Blue Diamond was being lied to. She knew it with absolute certainty.
As she walked through the winding streets of Homeworld, she got plenty of stares from passing gems. With her palanquin in pieces, she didn't have any other option to get back to her palace. After their fight, there was no way she could use Yellow's palanquin, and even if she could, Blue didn't want it. She needed some time alone.
Her Pearl followed loyally, almost having to run to keep up with her Diamond's humongous steps. Blue paid her no mind. Other gems approached her and asked her what she was doing, but she waved them off. Nothing could distract her from her thoughts.
Blue pondered what had happened in the courtroom just a few minutes prior. She still could not believe it herself, it had all happened so fast. Blue tried not to think about it too much, but the recent memories were already surfacing in her mind.
Yellow Diamond, one of Blue's oldest friends, had just destroyed the physical forms of both Zircons, even the prosecutor from her own court. Although Blue had seen Yellow do this before when she was angry, this time she was outraged.
"Yellow, stop it!" she had cried, jumping from her throne. "Why are you doing this?"
"We don't need to listen to them," Yellow had argued. "Let's shatter Rose Quartz and be done with it!"
"Can't you restrain yourself?" Blue demanded, glaring at Yellow.
"But this is pointless!"
"No, it's not!"
At that moment, both Diamonds turned at the sound of Blue's palanquin being activated. Both watched as Rose Quartz and the human drove the palanquin straight through the ceiling of the courtroom, blasting a giant hole straight through.
Yellow rushed to the doorway, but by then it was too late. The palanquin was already falling with the two escapees inside. Blue watched as Yellow threatened Rose, and the palanquin plummeted.
While Yellow was distracted, Blue quickly scooped up the gem of the blue Zircon and stashed it in her robes. Yellow turned around and marched to her throne, her head in her hands. She groaned as she paced in front of it.
"I can't believe this," she said. She looked over to Blue. "Why does this matter so much to you? Why was that necessary? Why didn't we shatter her when we had the chance?"
Blue pressed her lips together. She wanted to shout at Yellow, to yell and scream about how she needed to know the truth, but she didn't. Blue had a sneaking suspicion that Yellow was lying to her about what happened to Pink Diamond. She feared that if she told Yellow how she truly felt, then Yellow would lull her back into ignorance, and Blue could not let that happen. She had to know the truth, and Yellow would only hinder her in her search for it.
Blue turned her head away from her fellow Diamond. She felt the familiar wetness of tears growing in her eyes at the thought of her best friend lying to her, but she held them back. I'm sorry, Pink, she thought. If Yellow has been lying to me, and I have been blaming the wrong gem, then I am truly sorry. I will find out what really happened to you, no matter what. I promise.
Yellow's face hardened at Blue's silence. "So that's how it is," she hissed, standing up straighter. "Fine. Be that way." She turned towards the door, beckoning to her Pearl. Before she left, she turned around. "But be warned," she said, glaring at Blue, "someday you'll need to toughen up. You can't keep holding onto these emotions forever, Blue. Someday, you'll see that feeling is pointless. Until then, you can wallow in self-pity all you want. I'm done taking care of you."
Blue's eyes stung even more at these harsh words. Before she could say anything, Yellow stormed out of the room, not giving Blue another glance.
Blue was alone except for her Pearl. Unable to hold back the tears any longer, she collapsed to her knees and wept. Pearl slowly walked over to her and gently laid a hand on Blue's leg. She said nothing, and Blue was grateful for that. She spent a few minutes pulling herself together while her Pearl silently comforted her. Finally, she forced herself to stand.
"Come, Pearl," she said, regaining her royal dignity. "I must retire to my chambers."
"Yes, my Diamond," Pearl answered, bowing.
Just then, Blue snapped out of her memory. They had arrived at the palace. She made her way through grand hallways and staircases to her private chambers, where she excused her Pearl. She needed to be completely alone with her thoughts.
Blue collapsed on the cushioned bed once Pearl was gone. Even though gems didn't sleep, Blue had seen these particular inventions on several of the planets she colonized. She had quickly fallen in love with the plushness and comfiness of it and had ordered one to be made for herself. She enjoyed just laying in it, looking at the jeweled patterns in her ceiling.
She contemplated how she was going to find out what had happened to Pink. She considered going to White Diamond, but they had never been particularly close. White never answered her requests to get together. It almost seemed like she was avoiding Blue. Besides, if Yellow was hiding something, what was stopping White from doing the same? Perhaps they were both in on it. No, Blue decided, White wouldn't help her.
Blue cringed at this thought. Just that morning she would have trusted her fellow Diamonds, her best friends, with her life. Now she was questioning everything they had been doing since Pink had been shattered. Yellow had been breaking down under what Blue assumed to be grief… but could very well be guilt. She had been extremely defensive during the trial of Rose Quartz. Could this really all be a coverup?
Blue closed her eyes and sighed. She needed to stop thinking these thoughts. Yellow couldn't, wouldn't have murdered Pink Diamond. But still…
Enough, Blue thought, clenching her fists. Suddenly, her fingers closed around something hard in her sleeve. The Zircon!
Blue hurriedly brought the gem out and placed it on her bedside table. All she had to do was wait for the Zircon to reform, and she would have answers. It should be soon…
As if on cue, the tiny blue gem began to glow. It formed an outline of a body before the glow faded and Zircon stood on the table.
The blue gem looked around with a confused look, perhaps wondering where she was. Then she saw Blue Diamond, and her body froze up. The look of terror was so real, Blue couldn't help but feel a twinge of remorse. Was she causing Zircon to look so scared?
"M-my Diamond!" she cried, saluting. "Where… how… I'm not shattered?" Zircon put a shaking hand on her gem, as if making sure it was still there.
"Yellow Diamond destroyed your physical form, but I took you here before she could shatter you," Blue explained. "I would not let her shatter one of my court."
"T-thank you, my Diamond," Zircon stuttered, letting out a shaky laugh. Then her smile faded, being replaced by a serious scowl. "I would like to deeply apologize for my actions during the trial," she said, bowing her head in shame. "It was… inappropriate of me to blame you for shattering one of your own. Please, punish me however you see fit."
"No punishment is necessary," Blue said, waving her hand for emphasis. "In fact, I would like to hear more about your case."
"W-what?" Zircon spluttered. "I-I-I mean, w-why would you want to hear that? I accused you of murdering Pink Diamond!"
Blue looked at her hands. "You must swear to never let anything I am about to say leave this room. Do you understand?"
"I… y-yes, my Diamond," Zircon said, her curiosity overruling her better judgment. "I swear."
Blue closed her eyes. "I… have reason to believe that you are correct. One of my fellow Diamonds… shattered Pink." It was hard for her to say out loud. Zircon gaped at her and started to ask questions again, but Blue held up her hand. "You raised several valid points that I have never questioned before. I must know the truth about what happened to Pink, even if it means… going behind Yellow's back. I want you to tell me everything you know. You are free to speak openly, you will not be punished for anything you say in here. Is that clear?"
Zircon gulped, sweat starting to form on her brow. "C-crystal, my Diamond," she said, saluting once more. "B-but, if I may, I don't have any real evidence for my claims. I was simply grasping at any strings I could to save my case-"
"But your guesses make sense," Blue interrupted. "Now, please, tell me everything."
Zircon nodded once and proceeded to tell her train of thought. She mentioned how Rose Quartz apparently didn't know how she shattered Pink, either, but was taking the blame for some unknown reason. Zircon thought that since everyone was blaming her, she assumed it must be true and pay for her actions. The attorney then realized that Rose couldn't have possibly gotten close enough to shatter Pink Diamond. She went off on a tangent, which led her to announce that it had to be one of the Diamonds that committed the crime. After many apologies from Zircon, Blue finally managed to convince her that she was right, that only a Diamond could have covered the murder up so effectively. Blue also brought up another valid point.
"To shatter a gem, the shatterer must be equal or greater in power than the gem that is shattered, correct?" she mused. Zircon nodded. "A Diamond is the most powerful gem in the galaxy. So, the only thing that could shatter a Diamond-"
"Is another Diamond!" Zircon exclaimed. Then she realized she had interrupted Blue and apologized profusely. Blue would have smiled at the smaller gem's antics if the situation hadn't been so serious.
"So, Rose Quartz couldn't possibly have killed Pink Diamond," Zircon concluded, looking through the notes she took while the conversation was going on. "But we still don't know who did, or why."
Blue sighed. While she did get answers, they only brought up more questions. One of the Diamonds had shattered Pink, but why? And why blame Rose Quartz? And why hide it from Blue? Her head hurt from all of the confusion. She decided she needed a break.
"Thank you Zircon. You have been a great help," she said, intending to end the meeting.
Zircon caught on and nodded. "It's been my pleasure, my Diamond."
"If you have nothing else to add, then you are dismissed. I must think on these matters."
"Of course. Right away," Zircon said, saluting and bowing. "Have a nice night, my Diamond."
Blue nodded absently. Zircon let herself out, and Blue was alone once more. All of these new developments and Blue still needed answers. Zircon had been a great help, but Blue needed more. She needed someone who had actually been there when Pink was shattered. She needed someone who would answer her questions honestly.
A thought entered her head that caused her to sit up. There was a gem that fit the criteria. Granted, they had not left on the best of terms, but she would surely be kind enough to help Blue. She helped everyone, even, according to reports, a Peridot that had attacked her on multiple occasions before joining the resistance.
Blue Diamond stood up and snuck to her ship to find the infamous Rose Quartz.