Echoes of the past

Champagne and Luster were training together on the sandy beach. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to their intense practice. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows and adding a golden hue to the scene.

"Focus, Champagne," Luster instructed, her voice firm yet encouraging. She adjusted her stance, preparing to demonstrate a new technique. "You need to anticipate your opponent's moves, not just react to them."

Champagne nodded, his eyes fixed on her as she launched at him. He moved with surprising agility, flipping sideways and delivering a swift kick to her shoulder as he was upside down. Luster stumbled back, surprise flashing in her eyes.

"That's a bit more aggressive than usual," she remarked, a hint of confusion in her voice. But Champagne's attention was already turned back to the sea, his gaze distant and unfocused.

"Champagne, are you okay?" Luster asked, stepping closer, her concern growing. She reached out to touch his shoulder, but before she could, he turned sharply, his expression cold and unrecognizable.

"I'm fine," he replied curtly, his voice lacking its usual warmth. "Something's just, calling me into the ocean." He started walking into the sea, and despite Luster's voice he kept walking. "Champagne where are you-? I'm coming with you!" She ran behind him and the both sank to the bottom and started walking at the bottom of the open. 

Amethyst lied on a rock with her arms behind her back, not even looking at them. "Have fun guys."

Meanwhile, Champagne and Luster walked deeper into the sea. The water grew darker, and the sense of mystery and anticipation hung in the air. Suddenly, a shark swam towards them, its sleek body cutting through the water with deadly grace.

"Stay close," Luster warned, her voice steady despite the growing tension. She positioned herself defensively, ready to protect Champagne if necessary. The shark swam faster towards them, and Champagne pulled out a green knife with a swift, practiced motion no it wasn't practiced this is professional.

"You dare attempt to attack me? Now turn into sashimi!" Champagne declared, his voice echoing through the water. With a few deft slashes, he cut the shark into slices. The water filled with the remnants of the shark, and Luster flinched as the remains drifted around them, the once-majestic creature now reduced to scattered pieces.

"Champagne!" Luster grabbed his arm and used an aikido throw to remove the knife from champagne's hand. Champagne fell on the ocean ground and rubbed his head then smiled at luster, sending a shiver down her spine. He stood up and walked towards her.

Luster stepped back, her eyes wide with shock. Before she could react, Champagne leaned in and stole a kiss from her. "C'mon, Pearl. My loyal Pearl. I'm just messing with you, you know I love you!" He gave her a menacing smile, his expression cold and unrecognizable. Luster felt a pang of fear hit her heart. Champagne would never call her a loyal Pearl. 

"Thank you, Champagne. I-I love you too," Luster said quietly, her voice barely audible over the murmur of the ocean currents. She couldn't shake the unsettling feeling, but she followed him, hoping to find answers.

As the water grew darker, Luster used her Gem to create a soft, glowing light. The illumination revealed the murky depths around them and, to her surprise, a huge champagne-colored palanquin covered in barnacles and sea moss emerged from the gloom.

Champagne's eyes took on a manic glint, widening with a disturbing intensity as they approached the palanquin. "Here, this is it, Pearl," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling edge. They walked toward the palanquin, and Champagne pried the door open with a sense of urgency.

Inside, the palanquin was filled with relics and artifacts from another time, all bearing the same champagne hue. The sight was both mesmerizing and eerie, and Luster couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. On a desk near the bed, there were many shattered gems. "Yes, YES!" Champagne yelled and went to the desk and started mixing gems together "The time is here!" He yelled and pulled out a small bottle with a Champagne hue and a diamond on it, and opened the bottle. "His children will come back no-GAH!" Champagne yelled as he was kicked in his face by luster and landed into one of the walls of the palanquin. 

"Pearl, what are you doing?!" He shouted and hurried up and put the bottle in his pocket. As Luster confronted the imposter inside the palanquin, she swiftly threw a knee at him, aiming to disable him. But the imposter countered, using his leg to intercept her knee and redirect her momentum. With a deft spin, he delivered a powerful kick that sent Luster flying out of the palanquin. She clenched her jaw in pain where she was struck, panting heavily as she assessed the situation.

"You're not Champagne," she declared through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing with determination.

Outside, Jasper trudged toward the beach with Champagne unexpectedly riding on her shoulders. "I'm pretty sure your ankle isn't twisted anymore!" Jasper grumbled as she carried him.

"No idea what you're talking about," Champagne quipped, gripping Jasper's head for balance.

Seeing Amethyst lying lazily on a nearby rock, Champagne couldn't resist. He playfully tossed a small rock at her forehead. "Ow! What's the big idea?!" Amethyst protested, sitting up and rubbing her forehead.

Jasper approached Amethyst, and Champagne took the opportunity to jump down from Jasper's shoulders. "Your ankle is healed?!" Jasper barked in disbelief, her frustration evident.

"Ow," Champagne groaned dramatically, feigning pain as he hobbled on one foot. Amethyst stood up and faced the two with a bemused expression. "So, did you find anything interesting in the sea?"

Champagne looked genuinely perplexed at her question. "I never went to the bottom of the sea. I was training with Jasper and went bear hunting!"

Amethyst looked at him and panicked. "Oh shoot, Luster's in trouble!"

Meanwhile, The false champagne walked towards Luster and was slowly turning to their true form. "You're right, I'm not Champagne, I'm echo!" As it completed its transformation, the illusion of human-like features faded away, revealing Echo's true nature as a Gem creation. Its form shimmered with an otherworldly light, reminiscent of a polished gemstone brought to life.

Echo stood tall and imposing, her body adorned with armor-like plating that reflected the colors of the sea—shades of deep blues and greens intertwined with hints of iridescent silver. Her gemstone, positioned prominently on its forehead, pulsed softly with a violet glow, casting eerie shadows in the dim underwater environment.

The contours of Echo's face were angular and precise, devoid of the softness that characterized organic beings. Her eyes, now glowing with an intense violet light, held an almost mechanical precision, devoid of emotion yet piercingly intelligent. Echo's expression was unreadable, a mask of determination and loyalty to its creator, Champagne Diamond.

As it spoke, Echo's voice resonated with a harmonious blend of authority and artificiality, betraying its origins as a created being. Its words carried weight, each syllable enunciated with calculated precision.

"I am Echo," it declared, its voice reverberating through the water. "Forged by Champagne Diamond to serve and protect. You will now be shattered."

Luster backed up steadily and slowly. "E-echo, y-you were the leader of Champagne diamond's fighting gems. You were feared for your agility and martial arts that matched those of Champagne diamond's." 

Echo leaped at her and threw a flying roundhouse kick which knocked Luster down. "My skills matched, my diamond's? What are you? Stupid?" She raised her leg, preparing an ax kick. "My diamond's fighting prowess were limitless." She threw the kick but Luster barely dodged and threw a counter punch.

Luster grunted upon impact but quickly rolled to evade Echo's follow-up ax kick aimed at her head.

"You think my skills only matched my Diamond's?" Echo retorted, its voice tinged with contempt. "How foolish, my diamond's fighting prowess were immeasurable!" She launched into a series of lightning-fast strikes, each blow calculated and precise, aiming to overwhelm Luster with sheer speed and power.

Luster blocked and dodged as best as she could, her movements driven by a mix of desperation and determination. She managed to land a counter punch against Echo's side, causing it to stagger momentarily. But Echo recovered swiftly, its eyes narrowing with focused intensity.

"Your resistance is futile," Echo stated coldly, its tone devoid of empathy or mercy. It lunged forward again, intent on subduing Luster and fulfilling its directive without hesitation. The underwater battle raged on, a clash of wills and strengths between Gem creations, each driven by their allegiance and purpose.

Luster fell to her knees and looked up, she knew that she'd lose this battle as soon as she saw Echo. Even if she'd use her weaponry it'd be futile.

"One more strike and you'll be shattered." Echo licked the blood from her lips. "You were really my diamond's pearl? How could he have such a weakling as a servant?" She jumped high and attempted to land her knees on Luster's face but suddenly, her attack was interrupted by Jasper and Champagne's forearms, which they used to block the kick.

Echo's eyes narrowed as it observed Jasper and Champagne from a distance, its gaze calculating. "What's this?" Echo muttered to itself, its voice carrying through the water with an eerie resonance. "My diamond's new form."

Champagne, still clinging to the large rock to keep himself grounded at the ocean floor, looked bewildered at Echo's proclamation. "Your diamond? So you're one of the creations of Champagne Diamond," he remarked, pointing to himself with a hint of confusion. "We'll have to make this quick. I have thalassophobia and megalophobia, and that huge Palanquin is giving me the creeps."

He glanced nervously at the ancient structure encrusted with barnacles and sea moss, his discomfort palpable even underwater. "Jasper, you think you can handle this one? If I get into a fight down here, I'll probably end up floating to the surface," he explained, a shiver running through him at the thought.

Jasper regarded Echo with a steely gaze, her brow furrowed in excitement. "I've got this," she affirmed, her voice carrying an air of confidence despite the tense situation. She flexed her fingers, preparing for a confrontation with the Echo, Champagne Diamond's formidable creation.

Echo remained silent for a moment, assessing the situation with a cool detachment. "Very well," it finally replied, its tone devoid of emotion. "Prepare yourself, Jasper. This will be your final confrontation."

With that ominous declaration, Echo lunged forward, its movements swift and precise, aiming to test Jasper's mettle and fulfill its mission to eliminate any threat to Champagne Diamond's legacy. 

"Madam Hematite?" Echo responded, her tone now more formal and respectful, betraying a sense of duty. "I'm at the palanquin. I've just found our diamond. It's true, he's just a half-human right now."

Echo listened intently to Madam Hematite's response, its focus momentarily diverted from the impending confrontation with Jasper. The revelation seemed to stir something within Echo, a mixture of curiosity and purpose that sharpened its resolve.

"Understood," Echo acknowledged, its voice carrying a hint of anticipation. "I'm bringing the palanquin right now." It paused for a moment, assessing the situation before continuing. "Sorry to cut the fight short, but hopefully, this won't be our last chance to see each other."

Echo's gaze shifted to Luster, a faint smile playing on its lips. "I enjoyed the kiss," it added with a chuckle, its tone unexpectedly light given the circumstances. With a swift movement, Echo placed its arm on the palanquin, activating some unseen mechanism that caused both Echo and the ancient artifact to vanish in a shimmering display of light.

Jasper watched as Echo disappeared, her expression a mix of frustration and curiosity. She glanced at Champagne, who was visibly relieved at the sudden departure. "Well, that was unexpected," she remarked dryly, her arms crossed over her chest.

Champagne nodded, still processing the events. "Yeah, definitely," he muttered, his thoughts swirling with confusion and curiosity. He turned his attention to Luster, noticing the tension in her demeanor. "You kissed someone?"

Luster grumbled under her breath, her cheeks flushing slightly as she stood up and began to ascend towards the surface. Champagne released the rock and followed suit, floating effortlessly through the water. "I'm just saying, you've never been interested in anybody before. Who else have you kissed?"

As they emerged from the ocean onto the sandy beach, Luster's expression was a mix of frustration and embarrassment. She didn't respond to Champagne's question, her focus seemingly elsewhere.

"There's nothing to be angry about," Champagne continued, oblivious to Luster's mood. "She'll come back if you want to kiss more."

Jasper glanced between them, her brow furrowing slightly. "Champagne, sometimes you really don't get it, do you? Obviously she's disappointed in herself for losing."

Champagne shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face. "There's nothing to be ashamed about, Jasper lost to me many times."

As they strolled along the beach, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Luster finally spoke up. "It's not about losing to you, Champagne," she said softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "It's about what Echo said. If I'm not strong enough to fight, then am I strong enough to protect?"