"Honor/Duty"
Symbolism is one of those beaten-to-death writing tools used to make a story, speech, and essay, or even an issue of orders seem more meaningful than it already is.
Mishandled, it is a perfect fixture upon which a story, or even the whole franchise can fall flat on its' face. There is no renewal. The end is near.
But when used with the grace and strength of the Writer's integrity, it can bring insight. It can challenge. It can impassion. It can intimidate. It can lead to a choice.
I'm not sure where to bridge from this to the main story.
But if I had to pick a point...
Pearl made it her duty to be orderly. Orderly organization. Oganization was the opposite of being disorderly or... she shuddered when her mind processed misplaced. Chaotic. untidy. This was just the doctrine that's guided Pearl throughout most of her existence. To be orderly in everything you do, to show dedication, discipline, and determination in all facets of living. Combat, strategy, encounters, and socialisation- Pearl prided herself in being calm and controlled in all these areas; nothing has changed, which was a telling hallmark of her dedicated nature.
But after 1 or 2 centuries, something happened that left her spellbound, and it threw her for a loop, removing one of the ties that bound her doctrine in place.
The Anchor was removed, and so was Rose Quartz.
When the anchor went, Pearls found herself without duty.
Lapis Lazuli made it her honor to never be bound to anything. She was guided by the strange allure of the unknown. Curiosity acted as her map. Her Gem shone with a sourceless, unending, joyful fire; her eyes were wide open, shinning with joy. The light refracted with jewel-like-quality through liquified wings. Outspread, unbound, free. Freedom is beautiful. Freedom was a commitment.
For Gems, commitment became the basis of fusion, and fusion was union. And when it happened, Euphoria followed, but Lapis couldn't care less. Union was the gift all gems had, the honor and privilege of the Gems.
But does wishing for freedom mean shutting out an honor given to all Gems?
Doesn't wanting to see beyond what she already knows meet the same result?
There is no honor to be found in being bound to the needs of one world.
But something changed.
To her shock, the situation was different than before.
It wasn't the homeworld; Pearls was isolated, uncertain, and incapable of completely understanding. It was a place that was foreign to them, had different ways, different cultures, and full of finite lives that pursue pointless endeavors to make themselves more meaningful than they think they are. It was a world that didn't willingly receive them.
She had found something she wanted to protect more than anything; something she'd happily give up her life for.
It was a world she found herself stuck on. Helpless, bitter and desperate. Trapped without her say so. Bound regardless of her own volition. Prisoner because she'd been deeply betrayed. Whatever this concept of trust was, it was as Alien to her as the people were to outsiders from beyond the stars; it surpassed understanding. Trust was a word that was more like a heavy chain that bound her in place. And all she wanted to was to be free. All she wanted was to go home.
She found something she knew for the first time she wouldn't mind being bound to, even if it meant putting a world at stake.
"Why won't you let me do this for you, Rose!?"
"Why won't you just let me do this for you, Steven?!"