Trials By Fire

Champagne awoke abruptly, finding himself sprawled on a rugged, rocky floor. His senses jolted into high alert as he realized he was encircled by seething lava, its molten glow casting an ominous light all around him. "I'm in a volcano?! This is the last time I will listen to a note that says 'free donuts'." He thought to himself as he stood up and then a loud voice was heard from the walls.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the first ever, volcanic obstacle course!" Suddenly, lights came on and a crowd of thousands of gem spectators were sitting on the rocky outcrops, their faces a mixture of anticipation and excitement. Champagne squinted through the shimmering heat waves rising from the lava. The voice boomed again, echoing off the chamber walls.

"Today, our challenger is none other than Champagne Diamond!" The announcer's voice reverberated through the volcanic cavern, amplifying the tension in the air. As she said it was 'Champagne diamond' the crowd started booing him.

Champagne's heart raced as he scanned the audience, trying to gauge their reactions. His mind raced with questions. Who had brought him here? Why was he the challenger in this perilous trial? But one thing he did know is that these people hated his guts.

"You have three challenges to complete," the voice continued, now sounding ominously close. "Succeed, and you'll earn the right to leave. Fail, and, well… the volcano will decide your fate!"

"Alright, so I just have to win? That should be easy enough." He stretched his arms and the cheers got louder. 

Alright, people, the first challenge is…" The voice paused dramatically, building suspense. "The Lava Leap!"

Suddenly, platforms began to rise from the bubbling lava, creating a precarious path across the molten expanse. Each platform seemed barely stable, swaying slightly as they settled into place.

"You must traverse these platforms to reach the other side. But be warned, they won't hold for long!"

Champagne eyed the platforms, calculating his approach. The crowd's anticipation was almost tangible, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of excitement and malice. He took a deep breath, focusing his mind and body. "All I have to do is jump? I'm as light as a feather!"

He got ready and then jumped onto a platform. To his horror, the platform instantly sank, plunging him towards the molten lava. The crowd jeered, then began cheering. "Wow, folks! Champagne Diamond, the tyrant, the gem devil, the diamond after Pink Diamond's departure and Rose Quartz's rise! Has finally died!"

But just as the jeering reached its peak, they saw a hand grip the platform. Champagne emerged from the lava, his skin covered in burns and his body limp. "It burns, it burns like crazy, no it burns like hell! But I can't die. I won't die. I have something to do, I have to show everyone I'm a good guy!"

The crowd gasped in astonishment as Champagne staggered to his feet, his determination palpable even through the agony. His eyes, filled with a fiery resolve, met those of the spectators. He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the searing pain.

"I'm not here to entertain you," he shouted, his voice raw and defiant. "I'm here to prove that I'm not the monster you think I am! All the same though: when I catch the gem who did this, I won't hesitate to shatter them!"

The crowd's jeers faltered, replaced by a mix of curiosity and reluctant respect. Champagne's resilience was undeniable, and even his harshest critics couldn't ignore his sheer willpower.

The announcer's voice, now tinged with a hint of admiration, boomed through the arena. "It seems Champagne Diamond refuses to give in! Let's see if he can continue this incredible display of strength and determination. The next challenge awaits!"

Champagne, still smoldering from the lava, took a moment to center himself. The burns on his skin were excruciating, but he pushed the pain to the back of his mind. He knew he couldn't afford to show weakness now.

"Alright people, the first challenge is… the Lava Leap!" The announcer's voice echoed ominously. "Let's see if Champagne Diamond can survive this fiery gauntlet and prove his worth!"

Champagne eyed the platforms again, this time with a renewed focus. His muscles ached and his skin throbbed, but he refused to let that stop him. With a determined grunt, he leaped onto the first platform, which thankfully held firm under his weight. He moved swiftly from one platform to the next, each jump more confident than the last.

As he neared the final platform, a sudden burst of lava shot up, forcing him to twist in mid-air to avoid it. He landed hard but steady, panting from the exertion. The crowd's silence was palpable as he stood tall, a triumphant smile on his face.

"Challenge one, complete," he declared, his eyes meeting those of the stunned spectators. The crowd erupted into a mix of reluctant applause and grumbled disbelief.

The announcer's voice crackled back to life. "An impressive start, Champagne Diamond! But don't get too comfortable. The next trial will test you even further. Prepare yourself for the Gauntlet of Flames!"

Champagne's heart pounded as he faced the entrance to the Gauntlet of Flames. "I'm not just doing this for myself," he thought, steeling his resolve. "I'm doing this to show everyone who I really am."

He stepped forward, entering a corridor of intense heat. Flames shot from the walls and floor in unpredictable patterns, creating a deadly maze of fire. He had to time his movements perfectly, darting and weaving to avoid the searing jets of flame. Each step was a gamble, requiring both agility and keen observation.

As he navigated the gauntlet, the announcer provided a running commentary, fueling the crowd's excitement. "Can he survive this inferno? The legendary Champagne Diamond faces his greatest test yet!"

Champagne's focus was absolute. He visualized the paths through the flames, anticipating the bursts and reacting with precision. His body moved with a grace born of desperation and determination. He knew that one misstep could mean the end.

With a final leap, he cleared the last jet of flame and landed safely on the other side. He stood, panting, sweat pouring down his face, but he was unharmed. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, astonished by his resilience. 

Suddenly, a vat of lava was dumped onto his body. Champagne bit his lips and his whole body clenched in agony but he didn't let out a single scream. The gems cheering suddenly began booing.

"Hey, that was a cheap shot!"

"Who cares, don't you remember what champagne did to our brethren?!"

"He already said that he wasn't that diamond! Champagne diamond would've easily shattered all of us!"

Champagne staggered, his body wracked with pain and some of his skin was bleeding and he was on fire but his spirit unbroken. "You see," he shouted, his voice trembling with both pain and defiance. "I'm not that monster."

The crowd's boos mixed with murmurs of doubt. The seeds of doubt were being planted, even in the hearts of those who hated him the most. The announcer's voice echoed through the arena once more, tinged with fear of Champagne surviving.

It seems Champagne Diamond's resolve is unshakable. He has survived the Lava Leap and the Gauntlet of Flames. But one final challenge remains. Will he be able to conquer it and prove his worth once and for all?"

Champagne took a deep breath, his determination as fierce as ever. The final challenge loomed ahead, and he knew it would be the most difficult yet. But he was ready to face it, to show everyone the truth about who he is.

At the heart of the maze, Champagne encounters a final, massive mirror that shows his duality – the ruthless Diamond and the person he strives to be now. He must shatter this mirror to symbolically break free from the champagne diamond, who looked exactly like him. However, this mirror fights back with illusions of pain and fear.

Champagne looked around the hall of mirrors, each one reflecting a different version of himself. His heart pounded, not from physical exertion, but from the emotional weight of what he was about to face.

The announcer's voice boomed once more. "This is the final trial, the Trial of Reflection. To prove his worth, Champagne must confront the darkest parts of his past and emerge as the gem he claims to be."

Champagne took a deep breath and stepped forward. As he walked, the mirrors sprang to life, showing scenes of destruction and sorrow. Faces of gems he had wronged appeared, their eyes filled with accusation. 

Finally, he stood before the largest mirror, the one that showed his duality. He saw the ruthless Diamond on one side and his current self on the other. "This is who he was," he said, voice steady. "And this is who I am."

As Champagne raised his fist to strike the mirror, a sudden searing pain shot through his side. He staggered back, clutching his abdomen, disbelief and agony etched across his face. Looking down, he saw the cruel, jagged edge of a lava sword protruding from his gemstone, blood-like liquid oozing around it.

The crowd gasped in horror as Champagne stumbled, his strength draining rapidly. The mirror before him flickered with the images of both his past and present selves, distorting in his vision as pain clouded his mind.

"I… won't… give up…" Champagne gritted out through clenched teeth, determination warring with the overwhelming pain. With a trembling hand, he grasped the hilt of the lava sword, gritting his teeth against the pain, and pulled it out with a defiant roar.

Blood-like liquid dripped from the wound, sizzling as it touched the ground. Despite the agony coursing through his body, Champagne turned to face the mirror once more. With a fierce resolve, he lifted his arm again, ignoring the protests of his battered form.

Despite Champagne Diamond's resolute declaration, as he raised his arm to strike the mirror again, a sudden, searing pain tore through his back. He gasped, stumbling forward as more swords materialized out of nowhere, piercing his form with each attempt to shatter the mirror.

The crowd, which had erupted into cheers moments before, fell silent in shock and horror as they watched their former tyrant being mercilessly attacked. Some gasped in disbelief, while others murmured in confusion and concern.

Champagne gritted his teeth against the onslaught, his determination flickering but not extinguishing. Blood-like liquid seeped from the wounds, mixing with the sweat and grime of battle. Each blow threatened to extinguish the light of hope that had ignited within him moments earlier.

In that fleeting instant, Champagne Diamond felt a sense of clarity wash over him. The mirror, once a symbol of his inner conflict and turmoil, now reflected something different. It reflected resilience, transformation, and the unwavering spirit of redemption.

"I understand," he repeated, his voice steadier now despite the pain. "You can't erase what you did in the past, even if you were just a creation, the people believe what they remember. If it were another creation of Champagne Diamond, they'd have done the same. That's who my creator was…" He paused, his gaze unwavering as he stared into the fragmented mirror. "…and this is who I am."

With deliberate gentleness, Champagne pressed his hand against the shattered glass, feeling the cold remnants of his former self beneath his touch. His fingers traced the lines where the mirror had fractured, each shard a testament to the trials he had faced and the battles he had fought.

The crowd watched in awe as Champagne, once feared and reviled, now stood before them as a symbol of courage and transformation. His journey through the volcanic obstacle course had not only tested his physical strength but had also challenged his spirit and resolve.

As he withdrew his hand from the mirror, Champagne felt a sense of liberation wash over him. The weight of his past, though still present, no longer burdened him with the same intensity. He knew that redemption was not about erasing mistakes but about accepting them, learning from them, and forging a new path forward.

The announcer's voice cut through the silence, filled with respect and admiration. "Ladies and gentlemen, Champagne Diamond has triumphed over the Trials of reflection! Through sheer determination and unwavering courage, he has proven himself worthy of redemption!"

Champagne walked out, his body completely burned and bloody, his skin was burned off and his body ravaged by the trials he endured. Every step was a testament to his resilience, the wounds he bore a testament to the challenges he had faced. As he emerged from the chamber, the crowd's initial jeers had transformed into a hushed awe. They witnessed not just a physical battle but a profound inner struggle unfolding before them.

Amidst the gasps and murmurs, Champagne's gaze remained steadfast, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and newfound resolve. He didn't flinch from their scrutiny but instead walked with a solemn dignity, each movement echoing his journey through fire and torment.

The announcer's voice echoed once more, now tinged with a reverence that mirrored the crowd's shifting sentiments. "Behold, Champagne Diamond," the announcer proclaimed, "who has faced his past and emerged stronger than ever. Let his courage be an inspiration to us all." 

Suddenly, the volcano's wall raised and the sunlight shined into the volcano. "You can head right out now!" The announcer shouted.

Champagne faced the door and then turned around. "Head out? What are you talking about? I already told you all: when this is finished," He took a deep breath and looked down at his mangled body. "I'm gonna shatter the person responsible."

Champagne's words echoed through the chamber, cutting through the cheers and applause like a sharp blade. His voice, though strained and weary, carried a determination that demanded attention. The crowd fell silent, sensing the gravity of his declaration.

The announcer hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by Champagne's unwavering resolve. "But… you've proven yourself," the announcer stammered, trying to reason with him. "You've faced the Trials of Reflection. Redemption is within your grasp!"

Champagne turned back to face the crowd, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Redemption doesn't mean forgiveness," he said firmly. "It means facing the consequences of your actions, no matter how painful." He gestured to his battered body, a stark reminder of the trials he had endured. "I'm not leaving until justice is served."

The crowd murmured uneasily, torn between admiration for Champagne's strength and apprehension at his unwavering determination for vengeance. Some nodded in understanding, recognizing the weight of his words. Others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what would happen next.

The announcer, sensing the mood shift in the chamber, spoke again, his voice tinged with concern. "Champagne Diamond, please reconsider," he implored. "Violence won't undo the past. Choose the path of healing, not destruction."

Champagne stood silently for a moment, contemplating the announcer's words. His expression softened, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. But then, with a deep breath, he shook his head resolutely. "Nah, you're really gonna say that? After doing this to me. After I told you that "I'm not Champagne diamond? I'm coming for you." He smiled, then began running the opposite direction of the door and punched through a wall.

As Champagne stepped through the breach he had created, he didn't look back. The sunlight still beckoned beyond the volcano's wall, but his path was no longer guided by the desire for freedom or redemption. It was driven by a singular purpose: to confront the one responsible for his torment, to seek justice at any cost. 

The announcer's voice trailed off into a stunned silence, his words lost amidst the chaos and uncertainty that now filled the arena. "C-CHAMPAGNE DIAMOND, PLEASE RECONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE DOING! IF YOU DO THIS THEN EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRULY A BAD PERSON!" The announcer yelled, her voice shaking in fear.

"Go get 'em Champagne!"

"Get your revenge!"

"We won't hold it against you!"

Champagne paused for a moment, his hand still lodged in the shattered wall. He looked back at the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces filled with both admiration and trepidation. Their words echoed in his mind, a tumultuous chorus that pulled at his resolve.

With a final nod to the crowd, Champagne Diamond stepped through the breach and disappeared into the light beyond.

The announcer's voice cracked with emotion as she watched him go. "Champagne Diamond," she murmured, her words barely audible over the fading echoes of the crowd. "What have we unleashed?"

He walked into a room and saw two topaz gems standing in front of a Emerald gem. "Topaz, take care of him will you?"

The Topaz's fused and turned huge. "Champagne diamond, you're gonna regret not going home when you should've. You might not be the real Champagne diamond, but the madam wanted me to do this to test you out. But I guess you have to die." Emerald smiled.

Champagne Diamond squared his shoulders as he faced the towering Topaz fusion and the smirking Emerald gem. The air crackled with tension as he assessed the formidable opponents before him, his resolve unyielding despite the odds stacked against him.

"You may think you're testing me," Champagne retorted, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "But this will be shattering." The Topaz fusion chuckled ominously, its massive form casting a shadow over Champagne. "We'll see about that," it growled, raising its fists in preparation for the confrontation. 

Emerald's expression remained cool and calculating, her eyes narrowing as she observed Champagne's defiant stance.

Champagne Diamond's phase shift shield appeared in a flash, intercepting Topaz's critical blow with a resounding clang. The shield shimmered momentarily before dissipating, leaving Champagne unscathed but visibly strained from the effort.

The Topaz fusion recoiled in surprise, its massive fists halted mid-air by the unexpected defense. Emerald's cool facade faltered for a brief moment, replaced by a flicker of concern as she recalculated her strategy.

"You've got tricks," the Topaz fusion grunted, its voice a mixture of frustration and admiration. "But it won't save you forever."

"Cut that out!" Champagne's fist engulfed in a brown light, just like with Jasper and he punched Topaz incredibly hard that she poofed into two gems.

Emerald's cocky expression soon turned into one of pure fear. She screamed as Champagne walked towards her. "C-champagne, I was forced to do this. I mean Hematite wanted me to see if you were really champagne, but she didn't say to burn you alive but I'm sorry!" She pleaded and got on her knees sobbing.

Champagne Diamond paused in front of Emerald, his gaze unwavering despite the chaos around them. He took in her trembling form, her tears, and the fear in her eyes. His brow furrowed momentarily as he processed her words, weighing her plea against the pain and betrayal he had endured.

"You were forced?" Champagne's voice was calm, but there was a steely edge to it. He knelt down in front of Emerald, meeting her gaze directly. "Forced or not, you chose to follow through with their orders. You chose to hurt me, to test me in this cruel way."

Emerald nodded frantically, her words choked with emotion. "I know, I know! I didn't want this, Champagne. I never wanted to see anyone suffer like this."

"Tell me about this Hematite, and what connection she has to Champagne diamond." Champagne said as he stood in front of her.

Hematite," Emerald began, her voice shaky as she gathered her thoughts. "She's… she's a high-ranking gem, I don't know what she has to do with Champagne diamond but I do know that; she's sending many gems from a planet very different from homeworld to earth, in order to retrieve you."

Champagne nodded and helped her up. "Do you see my body, I'm in excruciating pain right now, my body is burning and bleeding. Is there anything that could help?"

Emerald caught her balance as she was helped up and nervously shook her head. "This is special lava from Champagne diamond's planet, it's meant to connect shattered gems. If it's in contact with a human they'll die instantly, but since you're a half-gem you're alive. You must be incredibly grateful."

Champagne stared at her with dead eyes. "Grateful?" 

Emerald nodded in agreement but Champagne swiped his hand and poofed her then caught her gem. "I won't shatter you, that's exactly what you want." He then stored her in his left eye where his gem is. "I'm nothing like Champagne diamond, I didn't ask to be born like this, and now half of my body is burned and I have wounds everywhere." Tears fell from his eyes. "What did I do to deserve this? Did Steven go through this?!"