Black v Red: The Blood War
The following is the origin story of the Black and Red Diamond characters:
The Legend of the “Blood War”:
Black Diamond vs. Red Diamond
10,000 years ago, the colony of Earth was founded by its original master, Black Diamond. Legend states that when White was born from the remnants of a star, Black was formed from the endless darkness of a black hole. Twin founders of Homeworld and its people, they are yin and yang, Life and Death. Soon came Yellow, Blue, Pink and Red Diamond, and each contributed her own to the creation of a new society on the barren planet. All the while, Black too had mothered her own creations as well, who lived in the shadows, waiting to destroy it all. In the burgeoning Gem culture, however, even destruction and death held a purpose in their society.
In reality, Black was not a god, but a vampire. Made of darkness, she could not be nourished by light like her bright sister, but instead found a source of energy from within their own children. Like the story of Kronos humans would later create, Black Diamond would eat Gems; specifically, she would feast on a Gem’s “blood”, the life-giving fluid that formed the gem originally, still encased in the hardened shape itself. Black’s fangs could penetrate the surface and dissolve the solid core back into its liquid state. This actually proved useful to the Diamonds, to effectively eliminate their flawed or obsolete creations. Like the dreaded human monster she would inspire, the Diamond could also make slaves of those she did not completely kill. This is what she did to Black Pearl, the first and only Gem Ghoul, her master’s strong and obedient puppet.
Black Diamond’s cruel and fearsome reputation grew as the Diamonds decided to expand their empire. Black’s army, “The Crystal Skulls”, were brutally efficient killers, eliminating an organic planet’s population sometimes within days. They were led by the skeletal visage of Obsidian, and included the lupine Howlite, the chiropteran Bloodstone, arachnid Sphalerite, the demonic duo of Sulfur and Brimstone, and the deceitful Black Sapphire. As her death march continued through the universe, the vampire’s arrogance grew as well. She ruled Homeworld through fear, even from her fellow Diamonds. Despite her unquestioned tyrannical superiority, Black had never claimed ownership of a Gem colony, until the eon’s long imperial conquests had entered the Milky Way galaxy, and the invaders discovered the resource rich planet of Earth.
Earth was populated by a unique, primitive and superstitious type of intelligent organic life, human beings. Black Diamond and her gems developed a particularly sadistic interest in the primates’ developed sense of fear. Feeling like her own horrific playground, the Death Diamond quickly staked her claim of the new colony. Feeling invincible, Black defies procedure and instead focuses on exploiting the emotions of her new conquests rather than preparing the planet for a Gem colony. She and “The Crystal Skulls” run rampant across Earth, inciting chaos and fear so great, it is passed across generations of humans, inspiring the myths for legendary creatures like werewolves and demons. When details of the chaotic rebellion reaches the Diamond Authority on Homeworld; courtesy of Pink’s feline spy, Tiger’s Eye, the sisters were incensed. Made livid by her open defiance, Blue and Yellow decide it’s finally time to take action against the elder Diamond. White is indecisive, conflicted over the thought of destroying a fellow Diamond, and twin at that. Yellow Diamond then seizes command, and declares war against the monstrous Black Diamond. Truth be told though, her sisters still regarded the vampire with fear and had some doubts whether their own gems could defeat the army terrorizing Earth. That’s when the remaining Diamond Authority calls upon an unlikely hero, Red Diamond.
Red was known as the “Blood Diamond”, and was the youngest and smallest of her brethren, a complement to the compassionate yet child-like Pink Diamond. She held little authority because of this, and thrived on Homeworld in the capacity of a spiritual healer, especially for those injured by Black and her nightmarish creations. With the addition of Red’s own enlightened soldiers, “The Vermillion Vanguard”; led by the Dragon warrior Cinnabar and including the original water elemental, Coral, Yellow knew Red had the greatest chance of resisting Black, after White herself. Like her close companion, Pink, Red Diamond felt inferior to her elder sisters, and longed for a chance to prove her power. Believing the attack on Earth to be that moment, the Blood Diamond eagerly accepted the task, despite an overwhelming fear of the Death Diamond’s reputation. Knowing that the fate of the empire laid on her diminutive shoulders however, that fear swiftly transformed into rage and hatred, and the first war for Earth; later known as “The Blood War”, began.
Though not as lengthy or memorable as the Rose Quartz Rebellion that would follow in the coming millennia, the conflict between Black and Red Diamond still left an impact, most prominently on the human population, who became both witnesses and casualties. The arrival of “The Vermillion Vanguard” and their equally monstrous, yet heroic members, further ignited early humanity’s imagination, inspiring the stories of not only more monsters, but gods and saviors that would be passed through to written language and beyond. Stories of struggles with overcoming impossible odds against seemingly immortal foes, fallen soldiers rising from the dead and legions of monsters spreading chaos and destruction being challenged by figures coming down from the sky. For centuries, Death and Blood were blind to all the ramifications being wrought by their endless struggle, fueled by power and rage. Observing it all from her base, White Diamond’s personal struggle became overbearing. She was torn by her feelings of loyalty and love for the Diamonds and their Gem children, and by her logical and strategic side that begged for her to prevent the loss of the highly valuable colony. The current generations of Homeworld still believe that the mental conflict became so great within her, that White would never be the same. In her madness, she decides it is time to end to the war, permanently.
White Diamond dispatches her ultimate warrior; the archangel fusion of the angelic solder White Quartz and the brilliant yet fierce metallic alchemist gargoyle, Silver, Angel Aura Quartz, to use her power on the Earth gems. In what the humans would later interpret as “Final Judgement”, Angel Aura’s power spread over the battlefield, shattering those who were corrupted by the hand of Black Diamond, and sparing those who selflessly risked their lives against them. The shining Quartz’s attack did not spare the Diamonds themselves either. Black and Red were not shattered, but rather rendered inert, robbed of their physical forms and conscious thought, buried by the ravages of time.
The survivors; Cinnabar, Coral, Spessartine, Pigeon Blood Ruby and Hematite, who are better known as the mighty fusion Sunstone, Red Phantom Quartz, Tiger’s Eye and Orange Sapphire, would all find renewed purpose and occasionally new forms, on Homeworld. Even though not all survived to the current era, their stories and reputations remain both on their original planet and the organic Earth that still stands nearly unchanged to this day. Ultimately, the Diamonds as well would not be forgotten in either place. After being hidden for millennia, both the inactive shapes of Red and Black Diamond were uncovered by humans in the twentieth century. Renowned for their beauty, the handlers were unaware that remnants of the Diamonds’ powers remained, and the aura of the gems would affect their lives. The small Red Diamond earned the moniker “The Red Shield”, and is known for its continuing protective abilities, while in contrast, the Black “Orlov Diamond” gained infamy for causing tragedy and misfortune. Only on Homeworld do their true origins remain spoken, serving as a warning to those who defy White Diamond.
