Trying to write more these days, make up for lost time.
I don't own Steven Universe.
Chapter 2: Sisters
The four gems flew through space in relative silence. The three lesser gems seemed to be attempting to distract themselves from their passenger, attempting to do anything to keep from gawking at her some more.
PD didn't mind, she barely even noticed. She was busy looking out the window nearest to her, seemingly lost as she watched the cosmos race by, it fascinated her, the complexity and seemingly endlessness of the universe. So many different possibilities.
Still, she broke her gaze to observe the three from time to time. She knew what they were, almost by some instinct. The green little one was called "Peridot", a term she knew, an engineering type of gem. The other two were a flint and an amethyst, fighting types of gems, soldiers, warriors. She also observed their uniform, a grey diamond shape was adorned but each held it in different locations, Peridot on her chest, Amethyst on her shoulder and Flint held it on her arm. She knew what it meant, they were symbols of her sisters.
Her sisters.
She felt a small amount of unease at the thought of their presence. She knew who they were, what they were. The elite, the top, perfect. And she was one of them. It was a lot to live up to, something she found herself unsure of. What if they didn't approve? What would they do? Would they simply dismiss her as an imitation? Put her back on that far away planetoid, forgotten? Or even… shatter her?
She shook her head. These weren't comforting thoughts to have. She should focus on making her best impression she could.
"We're coming up on Homeworld now!" Peridot announced.
Flint used the communicator as a yellow-green gem came on screen. "Flight control, this is recon ship 4VT requesting landing."
The gem on screen pressed a few buttons and answered. "4VT you have been granted Grade 5 access, please proceed to these coordinates." She said before Peridot registered the information coming through from her captain's chair.
"Thank you control, coming in now." Flint answered back before shutting off. She turned around to Peridot and Amethyst. "Grade 5 huh. I guess White Diamond really wants to see us."
Peridot rolled her eyes. "She obviously wants to see her, Flint." She said gesturing to Pink Diamond, who had been absorbed in taking in the magnificent sight of Homeworld, a beating heart at the center of a thriving technologically-superior society. Tall glowing spires shot up all over the planet, the flashes of warp pads could be seen all from miles away.
The ship began to slow and landed on the indicated pad, quartzes of all types lined the walkway. The door of the ship opened with a hiss and Pink Diamond wiggled her way back through as she emerged out into the open… she got stuck again.
She called behind her. "Could you guys…?" Flint and Amethyst looked to each other before shrugging and pushing Pink Diamond out all the way, causing her to fall flat on her face.
She quickly got up and dusted herself off before looking over to the quartzes lined up before her, they knelt down and gave the Diamond salute.
"Excuse me, my Diamond?" came a high-pitched nasally voice. PD looked down to her feet and saw what she recognized to be a Pearl, a fancy looking one as well, a grey-silver color scheme adorning her person.
"Yes?" she answered.
"White Diamond has requested your presence." She informed, then looking behind PD to the three gems who had escorted her. "…and only yours." She finished.
PD looked behind her and then back to the Pearl. "Are you sure they can't come."
The pearl merely bowed. "I am sorry, my Diamond. But it was White Diamond's request for a private audience."
Peridot spoke up. "It's okay, my diamond. It was an honor just to be in your presence." She said with a bow, the other two followed suite.
Pink Diamond frowned for a moment but then smiled again. "I hope we meet again."
"Your words fill us with pride, my Diamond." Flint said.
"You humble us." Amethyst followed up.
PD then turned back to the Pearl and gestured for her to lead the way as the ship powered up and took off.
"So where are we going exactly?" she asked.
"To the Diamond Spire." The Pearl answered.
They then came to a large warp pad and stepped on, a light surrounding them before they took off. They soon found themselves on the center of another pad, this one in front of giant doors on the side of magnificent looking spire, larger and grander than any other she'd seen.
Pearl stepped forward, off the pad and gestured for PD to follow her. Two quartzes, a Jasper and another Amethyst stood on either side of the door. Pearl made a nod to them and they nodded back, turning around and simultaneously pressing hand-pads, the doors opening with a whoosh of air.
The two stepped inside, and if Pink thought she was impressed with the outside, she was blown away by the inside. It was hollow but lights of all sizes and colors blinked against the walls and orbs of light floated above, suspended in air. She could make out gems of all types going about their routines, running Homeworld's affairs and sending out orders as they came down from on high. On the walls were large murals of gems, showing off the history of their culture and the majesty of the diamonds.
Pearl lead PD through to the center of the room, stepping on another pad, motioning for PD to join her. They began to rise and Pink Diamond had an even better view as her vantage point continued to rise.
The stopped near the top and stepped off, striding forward to another door, this one adorned with three diamonds, interconnected in the center. The emblem of the empire. They opened, allowing Pink Diamond and Pearl to walk through, finding themselves in a circular room, large thrones of blue, yellow and white of equal distance from one another.
Pink Diamond could see a figure upon the white throne, waiting with fingers interlocked in her lap. She knew who this was, the Diamond from the communications call, her eldest sister, possibly the eldest gem ever.
This was White Diamond.
PD and Pearl stopped in the center of the room as the latter gave the salute and bowed. "My Diamond, may I present, Pink Diamond." She said.
White Diamond held up a hand. "That will do, Pearl. You may leave." She gave another salute before doing as she was told, leaving the two diamonds alone in silence.
White looked down on Pink from her throne, seeming to take in her every feature. Pink could feel the scrutiny of her gaze and subconsciously straightened up, standing tall, trying to seem as impressive as she could.
White spoke after a time. "So, you are the new Diamond." She said, in the same emotionless monotone from before.
"Looks that way." She replied with a little chuckle. White remained stone-faced and PD soon stopped. White Diamond then stepped form her throne, walking down the and towards Pink. She stopped in front of her, she had almost an entire head on Pink Diamond whose eye level was on her chin, forcing her to tilt her head up as White Diamond gazed down.
White Diamond then knelt for a moment, gazing at Pink Diamond's gem who was now feeling more than a little subconscious. She then stood to full height and did something PD did not expect. White Diamond put her arms around and embraced her, Pink Diamond's head resting below White's chin.
Pink flinched at the sudden contact but after a moment's pause returned the affection. "Its been so long since we've had another join our ranks. I was beginning to think it'd never happen again." White said, a bit of sorrow leaking into her voice. She then let go and looked at Pink fully in the face, grasping her upper arms. "And look at you, you are one of us. You're perfect." She finished.
PD blushed at this, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head. "Wow… I… thanks."
White Diamond smiled, it was small, but sincere. "And wait until our sisters get here. They're going to be-" she started before the doors opened again, revealing Pearl again but this time accompanied by another stranger almost four times her size.
The gem wore a large flowing cloak of blue, her features being mostly obscured except for her mouth, which was now shaped in a thin line and her hands folded together in front of her as she walked.
The Pearl spoke again. "My Diamonds may I-" she started.
"Yes, yes. I know who she is. Go now and only interrupt if our last sister arrives." White Diamond said as she strode by Pink and made her way across the room. Pearl saluted and made her way out as White went to greet the cloaked gem.
"Sister, always good to see you." Blue said in a polite and smooth voice.
"And you." White said returning the greeting.
BD looked past White and saw Pink looking curiously in her direction. "And this is the one you told me about."
"Blue Diamond, this is our newest and youngest sister, Pink Diamond. Pink Diamond this is the youngest after you, Blue Diamond." White said, introducing them.
Pink was eye level with the new gem in front of her. Blue pulled her hood down and Pink saw the piercing gaze of her bright diamond-pupiled azure eyes and long flowing navy locks. She was stunningly gorgeous, with luscious lips, high-rounded cheekbones and a down pointed nose.
Blue offered her hand as she smiled sweetly to her younger sister. Pink took it only to be pulled into another embrace. "Another Diamond! By the stars! I was beginning to think I'd have to be the youngest sister forever!" she said with a little chuckle.
She then stepped back, taking in Pink Diamond's form in full, looking her up and down. "A little plain, but simplistic. It's very you." She said.
White Diamond spoke up. "So where is Yellow Diamond? I was expecting her almost the same time as you."
Blue turned to White. "You know her, can't leave anywhere before making sure everything is as it should be."
"You'd be wise to pick up the habit Blue, instead of relying all the time on your fortunetellers." White reprimanded.
"If I know what's going to happen what else do I need to prepare for?" she asked.
Pink Diamond raised a brow at this. "'Fortunetellers?'" she asked, curious.
Blue turned back to Pink. "Ah, that's right! You wouldn't know would you?" she said with a sly smile. "I'll have to show you them sometime, they're-" she stopped as the doors opened again.
Pearl stepped in with one last stranger quadruple her height. She had a pointed, upturned nose, plump lips and a long neck. Her hair was a short bob with two spiked tips and bright yellow with diamond shaped pupils. She wore a black and olive bodysuit as well as a yellow coat with very large shoulder pads and a cutout for her gemstone. She also wore gloves of a slightly darker yellow and very dark olive yellow boots.
Pearl once again attempted to do her duties. "My Diamonds, may I present Yellow-"
"Yes, yes. Thank you Pearl. You may go now." White said dismissively, as she walked to greet the final sister. Pearl did a final salute an about face and left.
White strode to greet Yellow and they shook hands. "White Diamond, a pleasure to see you."
"And you dear sister." White said as Blue came up to give her own greeting.
"Hello Yellow. Good to see you're doing well." Blue Diamond said.
"As well as ever." Yellow said, her voice almost dismissive.
She turned her gaze to Pink Diamond, who greeted her sister with a smile as she walked over. "Hi! I'm-"
"The new Diamond." Yellow finished. "Pink Diamond." She walked closer to Pink and studied her, walking in circles around her and stopping in front. "The height is right, as well as the body…" she seemed to say only to herself, peering down at Pink's Diamond. "And this confirms it." She finished, now looking Pink in the eye. "You are indeed one of us."
Yellow held out her hand and Pink embraced her, Yellow took a step back at this. She then sighed before giving a small smile and retuning the hug. "It's good to finally meet you sister."
Blue seemed the giddiest of the three, a wide smile upon her features. "It feels like its been so long since we three were gathered. And now this?" She said motioning to PD. "This is wonderful! A new diamond! A fourth Diamond! We have to do something!"
"Indeed, there are many things to do now." White Diamond said as she turned and walked back to her throne as Yellow and Blue walked towards theirs. Once they all sat down, leaving Pink in the center of the room White pressed a button on her chair. A bright light appeared in the center of the room above PD's head. It formed shapes of all sizes and kinds until it stopped. Spheres of interconnected light shone of varying shades and intensity.
PD looked at it curiously until her eyes widened with recognition. "This is-"
"The territories of our society." White finished. "A star-map of our empire."
White then pressed another button and one of the spheres shone brightly, near the center of the 3-D map. "This is where we are, Homeworld."
"The beating heart of our ever-expanding domain." Blue chimed in.
"It is from here that we Diamonds doll out the duties of every other gem in existence." Yellow continued to explain.
"We strive to expand this territory to the farthest of stars, in the name of knowledge and exploration." White said. "It was the duty that fell to the three of us…" she said now looking down to PD. "…and now it falls to you as well."
"Be mindful Pink Diamond." Yellow spoke from her chair. "Lesser gems will look to you for example. You must show them the correct path."
"Every gem is an individual, has their own strength and weaknesses." Blue spoke. "But we are Diamonds. We have no flaws, not of body nor of mind. If any one of us falter even a little it can mean the end of life as we know it."
"It is because of this we strive towards the ideal, the same ideal we instill into the lesser masses." Yellow continued. "To do what they were made for to the best of their ability. And what we were made to do is lead…"
"To inspire…" Blue said.
"To guide. A task that is done not because we want to do it, but because it needs to be done. Are you ready to take it on?" White asked.
Pink felt the weight and responsibility of leadership suddenly being thrust upon her. Part of her felt fear in anticipation while another part accepted it without a second thought, ready to do her part for all gems. She gave a look of determination and looked to each of her sisters. "I am ready to accept this task."
White gave a small half-smile. "Of course you are my dear, you are a Diamond." She pressed a button and the hologram disappeared.
"Haven't heard that speech in a long time." Blue said.
Yellow gave a small chuckle. "Not since it was your turn all those galactic cycles ago."
"At any rate, this is cause for celebration!" Blue announced. "All the empire must know of Pink Diamond's ascension!"
"I suppose we'll have to change some of the tapestry too." White Diamond mused, resting her head on one of her hands. "We can't have three diamond sigil with four of us."
"I can get started on those." Blue offered.
"What she really needs is a symbol of her authority." Yellow interjected. "We should have some gems made for her immediately."
"What about a Diamond palace for her?" Blue added. "She needs one of those as well."
Her three elder sisters continued to talk about her future as PD continued to feel farther and farther away from the conversation. White noticed this and spoke up and above her younger sisters. "Enough. There is much to do, but also much to take in." she looked down to Pink Diamond. "Pink Diamond you should take some time to take a rest and get to know your home."
Pink seemed to take a sigh of relief. "Yes, that sounds good." She said.
Blue got from her seat, walking down to Pink Diamond and taking hold of her arm in her's. "She can come with me! I can show her the world!" she said excited. "You won't believe the shining shimmering splendors." She said with a smile.
"No harm in it." White said. "Be sure to be ready soon though Pink Diamond, there is much work ahead of us."
Pink gave a look of determination and nodded to White. The two then walked out the doors leaving the elder Diamonds alone.
Yellow looked to White. "Do you really think she'll be up to the challenge?"
"She's one of us. She'll find her way." White assured.
"Well, I suppose I might as well see how the R&D has come along since I've been away." Yellow said, getting from her throne.
"Not doing anything too nefarious, right?" White asked.
"Hmph." Yellow said before walking out of the room, leaving White alone.
She looked to the two thrones of her sisters.
Blue was always artistic and relied on mysticism, she tended to put style over substance and usually did things only she liked. However she also reacted poorly when things didn't go as she expected, often reacting with fits of anger.
Yellow was older, more disciplined, took adversity in stride, a true military commander. But, anything less than perfection was simply garbage in her eyes, preferring to start from scratch than attempt to fix what was broken.
She then thought of her newest sister. Pink seemed thoughtful, but also young and naïve, yet so full of possibilities.
"I can tell already, things are going to get interesting…" White Diamond said to herself with a knowing smile before bringing up her display, resuming her usual duties.
Pink and Blue stepped on the platform and began to descend. "You're going to love it here, I just know it." Blue assured as she threw up her hood.
"So how are we going to get around?" Pink asked.
Blue snapped her fingers. "You're right. We'll need a ride." She then pulled out a small device from beneath her cloak and pressed a few buttons quickly, it beeped for a few moments before a voice came from the device.
"Yes, my Diamond?" came a demure, quiet voice.
"Pearl? Bring around my personal ship." She ordered.
"As you command." She replied before cutting out.
They reached the bottom and made their way towards the main entrance. "Wait until you see this." She said almost braggingly.
They stepped through the large doors only to be met by a magnificent ship, it was sleek, stylish, with blue hues and much larger than the scout ship Pink had been escorted on.
Blue Diamond spoke. "There it is, my personal cruiser." She said without much grandeur as if she had just described the weather.
"This is yours?" Pink asked, almost in awe.
"Yeah I know, it's kinda small but I like the easy mobility you know?" Blue replied.
The craft landed and a large side panel flew open in a whoosh, quartzes of all types came piling out lining up opposite each other leading to the entrance, all wearing the diamond insignia of Blue Diamond's court. A smaller gem then came out and bowed low before the Diamonds, it was a pearl. She looked much different than the other one Pink had met earlier. This one seemed quiet and reserved, she wore a very light blue body suit and knee-length sheer skirt. She was tall thin and had a pointed nose, like most pearls, but her hair fell in front of her eyes, obscuring them from sight.
"My Diamond, we await your command." She said her head still bowed.
"Very good Pearl." She turned to look at Pink. "Coming?" she asked.
They both walked towards the ship and Pink looked to either side of herself as she did. The gems of Blue Diamond's court all seemed to have a theme, besides their blue hues all of them wore headgear of some kind or had long bangs that fell in front of their eyes like the pearl before them.
"Why do they all hide their eyes?" she asked her sister in a hushed tone.
Blue seemed to almost giggle at the inquiry. "You could say they're taking from me." Pink gave a curious look and Blue continued. "You see these common gems? They haven't yet earned the right to look upon my beautiful visage, so I conceal it from them. And just as I hide my face they hide their eyes so as to not be tempted to sneak a look."
They reached the mouth of the ship and Pink spoke again. "You mean you do it because you think it makes you look better?"
Blue stopped just inside her ship looking back to her sister. "My dear sister, what could be more important than one's image?"
Pink seemed to stop for a moment before her face, once calm, began to twist, the corners of her mouth turning up as she visibly tried to stay quiet. She then visibly shook for a moment and bent over. Blue looked at her curiously which quickly evolved into concern.
"Siste-" but Blue's voice was cut off as Pink Diamond burst out laughing right inside her ship. Onlookers getting ready to salute or bow as their Diamond passed now gawked at the sight of another Diamond, one they hadn't seen before struggling with fits of laughter as their own seemed to have turned into a stone statue looking absolutely mortified.
"Hehehe! I-I I'm sorry! Haha!" Pink said as she tried to calm herself, still holding her sides, eyes screwed shut.
Blue then interrupted the fit by pulling her towards one of the ship's lifts so fast she thought for a moment she was flying across the room. Blue then pressed a button and turned around, looking to all the gems many of whom stood stock-still. "Well?! She asked. "What are you gawking for?!"
The gems immediately stopped staring and began to resume their normal duties as the lift arrived and Blue pushed Pink into it. She closed the door and turned around to PD a huge frown on her features. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked, her voice low, on the verge of a growl.
Pink gave a confused look. "Wh-what do you mean?" she said stuttering a bit.
"That. Back there. Laughing like an idiot in front of my court?" she accused, Pink could tell she was attempting to hold back a bit of anger with her words.
"I'm sorry." PD said quickly. "It was just the idea of placing so much importance on mere imagery was-"
"Was what?" Blue asked coldly, shutting PD up. Blue grabbed Pink by the shoulder, pushing her up against the elevator wall. "We are Diamonds." Blue said putting emphasis on the word. "Have you already forgotten? We are their leaders. We cannot appear weak or display ourselves in such a matter." She added gravely. "Anything less than awe from them is unacceptable, and we must always act in a manner suiting a Diamond."
"It's weakness to laugh?" she asked after a moment.
Blue sighed, then embraced her sister. "Oh Pink, I'm sorry, I just forgot you're new is all." She broke the embrace, her arms on her shoulders as before but now softer. "We just gotta teach you what's what, then you'll be the Diamond we all see in you."
Pink wasn't sure how to respond to this and BD simply took her silence as a confirmation.
Blue then smiled warmly as the elevator doors opened again.
"Now let me show you the wonders of our world."
Meanwhile…
Yellow arrived at her spire, large and imposing with presence, just like its owner. She was saluted by two guards at the entrance and barely acknowledged then as she strode by. More salutes as she neared the main lift inside the tower. She stepped on and began to descend far below.
She arrived at her destination taking a look around, awaiting to be acknowledged. Once she was there were gasps as gems, Olivines mostly began saluting. One she spotted in particular and walked towards her, a green little gem, a chrysolite.
"M-my Diamond!" she said clearly taken back. "I wasn't expecting- I mean I wasn't told that you-"
Yellow Diamond held up a hand and the gem immediately silenced. "I did not contact you because I did not come all the way back from the frontiers to see you, it was simply convenient." She said.
"A-as you say, my Diamond." Chrysolite responded.
Yellow looked down at her expectedly, some of the other gems trying to sneak a peek at what their leader was doing. "Well? Are you going to show me what you have so far or not?" she asked.
"Right away ma'am." She replied and led the diamond through the labs, stopping at one table, picking up a baton looking instrument. "We've been working on modifying this baton with high amounts of light disrupting particles." She said turning it on. It glowed for a moment before quickly dimming ad shorting out.
Yellow narrowed her eyes and Chrysolite moved on, pointing to a window as she and YD looked inside to see a gem working on what looked like a model for a new type of space craft.
"We've been working on a new revolutionary craft that is faster and has twice the power of our normal scout cruisers." The mini-craft at the moment shuddered before falling to the ground and exploding. "A… few fixes to make as you can see." She said quietly.
Yellow Diamond then spoke to her in an almost hushed tone. "Enough with the side projects. What about what I asked you to create for me."
The Chrysolite looked almost defeated, but relented as she showed her superior to the far side of the room. There was another lift and they stepped aboard, going three floors before finally hitting the bottom, giant double door before them. Chrysolite pressed a hand pad and the doors opened, revealing another pair of doors and a flint standing right before it.
"What is this?" Yellow demanded in a low tone.
"The weapon you asked me to make, it has… side effects." Chrysolite said almost inaudibly.
"What kind of 'side effects'?"
The little green gem turned to the flint and nodded, the flint did the same and turned around opening the door behind her and motioning for them to follow her.
The three stepped through and found themselves in a white tiled, windowless room. At the far end of which, behind a force field, some sort of creature snarled.
It was a mix of orange and green-blue, it snarled and hissed, a large quadrupedal beast that batted its paw against the cage with anger and frustration.
"What is this… thing?" Yellow demanded.
"That was the test subject about 2 cycles ago." Chrysolite explained. "The intended effect of the weapon seemed to work at first, but then… this happened. It fractured two gems and destroyed a third, we just barely got it contained before it could do any more damage."
Yellow seemed mildly intrigued, stepping forth to inspect the creature closer. "My Diamond I wouldn't do-" But the warning came too late, YD's presence seemed to incite this creature as it bashed its body against the field, over and over again, faster and harder before it finally slipped through. The beast charged Yellow who seemed not the least bit frightened before Flint came from behind and smacked it down with a war hammer.
The beast relented but only for a moment as it knocked Flint clear across the room. It then began to charge Yellow again, jumping in the air attempting to pounce her.
But the air suddenly crackled as the beast neared. Then just as it was about to land, large bolts of electricity surged and struck the beast, sending it sliding across the room. It was motionless for a few moment before weakly attempting to get up, only to be hit by another bolt, finally causing it to poof into nothingness, a gem falling to the ground where it once stood as Flint picked herself up.
Yellow Diamond walked over to the gem, staring down at it before picking it up and inspecting it. "This is not what I asked for." She told Chrysolite without turning around. "The next time I come back here I had better see results." She said dropping the gem to the floor.
Chrysolite snapped out of her awe. "Yes, my Diamond."
Yellow Diamond put a single pointed heel over the gem and pressed down, causing it to begin to crack. "And if not…"
CRACK…
CRACK…
…
SMASH
Done. Great. Awesome. I churned out another one. So… quick rundown on my interpretation of the Diamonds. Blue is a bratty diva, Yellow is a stuck-up pragmatist, White is a sage-y traditionalist. That's their personalities for the most part here and I think it suits them pretty well. Hope this was fun to read, and please review, it helps me to write.