Moët Zircon

The next week at school, Champagne sat in the back of the classroom, his face and upper body swathed in bandages. His left eye, where his diamond resided, was tightly shut, and he kept his head bowed. The room buzzed with whispers and murmurs, all directed at him.

"Why is he even here?"

"He's so weird."

"Do you think he did something to deserve those bandages?"

"Well, a bunch of us saw him hanging by that temple! With the weird people who saved the world."

The whispers grew louder, and Champagne could feel the weight of their stares. He clenched his fists under the desk, trying to keep his emotions in check.

A particularly bold student, Ethan, stepped forward and directly confronted him. "Why are you still here, Champagne? Do you think those bandages make you look cool or something? You might have written a dumb apology letter but Lance still hasn't recovered from you breaking his arm."

Champagne tried to ignore Ethan, keeping his head bowed, but his anger simmered just below the surface. The room grew quieter, everyone waiting to see how he would respond.

"I can't handle all this. My body is scorched with cuts everywhere, and I can't even do anything about it," Champagne thought, his internal monologue a whirl of confusion and anger.

Ethan's taunts became too much for Champagne. He stood up abruptly, knocking over his chair. "I'm busy, I don't have time for this Ethan. Don't you remember who the strongest of this school is? Would you like to end up like Lance?"

The teacher stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Alright, everyone, settle down. Champagne, please take a moment to calm yourself and then we can talk about this."

Champagne smirked a bit. It's been a while since he's been at school at the strongest before his powers awakened. "Nah, I'm asking him a question, a growing boy could ask questions now can I?"

Ethan glared at Champagne, refusing to back down. "What question? What could you possibly want to know from me?"

Champagne leaned forward, his bandaged face showing a hint of defiance. "I have 20 degree burns everywhere. I never bullied anyone in this crap school, but always beat people up who bully me. So do you think that you could handle me? Just because I'm suffering over here?" He tapped Ethan's cheek a few times with his bandaged fingers.

Ethan slapped Champagne's hand away, his face turning red with anger. "You think you're tough just because you're strong? You're not scaring anyone, Champagne."

Champagne chuckled dryly. "Scaring you? No. I'm just giving you a reality check. Pain doesn't make me weak. It makes me dangerous."

The classroom fell silent, the tension thick in the air. The teacher stepped in, her voice firmer this time. "Enough! Both of you, to the principal's office. Now."

Champagne rolled his eyes and stood up, his movements slow and deliberate due to his injuries. "No, it's fine, I'll go." Champagne grabbed his bag and left the class room.

Moments later, Champagne sat across the principal while looking down. The principal had a soft expression as he looked at him. "So where has Pearl been?"

Champagne scoffed and chuckled. "She goes by Luster now, and just like me she's in a "depressive" state."

The principal nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Luster, then. I see. And how are you holding up, Champagne?"

Champagne shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of weariness. "Just peachy. Dealing with some burns, but otherwise, I'm surviving."

The principal leaned forward, his demeanor compassionate. "That tall red girl told me everything. It must have been quite traumatic."

Champagne scoffed again, bitterness tainting his tone. "Traumatic? I got 20 degree burns from lava on another planet. And stab wounds from diamond encrusted swords. But nah, all you care about is that apology letter."

The principal sighed softly, his gaze thoughtful. "Champagne, I understand you're going through a lot, but please try to see it from our perspective as well. The incident involving Lance's injury was serious."

Champagne's jaw clenched, a mix of frustration and resignation evident in his voice. "I didn't want Lance to get hurt. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. And now, everyone treats me like I'm some kind of monster."

The principal's expression softened further. "You're not a monster, Champagne. But your actions have consequences, and sometimes those consequences are difficult for everyone involved."

Champagne stared down at his bandaged hands, the room falling silent for a moment. "What do you want from me, then? Another apology? I've already written letters, said sorry a hundred times. It doesn't change anything."

The principal leaned back in his chair, his tone gentle yet firm. "It's not just about the letters, Champagne. It's about showing remorse and learning from mistakes. I want to believe you're capable of that."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Champagne's face before he looked up, meeting the principal's gaze defiantly. "Believe what you want. But don't expect me to pretend everything's fine when it's not."

The principal nodded slowly, acknowledging Champagne's words. "Fair enough. Just know that we're here to support you, even when it doesn't seem that way."

Champagne stood up and grabbed his bag. "Can I go now?" He chuckled sarcastically, but his expression darkened when he noticed Principal Vern's wide smile, which sent a shiver down his spine.

Vern chuckled softly and stood up, his demeanor suddenly more animated. "Of course…my diamond."

The casual tone in Vern's voice struck Champagne like a bolt of lightning. He froze, his eyes widening as he slowly turned to face the principal. "W-what did you just say?"

Vern's smile didn't falter, but his gaze bore into Champagne with an intensity that made him uneasy. Suddenly, the principal stood up and his body began to flicker from his form into Echo, whose eyes had a bright violet glow to them.

Champagne fell back and clutched his heart breathing heavily. "Y-you're echo! The one that beat Luster! What are you doing here?! Wanna kill me?! Go ahead!" He yelled, but he was also shaking in fear of why echo was there. 

Echo's smirk faltered and she kneeled down in front of him. "My diamond, why would your number 1 gem ever harm you? You created me. Well, not you. But him." She put his finger to his eye. "I'm made of Tanzanite, a Morganite and a black opal." She then made the diamond sign with her arms. 

Champagne soon grew frustrated, he wanted to leave all this gem stuff alone but it'll always follow him. Suddenly, he flung his head upwards which hit Echo square in the chin and she was sent flying through the ceiling and into the air. As Echo was in the air, her cocky expression faltered and her face was now filled with fear. 

Echo snapped out of her daze as the device on her wrist began ringing. She then answered, "Madam Hematite?" She said and began floating in the sky. "Echo, this is taking longer than I expected. What's going on?" Hematite said over the phone, her voice was soft but authoritative. 

Echo gripped her jaw, her fingers pressing against the aching spot as she glanced down at Champagne, still kneeling on the floor for reasons she couldn't quite understand. "He's tough, but I can handle him," she murmured into the device, trying to mask her hesitation.

Hematite's voice crackled through with unyielding authority. "Didn't I train you to be the perfect gem? You have the ability to mimic both their powers and their appearances. He's in his human form right now; you should be able to take him down easily. If you can't, don't bother coming back."

The line went dead with a sharp click, leaving Echo standing in the silence. She swallowed hard, fear creeping up her spine, before she glared at Champagne. Without another word, she descended from the sky with a vengeful dive, determination set in her eyes.

As she did though, Champagne raised his eye and a large snake gem monster shot out of it and aimed to strike Echo. Echo's eyes widened but she spun mid air and sliced the snake in half and it poofed into a gem. Champagne took the opportunity to jump at her and grab her neck. "I knew that'd get your attention." He muttered and slammed her face first into the desk. Echo groaned and pulled out a green sword and struck Champagne with it. Champagne pulled out a champagne colored sword from it and deflected the attack. 

Echo pulled her sword back and spun to send another strike but Champagne ducked and sent an upward arc which slashes her armored chest. Champagne's fist then engulfed in a brown light and he threw a punch at her. Echo deflected the punch with her sword but it sent her flying. Echo coughed on the ground and trembled. "Hematite…please send back up." She begged into her device. 

Hematite sighed over the device. "I can't believe it. Echo, we're trying to get Champagne diamond back after all these years of being neglected by the other diamonds. And you can't even handle a simple task. I'm sending a drop ship to your coordinates and when you get here you'll be shattered immediately." As Hematite said that, Echo's eyes widened in fear and rage. "You want me to take down Champagne diamond and call it an easy task when you're too scared to get off your butt and come down and do it yourself? Forget you, forget the mission!" She screamed and broke the device. 

Champagne walked to her and saw the anger in her eyes. "Are you–" Before he could finish Echo launched herself at him and mimicked his brown light punch and punched him in the stomach. Champagne was sent flying into a cliff and he pulled out a knife and stabbed it into the ground to stop his momentum. He stood up and Echo flew at him. "Her whole demeanor's changed." He thought and Echo swung her sword at him. "I think she just got fired." He muttered and slipped past the sword and put her in a rear neck chokehold. "Stop." He said and Echo struggled and scratched at his arm. 

Flashback

Echo stood before fallen gems that she had taken down. She turned around and saw red pearl, a skinny but muscular and tall pearl. "Fantastic." She said with a graceful voice. 

Hematite towered over everyone at 40ft tall. She leaned down and brushed her face with her hand. "My sweet Echo. you are what the Champagne world needs. You're perfect." She said with her soothing voice. Echo looked up at her and nuzzled her hand.

Present

Echo felt her vision fading and she calmed down. Her eyes began changing to a champagne colored hue as she became off colored. "I'm not perfect." Her voice cracked and Champagne let go of her and stood up. "Are you okay?" He asked and leaned down. Echo lied down with her knees to her chest. "Leave me alone," She muttered and Champagne rubbed her shoulder. "Alright." He said and turned around to descend the hill but as he did a red dropship appeared in front of him. Champagne gulped and began walking backwards. "Echo? ECHO! What is that?!" He asked and Echo continued hugging herself. "It's a dropship from Champagne world here to shatter us." She said casually while wiping her tears. 

The drop ship shot a blast of energy at Champagne. He yelped and his phase shift shield blocked one of them but the others shot him. He was sent flying back and jumped high. The drop ship turned its direction at Echo. Echo lied there and closed her eyes. "I'm not perfect." She said, ready to be shattered. 

Suddenly, Champagne jumped in the way of the blast and created an emerald shield. "This must be from Emerald!" He thought and grabbed Echo and jumped out of the way. He then blasted Emerald shards from his finger tips, the impact sent tremors through the hull, forcing the craft to reel back.

The ship then pulled its blasters and then pulled two of them back out which began blasting faster. 

Champagne covered Echo and then kicked a cliff and hid in the cave and sat her against the wall. "Listen, nobody's perfect…except maybe you, I mean you're probably the best fighter I've ever met. But right now, Hematite doesn't think you're perfect and that's alright. I need you to snap out of it and help me defeat this ship, you'll be able to join me in the world of imperfections." He smiled and Echo looked up at him. The mixed gem gripped the ground. "Even when I defeated your pearl?" She asked. "Oh no if Luster sees you she'd try to fight you on the spot." He chuckled and scratched his head. "But you can still talk about it. Gotta take accountability for your actions some day." He explained. Echo closed her eyes and Mel helped her up, as he did their bodies began glowing and they began mixing together. 

Meanwhile, the drop ship began shooting the cliff where they were but suddenly, a rock was thrown at it. The craft turned to see the fusion of Echo and Champagne Diamond. The fusion was ten feet, the skin was a mix of champagne gold and silvery white. Their hair flew in long, wavy locks, blending golden undertones with platinum streaks. Their eyes are ringed with golden light, radiating confidence and wisdom. A flowing, prism-like cape drapes behind them, shifting colors like refracted light. Their outfit is a fusion of battle-ready armor and regal elegance—form-fitting yet adorned with delicate crystalline patterns, symbolizing their combined strength and grace.

The drop ship lowered to the fusion. The fusion cleared its throat. "I've never done this before," The fusion said and flexed their fingers. "It's called fusion, but fusing with a diamond is usually unheard of." The fusion said again. Suddenly the drop ship shot a huge laser at the fusion and a phase prism shield appeared and redirected at the ship's blaster. The fusion then pulled out two swords forged from pure energy and held them together and blasted the drop ship. The craft fell out of the sky and landed on the ground with a mild explosion. "Our name should be Moët Zircon."

The fusion began twitching and Champagne diamond and Echo both fell to the ground. "That was…" Echo muttered and Champagne shot up with adrenaline. "Amazing! That was amazing! So, are you gonna join me?" He asked and helped her up. Echo groaned. "Don't think I have much of a choice." She muttered and groaned.