The orchestra of war was gone, in its place was terror and a grim truth. He was going to die here. He didn't know how nor when but it was going to happen. With stone-faced determination he blocked an incoming ball of energy his shield absorbing the power and returning it as a beam of concentrated energy that sweped across the battlefield, annihilating the caster and several other range oriented gems. Moving forward again he swatted any gem that came close, the great weight of his shield pulverizing bodies and shattering gems as he spearheaded a charge. With the large group of Homeworld Gems coherency shattered it became a bloodbath as the other Crystal Gems moved into the fray.

Bringing his shield down upon a gem he heard the unmistakable sound of a laser cutting through flesh. His heart filled with dread as he turned to face his destined foe, the world seemed to go into slow motion as their eyes met. 

[i][color=f26522]"No, not you."[/color][/i] he thought to himself as his opponents eyes narrowed in anger.

There were no words exchanged by the two warriors, just an unspoken promise. One would stand, one would fall.

As if like lightning the staff she carried unleashed its power, barely punching through him as he brought his shield up to bare the brunt of it. The force pushed him back slightly, his heels digging into the earth as it did so. However he pushed through, advancing forward as the shield began to burn. The battery was filling and fast, all or nothing he charged full speed until the two were barely a breath away.

[color=ec008c]"In another life."[/color] she said solemnly. [color=f26522]"In another."[/color] he replied.

They both knew what was going to happen, the shield was going to blow. She could have moved away from the fight, he could have struck her down, but they did not. Even in war they loved one another too much to harm the other, with a single tear she closed her eyes as the eruption overtook them. The explosion shook the field as the two powerful weapons detonated as one, their colors intermingling into a beautiful cloud.
[hr]

As Agate slept the years passed by, the crater filling with dirt and grass. It's scar mended by mother nature until it was no more. What felt like an eternity but also an instant, Agate awoke to a suffocating darkness. Panic set in and he began digging his way up. A fist exploded from the earth, stained with dirt, grass, and berries. A second, frantic arm joined it and with their combined strength pulled the body of Agate out of his earthen prison. Long moments were dedicated to just breathing, the smell of wild berries filled his senses and it was welcome for awhile but soon his thoughts went towards his survival. Just how did he survive and why?

How was it that someone like him survived but not her, she was such a better person and she was swept aside while the monster remained. It just didn't make sense. Slowly, quietly, his hands held his head as he fell to his backside and cried soundless tears. The glowing orbs in a sea black releasing small drops of orange, staining the leaves and berries in their color as they connected. Agate stayed that way for a long time, letting the pain leave his body before even trying to move.

When the tears ran dry Agate shakily went to his feet and looked around him. There were others in varying distances from him and they all seemed to be in the same boat so to speak. He couldn't make any details from where he stood but he could hear the wails and sphere of petals that heralded the closest one. Wiping his face dry he suppressed his issues and began to move towards the gem, if someone needed help than he would was going to do his best to give it. Its what she would have wanted in the end.