do us any good."

"Good, don't want what almost happened on Lancerik-40." Tails stated while climbing back on the ship.

"Come on; we're out of here." Pony commanded the other Pearls and Sculder as they followed her back onto the Servant.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 4: Brain Brawl (originally published on April 4, 2022)

AN: Looks like things are finally starting to heat up! After writing for Dalmatian Jasper & Zoisite and loving how much I made them play off each other, I got a good feeling about the rest of Cinnabar's team. For this chapter, we shall focus on Bloodstone, the Ronaldo-like chief scientist and conspiracy theorist who, much like Ronaldo, is found incredibly annoying by tons of people for acting so damn insane. But unlike Ronaldo, there may be more to Bloodstone than her insane ramblings may imply.

Synopsis: IQ competes against the genius conspiracy theorist Bloodstone for the entertainment of a species that prides intelligence.

Cast:

Deedee-Magno Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Michaela Dietz as Unlucky Amethysts

Corey Burton as Intellgia Emissary

Mike Pollock, Cissy Jones & Ben Diskin as Intelliga High Council

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Featuring Jonathan Hyde as Supreme Intelligent One

--

The Intelliga, quite possibly one of the most highly advanced and intelligent races to exist throughout the galaxy. Having survived for eons through their beyond genius intellect and machinery, they pride themselves on reviewing the intelligence of other races and pitting them against each other in what they dub a Brain Brawl, a competition they hold to see who is vastly more intelligent. On their futuristic home planet of Teslein, some of the Intelliga's high council were busy reviewing future Brain Brawl contestants across the stars.

"Hm, such a bright young lady for an Earthling." The leader of the high council observed as he and his comrades observed Connie Maheswaran preparing for college via a universal surveillance system. "But I fear even her brain might not be able to comprehend our way of life."

"Let us move on." A female member responded as their surveillance turned to Peridot teaching her class how to pronounce photosynthesis. "A Peridot, eh? She could be promising."

"But I was expecting a Peridot to be building weapons of war or performing experiments for their masters, not teaching at a school." A third council member stated before they happened upon Pearl reading a childcare book. "My word, a Pearl?! But they were meant to be common slaves, and this one seems to be reading!"

"How curious." A fourth council member replied, stroking his goatee while deep in thought. "Let us see what else Earth has to offer." The council then began spying on Black Rutile hiding in a cave, working on a device while wearing a holographic welding mask. "I've heard of this Rutile before. Isn't she a wanted criminal?"

"That would get the Diamonds on our tail." The second council member muttered. "Let's try something that won't get us in trouble." Finally, the screen seemed to settle on two Gems simultaneously. One was Bloodstone, who was hard at work on a new weapon while doing some calculations on a holographic board. The other was IQ, busy doing maintenance on the Servant with help from Púrén. "What about these two?"

"Another Pearl!" the fourth member exclaimed in shock. "And that Bloodstone over there is quite intelligent as well!"

"Well, this shall certainly be an interesting Brain Brawl." The leader of the Intelliga declared. "So, are we all in agreement, ladies and gentlemen?"

"AYE!" the rest of the high council answered.

"Motion carried." The leader responded before turning to an emissary. "Track down these Gems at once and extend our invitation to them."

"I shall do as you command, Supreme Intelligent One!" the emissary saluted proudly as he tapped on a smartwatch that made him teleport away.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 3: Predator and Prey (originally published on March 28, 2022)

AN: It's that time again, folks! I think I'll have a real good time writing this considering that we'll be starting with a flashback dedicated to two of the villains this time. And just like the other ones, they'll be taking place during the Rebellion before moving up to prior to Alternate Future. But now, let's get moving.

Synopsis: The bounty hunting duo of Dalmatian Jasper & Zoisite capture the Brigade, and only Tails can save them.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Shelby Rabara as RectanguDot

Jennifer Paz as Phoenix Lapis Lazuli

Jinkx Monsoon as Navy Emerald

Olivia Olson as Citrine Twins

Melissa Fahn as Eyeball Demantoid

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Michaela Dietz as Pink Amethyst

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Featuring J.K Simmons as King of Chazelle

--

"Log date 10-5-83, production on the new line of Quartz soldiers is progressing smoothly." A rectangle-haired Peridot stated while strolling through the Prime Kindergarten, examining the Amethysts and Jaspers emerging from the canyon walls. "As we speak, new kinds of Gems are being incubated with our latest Kindergarten technology, which will use up this planet's resources more efficiently."

"Uh, Peridot." Another Peridot called for her superior. "We have a little problem."

"But there have been some complications." The rectangle Peridot continued while walking over to where her fellow Peridot was standing. "Anything the matter?"

"We should be expecting a new Jasper right here, but I think she's running a little late." The other Peridot answered nervously. "Do you think it could be the Kindergarten itself, or the Gem?"

"That depends on how the Gem comes out." The leading Peridot replied. "I say give it a bit."

And indeed, after a few minutes, the Gem finally emerged from her birthing place. It was a Jasper with gray skin decorated with black spots all over her body and flowing white hair, but the most curious factor was that her gem was placed where her left hand was, leaving a stump where it should be.

"This Dalmatian Jasper's gem is not where it should be." The rectangle Peridot sighed. "Another defect. Let's just shatter her and try again."

"Me, defective?" the newborn Dalmatian Jasper asked. "But I just came to life. You plan on throwing me out like that?"

"Sorry big girl, I don't make all the rules." The Peridot sadly replied before the alarms on her screens began sounding. "Oh my stars, we have a Crystal Gem attack incoming!"

"Everyone, battle stations!" the second Peridot cried out, turning to Dalmatian Jasper. "That goes for you too!"

"No need to say anything!" Dalmatian Jasper grinned eagerly before she made a hook come out of the gem, replacing her hand. "Whoa!"

"You can gawk over your abilities later, now go!" the rectangle Peridot commanded and pointed at a squad of Crystal Gems led by a pink-colored Amethyst, to which Dalmatian Jasper willfully charged forth.

"Shut down all this at once; you're killing the planet!" Pink Amethyst commanded while aided by a brown Pearl, a yellow Jade, and an orange Monazite. "As members of the Crystal Gems, we will stop you!"

"You sure about that, pinkalicious?" Dalmatian Jasper sneered eerily as she strolled onto the battlefield, shoving her fellow quartzes out of the way before meeting the Amethyst's gaze. "Come on. You really want to deprive these hardworking Gems of their livelihoods just because you think what they're doing is bad for a species that will die out regardless of whether they do anything or not?"

"Exactly!" Pink Amethyst cried when she realized what she just agreed with. "Wait, what?"

"Let me give it to you straight, little pebble." Dalmatian Jasper murmured calmly before hooking Pink Amethyst by the neck. "I just came out of these walls and was just labeled a defect only for you to show up and save me from shattering. So, if you want to run while you still can and leave us be, then be my guest. Otherwise, you and your friends are in for a short, sharp lesson in pain."

"Meaning?" Pink Amethyst nervously responded before the hook then snatched out her gem, causing her to poof. Shocked at what they had just witnessed, Pink Amethyst's teammates decided to try and flee from harm, but it was all for naught. Brown Pearl was grabbed by the head with a clawed hand coming from Dalmatian Jasper's gem and smashed to the ground, poofing her as well. Next, the Jasper turned her claws into a grappling hook that she used to reel in Yellow Jade, before tearing the Jade gem from her neck with her bare hands.

"Come here, you!" Dalmatian Jasper snarled while charging at Orange Mozanite like a feral predator and pounced on her. "Now, be a good little prize and hold still." With a jaw that could crush rocks into pebbles, Dalmatian Jasper chomped at the Mozanite's gem and tore it from her chest, causing her to poof as well. Once she gathered up her victims in a bubble, Dalmatian Jasper handed her victims over to the twin Peridots. "Do what you will with them. Just as long as I get something out of it."

"I'm impressed." The first Peridot applauded. "You were so ferocious, and you used your weapon so well! Dalmatian Jasper, was it?"

"That's my name." Dalmatian Jasper nodded. "But I won't mind being called DJ."

"Someone get DJ here on the front lines!" the Peridot commanded, making DJ smirk in satisfaction and fold her arms.

The Black Pearl Brigade chapter 2: A Fool and their Money (originally posted on March 21, 2022)

AN: Welcome back to the Black Pearl Brigade! For this chapter and the next few onwards, we'll be getting some flashbacks detailing the backstories of our villains and how they fell in with Cinnabar and Black Rutile. I originally added one for Pyrite since I felt the chapter would've been too short otherwise, but then it started to become a recurring thing. But anyways, onto the proper introduction of our first member of Cinnabar's crew!

Synopsis: While docking at a former colony for supplies, Braids has a run-in with ace con-Gem Pyrite.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Michaela Dietz as Siberian Amethyst

Susan Egan as Rose Quartz

Piotr Michael as Shopkeeper

Kimberly Brooks as Red Jasper, Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

"Now entering planet Bopbe." Púrén declared as the Servant landed in a cyberpunk seaside town, and the Pearls disembarked. "Hopefully, this supply run goes well. The ship needs repairs after our last mission to Acidia."

"Still trying to get all that drool from the Spittors out of the engines." IQ retched in disgust. "I am so glad we're basically invincible. Otherwise, I'd have lost my hands."

"I'm hoping that it won't spread to the rest of the ship." Cap proclaimed. "Okay, girls, I'm giving each of you a job to do." She then pointed to each of her crewmates. "Pony, I'm tasking you with cleanup duty. Braids, you shall find some extra parts to replace the ones destroyed by the Spittors. IQ, you handle recalibrating the Servant's navigational systems, and Tails, you fix the electricity. I'll go and see if we can get some upgrades to make the ship less disaster-prone."

"I shall do my part in assembling parts." Braids proudly saluted her captain and marched away. "And I shall do it gloriously!"

"Don't you think Braids there takes things a little too seriously?" Pony asked the other Pearls. "I mean, I know she loves a good challenge, but I feel it could cloud her judgment of things."

"What could you possibly mean?" Tails wondered.

"I think Pony here is saying that our personality quirks could be used against us." IQ proclaimed. "Though how can certainly vary."