a/n: more than 6,000 years ago, during the Gem War.

~

Earth Base #5 was, to say the least, very minimal. The base itself was stationed inside a kindergarten, which isn't all that unusual. What was unusual was the fact that it was located in a Beta kindergarten. Lapis's small squadron was one of the newer groups of Homeworld Gems. The base was a little crowded, and Lapis had yet to see any commanding officers. So far they had been staying inside the general's quarters, which was a tunnel that led to some sort of room, or at least that's what Lapis had gathered from the occasional conversation.

The kindergarten itself was very narrow, almost like a crack in the ground, and most of the gems spent their time outside of the kindergarten itself, and rather around it, on the high ground. During the short amount of time that they had been here, there wasn't any action. The most interesting thing that had happened so far was a few gems busting out of the ground, and a lizard that had to run away as the newly made gems chased after it.

Homeworld was really desperate. The Beta kindergarten was truly a Beta kindergarten. Deformed gems appeared where normal gems should have been, and they were quickly poofed and turned into weapons. The poofed, incorrect gems were often made into holographic maps where they could track the growth and developments of growing gems.

Lapis shuddered at the thought. Being poofed, being conscious, and being used. It was all so... twisted. At the very least, it was happening to gems who couldn't fully understand what was happening. It was very rare of disfigured gems to understand what was happening, but it did happen from time to time. Lapis would hear the echos of an unnatural voice begging not to be hurt, and the sound of a gemstone clattering onto the ground. It often happened to cracked or shattered gems as well. Their gemstones were used to reinforce weapons or make tools.

Lapis's entire squadron hated it. The gems in Lapis's squadron were all formed on Homeworld's other colonies, and they were put together in a squad because they would support each other in different ways. Lapis was there because of her water manipulation (which didn't help much, seeing that they were basically in a desert), and she was there as a messenger. Her wings and quick speeds often made Lapises perfect air and water messengers during battle. There were four other gems. There was an Amethyst, light lavender, and being an Amethyst, they naturally loomed above a Lapis such as herself. They were there for brute force. After all, an Amethyst wouldn't be in a squadron for their brain.

There were two Ambers, and although it was strange, they had come as a pair. They were there as an offensive team. Ambers weren't quite warriors, but they were often found on battlefields. Much like Lapis's water manipulation, they were able to melt the solids around them and often trap enemies. The last gem, and one of the quieter ones, was a Ruby. They were the youngest one of the group, and was often lost in thought. No one minded.

The squadron had been together for one a little longer than five years, and they had all found their own niches in the team. Despite other squadrons often having internal conflicts for power, they had all made their own places in the team. There was no time to be fighting in their own team, after all.

They were one of the best functioning squadrons, but despite even that, Lapis wouldn't go so far to call them friends. There was a certain level of trust between them, and they had to be able to trust them in life or death situations, but Lapis didn't think that most friendships were based on survival. Even then, they were closer than many gems were.

The day was passing slowly, and the heat was making it unbearable to stay awake for long, and Lapis's squadron was soon asleep.

And the next moment, Lapis woke up to darkness and chaos. One of the two Ambers in her team was shaking her, and the Amethyst was looming behind them, fending off what looked like a Bismuth.

"Lapis!" Amber shrieked one more time. This time, Lapis suddenly snapped awake.

"What's happening?"

"Raid!" Lapis looked around. The gems that were attacking had chosen the perfect time. After an entire day in the heat, many gems were either exhausted or already asleep. It was obvious to see that the raid was destroying them. Homeworld's gems laid scattered on the sandstone ground. She could make out Ruby trying to take on a smaller Quartz soldier but losing badly.

One of the Ambers were missing.

"Where's the other Amber?" Lapis asked as she scrambled to her feet. The remaining Amber just shook her head and tried to ignore tears. They had been twins, basically.

Their Amethyst was suddenly flung to the side, crashing into the ground and shattering. The Bismuth responsible smiled at her victory and turned her attention to Amber and Lapis. Lapis couldn't process what was happening. In just a few moments Lapis had lost every gem that she could consider family.

"Run!" the remaining Amber pushed Lapis into action. They ran through smaller battles that were taking place, often with two or three rebel gems attacking one Homeworld gem. It was horrifying to see how quickly even the strongest Quartz soldiers were shattered. A Lapis and Amber weren't nearly as powerful as an Amethyst. Amber was hardly in a state to fight, struggling to wipe away tears because of her lost twin, and Lapis was drowsy and not built for fighting in a desert.

"Lapis? Lapis!" All of a sudden, she heard Amber shriek. She turned around to see that her only remaining friend was in the grip of a rebel Amethyst. She was easily crushed, and the shards of her gem clattered to the ground.

Lapis froze. All of them. Everyone. Was gone.

As she turned, she could see a rebel Bismuth charging at her. Lapis could easily dodge and continue running until she was out of the battlefield. But she didn't.

There was a horrible crack, and she felt a bolt of pain travel through her gemstone.