This story is a OC centric, canon divergence starting at the end of season 4. However, season 5 episode 1 doesn't effect it at all, so technically you could say it's a divergence from there.

Secondly, I have several characters who share gemstones with canon characters (with three periodots who all play major roles, although one of thsoe will be teh canon, Peri). As such I have a way for writing out the characters names. Lower case is generalized or non-specific, for example "a group of amethyst walked past, chortling and punching each other on the arm" or "the peridot nodded and quickly exited, leaving Peridot alone."

I also will be using nicknames to simplify things, not because I think you guys are not intelligent but when you have three peridots who are all in the same area having a conversation with other gems even I will get confused, and I'm the author of this fic. So for simplification Cannon Peridot is Peri, the nickname that Steven and Amethyst gave her, while my other two peridots will be Dotti and Peridot respectively. If this situation occurs somewhere else, I will either use gem placement, distinct colour pallets, identifying features or occasionally their Cut Number (for instance Peri is Cut 5XG) There are also terms that I use in this chapter and future chapters that will need a bit of definition, so there will be a small glossary at the beginning of each chapter for new terms (if not defined in that chapter) just so you all know what they mean. For example in this chapter:

Rotation – a single turn of the planet that the gem is on at that time, on earth this would be a day

Cycle – a rotation of the planet from one point back to that original spot, in other words, a year

Feathered – a term used in making of gemstones for a flaw that is inside the gem but encompassed by the gemstone. Used as 'are you insane?' a term to suggest a mental deficiency

Steven will be arriving next chapter, this first one is just so you can get an idea of my version of homeworld's society and major original characters that will play key roles in this story.


Chapter 1

Amber

I stride through the halls of Homeworld, my long skirts sweeping across the glimmering floor. I keep myself carefully expressionless; just like a pearl, I think glancing at a small pack of the gems as they pass. Worse than a pearl, I correct myself with a frown, I'm small, fragile and without a purpose. At least pearls have a purpose in their lives in serving other gems.

I am distracted by a slight cough from an agate that brings me out of my thoughts. I glance up before quickly dropping into a curtsy which I had been taught to when I was indoctrinated into the courtly gems. Technically I am a part of that group, but that still doesn't change the fact that I am missing something that every gem needs to have. A purpose; a gem without a purpose is a red star, slowly drawing towards the end, it is just a matter of time before they sputter out of existence.

"You're late," one agate snaps, bringing me back to reality, "White Diamond is waiting for you," I nod and step forward, walking through the now open doors. The room I enter is large, seeming to stretch forever until ending at a dais where White Diamond herself sits, watching me quietly.

"Amber," she calls, I stop and once again drop into a curtsy.

"My Diamond," I say as I rise. She nods in acknowledgment, and I take that as a signal to continue moving towards her. As I approach, I finally can see White Pearl, her angular hair design and pale saturation making her look more like a hologram than a real pearl.

I stop several feet away from White Diamond and wait for her to speak.

"Amber, how have you been? Have you been keeping yourself occupied?" I nearly twitch but instead look down and reply softly, mirroring the behavior of White Pearl.

"I have been reading poetry and philosophy from the moonstones," I say, carefully keeping my eyes away from her.

"Any moonstone in particular?" White Diamond asks softly. I keep myself perfectly still despite the desires to shift or fidget. If I appear guilty, then she will want to know why I feel that way.

"Facet 3A0G, Cut 3EY. She has quite a few fascinating, if not convoluted outlooks on nature," I reply quickly, thoughts spinning. I notice out of the corner of my eye White Pearl glance at me. There seems to be suspicion in those eyes, but in a moment it is gone, replaced by the placid emotionless expression that pearls are known for.

"I see, very well, at least you are keeping yourself occupied," White Diamond says cooly, turning back to her screens, allowing me to relax momentarily.

"I thought I should let you know. General Charoite will be returning later this rotation, after I hear her debrief she will be free for the remainder of the day," White Diamond says, her back still turned to me.

"Yes My Diamond," I reply and take my leave. I turn and quickly walk back the way I came, my thoughts in turmoil. I was excited to learn that Charoite was coming back, out of all the gems I knew I was closest to her, but part of me hates that it was White Diamond who had told me that she would be returning.

I gather my skirts into my hands and excitement takes over as I begin to sprint down the hall towards the lower levels of Homeworld.

It was a while later that I began to slow down, I hadn't needed to think about it, I knew the route from the nobilities quarters to the technicians quarters by heart. As I slowed down, I looked around. Dozens of peridots surged by me, occasionally sending an odd look in my direction. I ignored them, peridots were as common as rubies, but the particular one I was looking for was a rather uncommon form of peridot.

I found her in her private quarters, a large device filled with wires taking up the majority of her focus. The rest of it went to a datapad that she was coldly dictating to.

"Dottie! Charoite is coming back!" I cry, skittering into the room. Dottie jumps at the sheer volume of my voice, accidentally pressing a button that causes the purple gem on the counter to start jerking and twitching. Dottie cusses and presses a button, stopping the gem from it's sickening movements.

"Amber! You know better than to harass me when I'm working!"

"I'm not harassing you, and Charoite is coming back this rotation!" I cry. Dotti turns away from the contraption and gem and focuses on me. Unlike most peridot's she is tall, taller than I am. Her triangular gem is planted on the inside of her arm and under her wrist. She doesn't wear a visor often, but otherwise, her outfit matches that of most peridots with only a long pale green lab coat to indicate her status.

"Of course, my calculations were correct as usual. I suppose this means that you will be in my company until she arrives?" Dottie asked. I nodded, causing the gem to sigh.

"Fine, but if you are staying at least find a way to preoccupy yourself," she intones, turning back to focus on her work. I nod and carefully eye the tool shelf. I know the names for all of them, with how often I come to Dottie's it would be more surprising if I didn't. I smile, leaning back and watching as she tinkers. After a moment I get up the courage to speak again.

"So what are you doing with that gem? Is she... glitched?" I question, faltering near the end. Glitches, no one really likes talking about them, despite the fact that they are so prevalent in our society now.

"I am testing the limits that a gem can maintain cognition while being poofed, verses imbedded, shattered, and dusted," she replies simply, pressing a few more buttons on her datapad. I wince, suddenly feeling sick.

"All with that gem?" I ask, glancing at the gem. I don't want to think about what type of gem it is, let alone what she would have been like conscious.

"Precisely, and a few others of similar condition," Dottie responds without a moment's hesitation. She's confident in what she is doing, she always is. It's something that I envy her for, she never doubts what she does, she never questions what she believes is true. There was silence as she worked. I watched quietly, occasionally handing her tools that she requested. After a few long moments, Dottie sighed and turned.

"Have I made you uncomfortable?" She asked, crossing her arms and tucking the one with the gem closest to her body.

"Who are you and what have you done with our Dottie?" I half teased. Internally I was shocked, Dottie never noticed how others were feeling. It usually took someone outright saying something to correct the overzealous gem. Sometimes Charoite had to physically restrain her to get her to listen.

"Onyx spoke to me recently on the topic of my... insensitivity. Apparently I have been making you, and other gems feel unsafe without Charoite around. With your particular delicate make you are the most susceptible to emotional fluctuations, and therefor are the one I must be most sensitive around," Never mind, Dottie hadn't changed. I narrowed my lips, frustration, and anger beginning to flood through me. I quelled the emotion, reminding myself that Dottie was just being clueless as usual. I should be grateful that she even thought about what Onyx had said in regards to me, even if she had taken it a bit far.

"After all, Ambers are incredibly delicate, Amber H will poof for no reason, and Onyx told me that it is from emotional-"

"SHUT UP!" I scream, lunging myself across the room at Dottie. Dottie ducks, eyes wide. I slam into her. Dottie gasps, falling to the floor. I land on top of her, and my fist connects with her jaw.

"Are you feathered!" She yelps, sitting up and forcing me off her. I snarl, hand reaching towards my gem-

The door opens.

"Dottie I'm- By the authority what is going on?" Charoite groans from where she stands. I don't reply, instead lunging towards the peridot in question once again. A large purple hand catches me in midair and pulls me back towards her.

"Dottie what on earth did you do?" Charoite asks, gently setting me down on the ground. Dottie, who had been reaching for her own gem before straightens and pats herself down.

"Apparently I made a small error in judgment that offended her," Dottie explains, carefully checking her gem over even though I didn't even strike close to her gem.

"Offended! Offended me! You-"

"Slow down and explain what happened," Charoite reminds me. Her hand completely hides my shoulder. I take a deep breath and focus on her. Charoite is tall, just like any quartz soldier, slightly larger than a jasper although built with the same thickness. Similar to jaspers she is two toned instead of one solid colour, darker purple tones running across her body. She wears a white soldier's garb with a cloak and a loincloth instead of pants. This leaves her gem, placed on her upper thigh, exposed and ready to withdraw her weapon.

"She said I was delicate, and she brought up my sisters," I hiss. I might not lunge at her again, but I am nowhere near calm. There is a moment of silence.

"I was gone for one rotation," Charoite mutters, her other hand running over her head, stopping just in front of her ponytail. She sighs and turns back to Dottie who is watching us carefully.

"Apologize, I don't want to hear about something like this happening again. Understood? There are enough issues for me to deal with. I don't need two of my best and brightest fighting each other because of a few badly chosen words," I look away, glaring at the wall, my eyes scouring the trinkets and mechanisms placed there with impeccable organization.

"Charoite! I don't see why I have to-" Dottie begins. I frown and look at Charoite, but her face is a perfect neutral, while Dottie seems taken aback.

"I am sorry that I offended you, but-" this time I notice Charoite move her hand as Dottie stops. I glare at the green gem and huff.

"Fine," I mutter, crossing my arms and stepping away from Charoite. Her hand catches my shoulder once again.

"Don't I get a proper hello?" I pause and turn to look at her. There's a playful lilt in her expression that makes me soften. I step back towards her, leaning into her large embrace, one small hand coming to rest right above her gem. I feel her arms wrap around me, and for a moment I lose all other senses, just taking in Charoite's touch.

"I missed you," she hums. I flick my eyes open and smile.

"I missed you too," I agree. Dottie coughs in the background, changing my smile to a scowl.

"I hate to interject but how was your mission?" Dottie asks. Charoite frowns, before reluctantly stepping away from me.

"Simple, I kicked a few slacking gems into gear, talked to a few of the higher ups. It was boring, and there wasn't a chance to make recruits," Charoite said, leaning backward against one of Dottie's tables.

"I see, well at least the rest of the Star Forces will be glad to have you back," Dottie says, eyeing me warily as she turns back to her original task.

"If they're doing anywhere near as well as you there won't be anything left," Charoite said dryly. I snort into my hand, causing Dottie to turn back to us only to roll her eyes.

"I think we should head down below, Dottie we'll see you shortly. Follow me, Amber," Charoite says, placing her large hand on my back and guiding me out of the building.

Stepping outside I take a breath of relief, trying to remember when was that last time I had a fight like that. It's been a long time, possibly a few decades. As we walk the peridots make way for us, some watching Charoite with wary apprehension. We don't touch while out in the open, even with Charoite and I encouraged to spend time together a warrior and socialite making contact is questionable. Our intimacy in touch would lead to even more problems.

"How have you been?" Charoite asks, drawing my attention to her.

"Good, I've been spending most of my time with Onyx or Dottie; honestly I this was the first time we've fought since you've been away. Oh, and reading. Moonstones work," I explain, carefully watching Charoite's expression. It doesn't change, remaining stoic, the perfect example of a soldier.

"I see, Moonstone EY correct? She was a good poet," Charoite says softly. There's just the barest hint of wistfulness in her voice. I smile faintly, wondering how Charoite could think that I wouldn't be interested in Moonstone when she was the gem who had such an influence on Charoite's life.

"She is," I agree softly. I can't wait to leave the public, the gems around us have become more common, rubies and bismuths, the lower crust of gem society. It's here that Charoite ducks down a corner, briefly focusing. All her clothes change to a dark purple, the cloak growing to be able to hide her entire body. Instantly I slip under it, all but vanishing from sight as she wraps the light-based cloth around both of us.

I smile to myself. We're heading Below.

We're about to return home.


The Below, as it is called is one of the abandoned storehouses in the poorer quarters of Homeworld. Underground, and through a maze of tunnels far too small for a diamond to pass through was where we made our home, our sanctuary, and the base for the Star Forces. The storehouse was long ago abandoned due to a lack of resources leaving it permanently empty. Charoite had picked it out, noticing that this particular storehouse was one of the larger ones leaving room for a few thousand gems to move freely within at any one time. It was tall enough that nearly any fusion would still be able to stand, provided that no more than two large gems or three small gems fused. Not that she had to worry about that too much, fusion was still a rather uncommon occurrence. Not many gems felt secure enough to try it.

I slip through one of the doors behind Charoite as her cloak vanishes. She pauses in the doorway, looking around the place that she worked so hard to create. Before us are the Star Forces, about a thousand gems live there with another three thousand who still live within Homeworld's society.

"Charoite!" A high voice shrills, a small pale blue blur zipping towards us. The tiny blue gem stops right in front of us, her wings gently flapping to keep her aloft.

"Jitters, it's good to see you again, how have the Star Forces been in my absence?" Charoite asks, taking in the gem before us. Jitters pulls a datapad out from under one arm, stylus clicking across it.

"Fine. A heliodor joined recently. Otherwise there's been nothing of note," she explained. The teardrop shaped gem on her forehead glitters. Jitters is an aquamarine, a normally high-ranking elite gem who work as administrators and managers. Jitters isn't a high ranking gem. She's one of the Star Forces who live in The Below and for a very simple reason.

She's a glitch.

Almost as if my thoughts cue it, her wings fill with static, briefly vanishing. When they reappear they correct to the way her wings always have been, disjoined light protrusions that look more like computer code than the water they are supposed to reflect.

"A new recruit? I should go and meet them," Charoite says thoughtfully, glancing around the huge area. She suddenly pauses and turns back to me.

"I promise, after this we'll spend some time together," she tells me. I shake my head, a tense smile playing on my lips.

"It's no problem, you've got to do your job," I say, trying to hide the hint of bitterness that fills my voice at those words. Charoite notices, I can tell, but she doesn't say anything. She nods and walks away, Jitters fluttering beside her. I take a breath and decide to use this time to walk among the Star Forces.

I start along the edges, watching the smiths, tinkers, and engineers. Unlike what was seen on Homeworld there were multiple colours and sizes of gems all working on projects that normally wouldn't even be close to their original purposes. Not to say that was always the case, the majority of gems generally stayed close to their designation, only a few straying drastically. I don't stay in this area long. It holds little interest for me. When I had first been introduced to the Star Forces, I had tried to see if I could fit in with that group. I had quickly shown to have little ability in crafting, remembering my monumental failures in that area is slightly embarrassing. Chuckling to myself, I continue into the next quarter.

The gems here are warriors. There are large sections where gems battle, using their weapons or natural abilities. This is more to my taste and already I begin to pick out noticeable faces. There is the only Lapis in the Star Forces, her gem placed delicately above her ankle, standing boldly across from a large agate. To her left, a ruby with her gem placed on her shoulder bounces up and down as she encourages her friend. There are several dozen amethysts, carnelian, jasper, and plenty of other warrior type gems who are thriving here.

"Amber! Are you fighting today?" A jasper shouts from across a ring. I pause, considering it, but eventually shake my head.

"No, sorry, Charoite is back, I'm just waiting for her to be finished introducing new recruits and then I'm leaving," I call back. The jasper shrugs and drags an emerald into the ring. I chuckle to myself and continue on.

The next section is filled with artists, gems dance together or separately, practicing routines that only the Star Forces may ever see. Others sing in a large choir of jumbled sounds, somehow managing to mesh together into a symphony. The desire to join them is so strong I take a few steps in their direction before reminding myself how that would go over and carefully turn away.

Beyond that area the Star Forces stop being segregated, instead turning into a wild mass of gems as they chatter, share news, or just enjoy each other's company. I notice in one corner Charoite talking to a yellow coloured gem. That must be the heliodor Jitters mentioned, I think, watching them from across the room. A tall multi-coloured gem walks by, towering over most other gems. Electrum, the only one of her kind in existence is the size of a fusion and just as powerful as one. I grin as she passes, heading towards the warrior quarters. Honestly I should have been more surprised when I hadn't seen her there in the first place, she rarely leaves.

I sigh and turn, heading towards the wall where I know I'll be able to relax when a pale purple gem catches my eye. She's looking around, trying to pinpoint someone in the crowd of gems, but seems unable to. I recognize her immediately, Lavender Pearl. Lavender 'belongs' to Charoite in records but unlike many pearls she's treated more as a secretary than a slave. Although her over exuberance and passion for her job tended to leave most gems fumbling on how to treat her.

I was curious as to why she was here, she rarely came to the Star Forces, but she was here, which means that she was looking for either Charoite or Jitters.

I wonder if anyone's even told her that Charoite is back yet.

I quickly raise my hand and call out her name, drawing her attention to me. Instantly relief fills her expression as she hurries to where I'm standing.

"Have you seen Charoite?" she demands the moment she's close enough that I can hear her.

"She's over there, what's going-" I don't have time to finish because Lavender Pearl has taken off and is shoving her way through the crowd. I watch as she gets to Charoite who freezes but bends down upon request so that Lavender Pearl can whisper to her. Almost instantly she shoots up, snaps something to Jitters and the heliodor and turns, striding away with Lavender leading the way. I glance around and hurry over to them.

"What's going on?" I ask, trying to keep up with Charoite's large strides. Charoite glances down at me, her face cold.

"It's nothing to worry about," She says, nearly at the exit. I slip in front of her, hands out to make myself larger. Forcing her to stop.

"Tell me what's going on," I demand. Charoite barely pauses, pushing me aside bruskly, only taking a second to reply.

"They've captured Rose Quartz," she says, vanishing out of The Below. I stare after her, shocked. The Diamonds have captured Rose Quartz, the Rose Quartz? I wonder, feeling strangely hollow. I recognize why Charoite is so stressed now. If the Diamonds have captured Rose Quartz it begs the question of how many other Crystal Gems have survived, of course, the Diamond's won't be too worried about that. With the Cluster incubating in earth any Crystal Gems on that planet will soon be destroyed. But that doesn't mean that her capture isn't without danger. If Rose Quartz is captured and then publicly shattered it might be enough to scare away any gems who may join us in the future for centuries to come. It may cause some of our own members to turn or flee for fear of being caught and suffering the same fate.

Everything we have worked to build may be destroyed in less than one cycle.

That's the sort of power that Rose Quartz holds.