Emerald glared at her college, "Excuse me?"

"It will consume the false Gods," a Gem shrouded in shadows explained, "Project Judgement was always the endgame."

"But this is wrong!" Emerald exclaimed, "That... thing... that... festering abomination, you can't do this to them! These are the very people we're trying to avenge!"

"They knew the risks when they volunteered," The Gem explained, "What are you gonna do? Withdraw from the election? It's to late now, the project is to far along."

"But if you keep feeding that thing there's no garuntee we can get them back!" Emerald protested, angered now.

"They were aware of that," the Gem explained, "I respect if you disagree with our methods, you may leave now and be rewarded all the same when we take power. As my friend."

"Keep your rewards," Emerald glared turning away and leaving, "I wouldn't wanna be friends with someone who would make such a monster. A monster like you..."

Speaking of monsters Steven looked at his hand, oversized with large claws as he muttered to himself, in front of the restroom mirror, "White Diamond was wrong. White was lying. I'm not like Pink. I'm not a monster like her."

Steven recalled breaking the tape and shook his head, "I lied because I was scared but everyone's lied at some point in their lives! I'm not like her!"

Steven look at the clawed hand, now glowing Pink and reached to a pair of scissors, "Have to cut these off. It's OK. I can handle this..."

Meanwhile Phoenix sat, looking at polls in her office, a room mostly blue in color with a phone and a clock sitting at her desk. In addition to a pack of gum, a personal thing she enjoyed from time to time since the trial with Jasper when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Phoenix spoke, but her kind and welcoming expression morphed into a glare when she saw Emerald enter.

"I'm resigning from the race," Emerald explained, "But first I need a favor."

"Go on," Phoenix responded, as she offered, "Gum?"

"No thanks," Emerald replied, "I don't eat much aside from the occasional popcorn. Anyways, I know where the rebels are and... I can't support what they're doing. They're... making a weapon. A weapon to surpass the false God that is White Diamond."

"What is it called?" Phoenix inquired, now listening closely.

"They call it Project Judgement:," Emerald sighed, "A Weapon to Consume False Gods. We can't tell anyone else it's... to horrible. We would have riots in the streets. I want you to help me."

"Help you what?" Phoenix asked.

"Help me destory Project Judgement," Emerald explained, "And all I ask in return is the that any of my former crew who are members or the Loyalists be pardoned."

"OK but why now?" Phoenix asked, "Why not when the project started?"

"You have your family," Emerald explained, hatred in her voice, "My crew is mine, and they fed one of my family to that... thing... are you in?"

Phoenix nodded, "Let's prevent Era 4..."

Meanwhile Steven began to exit the house, walking to clear his head only to be stopped by Pearl, "Steven, can we talk?"

"Yeah what's up Pearl?" Steven replied, "Oh hey Sea!"

"First," Sea inquired, "Why are your fingernails bleeding?"

Steven looked down at the nails on his left hand, cut way to short and bleeding, exposed skin burning in the air as he lied, "Oh I just wasn't paying attention don't worry about that."

Sea and Pearl weren't certain but knew if Steven was lying he would stick to his guns until the end so they moved on to the admittedly ironic subject of the conversation, "Steven we wanted to apologize for lying to you."

Sea added, "We never got the chance too and-"

"I understand why you did what you did, and you know it was wrong," Steven explained, "I love you guys and forgive you. Water under the bridge. It's OK. I mean I've lied to people in far worse ways. Ha ha! Ha..."

"Are you sure?" Pearl asked.

"It's been literal years," Steven explained, "I'm not gonna hold a grudge."

"OK," Pearl replied.

"Remember you can tell us anything," Sea added.

Steven smiled, "I know. Anyways, I'm going for a walk. Cya."

"Have fun," Pearl replied.

With that Steven left, dashing out of sight, hyperventilating as he began to have a panic attack, hiding under the pier, "I do forgive them, that was true, but I still lied about my nails. What if White was right? What if I'm just like Pink?"

Steven's body twisted and fromed spikes briefly as spikes formed all over his body, pink glow bright as the stars only for Steven to just pull himself together, "No. No. I can do this. Pull it together Steven. It's not like White can hurt them anyone. Don't listen to her lies. Don't listen to her lies..."

Meanwhile Phoenix and Emerald warped to an old abandoned base on a jungle planet.

"Wait here?" Phoenix inquired, "The old abandoned Jungle Moon Base 23-N? Why here?"

"This place was used by Yellow many years ago," Emerald explained, "And they couldn't keep that... thing on their main base so they repurposed this outpost. It had a warp, resources, but is old and inconspicuous, making it a prime location for malicious deeds. That... thing... it's under us. Do you hear it? Festering. Squirming. Growing more malicious with each passing minute. An affront to Gems, life, and if he is real, God himself."

A roar was heard from beneath the floor, echoing from tunnels dug out beneath the ruins of the outpost, many voices cried out in pain and hatred, frightening the duo, the sheer terror of the sound beyond any they had known before.

The duo went down, finding a tunnel at the bottom floor leading to a massive closed vault made of a hard, black material. The creature screamed from within.

"We have to destory it," Emerald explained, "I'll open the door and we strike while it's weak. We can-"

"You can't stop it now," a voice smugly explained from behind the duo in the dimmly lit, eerie tunnel.

Three Gems stood in front of the exit, Shorty, Skins, and...

"Teal?" Phoenix inquired, "Teal Zircon? From Jasper's trail?"

The Zircon laughed, "Oh Phoenix, I go by Miles now. Yknow, the other lawyer from that game Steven plays? He seems like a good kid. Shame he didn't finish the job."

"Skins you're family to me," Phoenix pleaded, "What's in there? I'm asking as your sister."

"It's-" Shorty began to speak up.

"The weapon to surpass the false rulers," Skins interrupted, "It's not to late to walk away. I don't wanna hurt either of you."

"You're our friends," Shorty added, "Please. Just go."

"Not until I know what you're doing," Phoenix demanded.

"Well?" Emerald glared, "Will you tell her of your sins? Or shall I?"

Skins sighed, "Phoenix, dear sister, you don't understand. We desire a world without sin. A world without pain. A world without evil, this weapon can make that world. We tested it actually. A Lapis came by, wanting to join us, so we looked into her. Turned out, she had abused her former partner. A Lapis named Freckles that last we checked was going to Little Homeschool actually. So..."

Skins dropped blue shards onto the floor, "This Lapis, called herself Aqua, well, she made for a fine test subject..."

"You killed her," Phoenix responded, shock and fear in her voice as she stepped back.

"We handled a threat," Shorty glared, "Phase two is almost ready. See, the Diamonds are our Gods, or not really since we don't have religion but they're kinda close. On Earth, humans use God to defend racism and homophobia. The crusades and so on. We will cleanse the world of sinners and false gods. None shall kneel to a false idol, as there will be no idols in Era 4."

"I won't deny religion has caused bad things," Emerald explained, "But it's the zealots that are to blame! Destroying religion, murdering the Diamonds aren't answers to deeper systemic issues! As long as free will exists, there will always be sin. There always be evil!"

"Does that not prove there is no God?" Skins demanded, "If we cannot become perfect?"

"Perfect like the Diamonds?" Emerald demanded angrily, "It does not. All living begins hold inherit good, but having free will is a part of life. I would argue that that inherit good proves that there IS a God!"

"I can stop you," Phoenix glared, "Leave, win the election."

"You both still don't understand!" Shorty exclaimed!

"Besides I'm here if you do win," Miles added, "We're both blue and I can easily..."

Miles shapeshifted to look exactly like Phoenix, "Adjust my shade of blue."

"So you impersonate me and take over?" Phoenix demanded, "You're insane!"

"Madness is a small price to pay for salvation," Skins laughed.

"But what's Project Judgement?" Phoenix demanded.

"A fusion," Skins explained, "Of hundreds of volunteers. Forming a Geode Weapon to surpass any other. A Geode with full Gems, and a functional mind."

"You monsters!" Phoenix screamed, "If you keep fusing Gems like that they won't be able to unfuse!"

"They knew the risks," Shorty replied.

"How about you take a look," Skins laughed madly, "Behold the light that will consume the false Gods!"

The doors opened and a blinding purple light shinned as hundreds of voices screamed. Dozens of hands reached out and-

Cut to black.

Phoenix is at a podium, giving her election speech, "And that is why we will be making some concessions to the Loyalits! I will do my best for my people. No questions."

Reporters yelled questions as Phoenix walked away, making a call as she got off stage. She took out a teal colored buble, containing the Gems of Emerald and Phoenix. She smirked as she called her allies.

Skins answered, "Did they buy it?"

"Like hot coffee on a Winter's day," the imposter smirked.

"Good job Miles," Skins smirked, "Phase Two is almost upon us. It will be ready in 100 days. Judgement day comes."

"Shatter the Diamonds," Skins smirked.

"Polish the quartz," Miles finished.

The two hung up.

Thus begins the end.

And it shall end as it begun.

With a countdown.

As there are only...

100 days until Judgement Day.