(Unknown's POV)
The first thing I noticed after I died was darkness. Strange, considering my consciousness was supposed to be non-existent after death. But it was a strange darkness. I felt that I didn't have limbs, but I did have a sense of self. I existed in this strange nothing while still being for a long time, until I felt something welling up within me. It was so strong. I felt like if I didn't let it out I would explode. So I let the energy inside myself out. It stretched out, out, and suddenly I felt like I was bigger than before- much bigger. I also felt like I was being crushed. I panicked and flailed my arms wildly- arms! I had arms! I began frantically digging through a substance I recognized as dirt from the texture.
I had no idea how far down I was or why I was underground, but I desperately wanted to get out, to be in the fresh air. Eventually I felt cold air on my hands. Continuing to dig, my arms soon broke free of the dirt. Pushing the dirt away faster I finally broke through the dirt and felt light on my face as well as my head. I shielded my eyes with my hands, the light too bright for me after spending who knows how long without it. Suddenly something caught my attention. My arms were red. Like, bright, real red. Staring at my arms I turned them around to examine them better. In the palm of my left hand was a square cut ruby Gem. I started at it for a long moment, before slowly pushing myself into a sitting position.
Before I could have a good look around, I saw someone walking towards me. It was a large burly woman with bright orange skin and black stripes all over her body. Her hair was midnight black and her eyes were light red. She stepped up to me and looked me over. Raising an eyebrow, she frowned, "well?" she asked, and her voice seemed to grate against my ears. I cocked my head to the side, "yes?". The large woman sighed, "oh great, a defective one," she moaned, "just my luck". I frowned, defective? "follow me" she ordered. I slowly got to my feet as the woman turned and I saw a triangular cut orange and black stripped gemstone on her arm. A Tiger's-Eye. I began to follow the Tiger's-Eye through the area which I now saw was a large canyon built into black rock.
Walking through the canyon, I saw multiple human shaped holes in the walls. By now I had guessed that I had been reborn into the world of Steven Universe. Not only that, but I was a Ruby. The Tiger's Eye led me up a set of stone stairs built into the canyon wall until we reached what seemed to be the top. When we reached the top of the canyon, I saw a strange device. It was like a weight and measurement device from Earth. The Quartz stopped in front of the device and gestured to it, "step onto the Analyzer" she ordered. I looked at the machine and did as I was told. As I stood on it, a beam of blue light came out of the machine and scanned me. "Ruby, Facet 1K2 Cut 3ND" a robotic voice said. The Tiger's-Eye turned back to me, "hmf, this way" she said, leading me away from the machine.
After a large amount of walking we reached what seemed to be some kind of elevator. The Quartz stepped onto a platform and I followed, not wanting her to think there was something else wrong with me. Damn this was crazy. I couldn't believe I had been reborn as a Gem- and one commanded by Home World no less! But with my Gem placement- was I that Ruby? The future Crystal Gem? I had the same Gem placement and cut. It seemed like it, but there were only so many places for a Gem to go, so I'm sure there would have been another Ruby with my Gem placement at some point, right? If I'm not the future Crystal Gem, I swear I'm going to shatter myself. I will not help this worthless race of beings destroy all life on other planets, especially if that planet has animal, humanoid or intelligent life on it. I may be a Gem of Home World in this life, but my loyalty will always be to life and to my true planet.
Suddenly, the elevator-like platform stopped, and we disembarked onto a building. The Tiger's-Eye walked inside the building. I was led inside and down countless hallways until we reached a large room with multiple Gems standing before an Emerald with a pentagonal cut embedded into her chest. It seemed to shine brighter than the sun, and it hurt my eyes to look at it. The Tiger's-Eye saluted in that strange diamond shape, "Lieutenant Emerald, I have a new Ruby for you, although she seems to be defective" she stated, not even looking at me. I clenched my fist, I was not defective damn it! The Lieutenant scoffed, "another one, what am I? a defective Gem dump? Fine, leave her here, I'll have those defects beaten out of her within the first hundred years" she replied.
That was when I lost my patients, "I am not defective!" I shouted, stomping my foot and unconsciously activating my Pyrokineses. A wave of flame's flew out from where I'd stomped and everyone stopped and began staring at me. Even the other trainee's. I shrank under their stares, though I was sure I wouldn't be this shy forever. The Quartz turned back the Emerald, "like I said, defective, she didn't even know her Facet number or cut- and normally, we'd simply harvest defects like her-" I felt a shiver run up my holographic spine at that, "however, we need as many soldiers as we can get to continue colonizing other planets- so do what you do, and see if you can turn her into something useful" she said, before turning and walking away.
I felt the need to stick my tongue out at her retreating back, but resisted the urge. No doubt I already had a lot of long and torturous training ahead of me, no need to make it worse. Lieutenant Emerald turned back to face me with a dismissive scoff, "fine, like I don't have enough problems with this lot," she muttered under her breath, "state your Cut and Facet number- you do know them now don't you?" she asked, as though talking to a brainless person. My left eyebrow twitched. I had a feeling I would get a lot of this here, but I chose to stay as calm as I could- no use angering my new teacher. I stared straight up at the taller Gem, "Ruby, Facet 1K2 Cut 3ND" I replied. The Emerald scowled, "I know that you are defective, but surely not so much that you don't even know how to salute?!" she demanded.
I flinched at the sound, but instantly brought my hands up, forming a diamond shape with my arms, "no, ma'am" I replied, feeling disgusted with myself for what I was doing. The Lieutenant turned away from me, "good, join the ranks defect" she ordered. I scowled behind her back, but did as ordered. I had a feeling the next few years were going to be hell.
R
(3rd person POV)
Over the next few months, Ruby endured the most intense training imaginable, and did her best to help her fellow trainee's. During that time, she became very intimate with the effects of Gem Destabilizes. She lay on the ground with arks of electricity shooting through her body. But she still refused to submit. The Lieutenant glared at her. She was being stubborn. The Emerald walked up to her, "on your feet defect" she ordered, grabbing her and dragging her off somewhere. Ruby glared up at the green Gem, "where are you taking me!?" she demanded.
"Quiet" she ordered. Ruby was dragged into a room, where the Lieutenant threw her into a box-like contraption. "This should improve your attitude" she said, shutting the door. The red Gem threw herself against the door, "let me out of here!" she demanded. The large Gem pressed a button on the wall outside the room. And a rumbling caught Ruby's attention.
R
(Ruby's POV)
Suddenly the walls around me began to shrink. I gasped and pressed against the walls in an effort to keep them from moving. Despite my new strength, the walls closed in around me with crushing force. I clenched my teeth and eyes shut. But the walls, floor and ceiling continued to crush me. They pushed me in until I was screaming.
Finally, when I felt like my physical form would give out if any more pressure was applied, the room stilled. It was so tight that I could no longer move. "Now, you will stay in there until you learn to respect your superior's defect!" the Emerald shouted. I groaned, but continued to glare at the bigger Gem as much as I could. The green Gem smirked at me, before turning and walking away.
R
I stayed in that room for who knew how long. At first I tried to stay defiant, refusing to give in. However, after many, many, many hours, my strength was beginning to wane. After many more hours, the pain was starting to get to me. I clenched my teeth together, refusing to scream again. I wouldn't give in. The pain was unbearable, in every part of my construct, crushing the life out of me, but not enough to make me dissipate my form and grant me relief from the agony. The Emerald walked in.
I felt like I would rather die than talk to this bitch. My entire body felt like it was being torn apart. The Lieutenant had a smirk on her face, "so, have you learned your lesson yet?" she asked, "are you ready to follow orders?" I moaned and gasped, "n-never". The large Gem scowled, "well then, I'm sure you would like to spend another few months here" she replied.
R
I felt what was left of my resistance shatter a few days later. I couldn't take it anymore. After two months the Emerald returned to find me sobbing in agony with tears streaming down my face. She smirked, "well?" I sobbed, "p-please," I gasped, "I can't take anymore, please, mercy!" I begged. The Lieutenant stared at me impassively, "have you learned your lesson?" she asked. "Yes! I'll do whatever you want, just let me go!" I sobbed.
The large Gem pressed a button and the room retracted, letting me fall to the floor.
R
I was thrown into another small box and left there. My entire body was screaming at me. I really hated this planet. And I swore that I would get out as soon as possible.
To be continued