It was odd, having only the mildest sense of consciousness, her eyelids were heavy and it felt like there was a massive weight anchoring her down and preventing her from making even the slightest of budges, yet she also felt completely weightless.
Occasionally, she would hear some chatter and maybe feel an arm on her chest, they never lasted of course as the ability to feel things regularly left her as she'd drift through a sort of limbo between standing on the precipice of consciousness, only to get dragged back down to the very bottom again, like climbing to the top of a well and having her rope snap before she could reach for the hood. It always turned out that way, prolonged periods of non-existence only occasionally interrupted by background noises and the weird sensation of her figure being tampered with.
Her eyes fluttered open and were met with a black void of emptiness, her nostrils registered the potent scent of old wood that was probably a little past its use date. But the most immediately apparent issue was the claustrophobic feeling of confinement coupled with her disorientation to make her feel incredibly distressed, and as a nice icing on the cake, she could barely summon enough strength to budge an inch.
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves Padparadscha focused on flicking her arms about until she'd regained enough sensation to raise them up and traced her finger along the flat lid covering, trying to get a feel of its shape while stretching her legs out slightly, once she was ready she gave it hard push and felt the lid slide right off.
The lights hit her hard, but she adjusted quite quickly to the sun's rays as she shielded her eyes and took in her environment. And from the looks of it she was in the infirmary, though with no gems to be seen.
"Must have been out for at least a day. That's a new" she muttered to herself as she kicked her legs out of the box and buttoned up her shirt, with her feet swung them about until she was sure she could support her own weight.
She felt stiff all over so standing upright came with its own share of discomfort that she struggled to shake off. Stretching out Pad let out a relaxed groan and picked up the box cover to put back in place when she heard strangled gasp that had her look over her shoulder in alarm.
It wasn't immediately apparent but looking back she could just make out Rutile's familiar features from the end of the hallway behind a noticeably very different look. The most obvious being she now wore a long white lab coat over what seemed to be a newer variation of their uniform that had a tie and suspenders that went well with the lab coat, but probably looked a little funny on its own. as a bit silly looking without. The other noticeable change was her hair which was brushed back on one end and draping over her face on the left side.
Held in her hand was a bowl containing contents that resembled gem shattered gem parts as Padparadscha narrowed her eyes in confusion. Something felt very off. Without a word passing through her lips, Rutile walked over to her at a brisk pace, her arms visibly shaking as she stopped a few feet away from Padparadscha and placed the bowl to the side without averting her gaze
"Well, if you've had a change in wardrobe… I'm guessing I was out cold for a while…" Padparadscha said looking back at her partner whose piercing gaze was akin to seeing a long-lost friend, it was a bit unsettling frankly.
"I'm not hallucinating am I…?" Rutile finally said as a hesitant arm reached out to hold her cheek,
"Ha, you're not the one that was stuck in a box so probably not" she joked in an attempt to break the ice. Rutile didn't acknowledge it though, and her arm gripped Padparadscha's shirt tight.
"I thought you'd never wake up, I've operated countless times, all through the day and night for such long time…" Rutile said, her grip tightening enough to get a bit uncomfortable as her gaze went to the floor"
In that instant it dawned on Padparadscha that she had been gone for probably much longer than just a few months, perhaps a few years even. Perhaps the strongest emotions she could sense from Rutile was a pit of longing and sadness that she was just barely restraining as she always seemed to have no desire to show that weakness to her.
"I'm sure you did…" Padparadscha said with a warm smile as she pulled her partner into a hug, hoping to do something to at least ease the pain her apparent extended absence had brought. "I'm sorry for putting you through that," she whispered as Rutile slid into the embrace and hugged back tightly. This was hardly a side to Rutile she ever saw, and that gave her some powerful mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was heart-warming to see her so genuinely relieved to see her, but on the other, this vulnerability was only drawn out from years of pent up hurt.
After a solid four minutes of just embracing in silence Rutile broke the hug and looked up at her. "We should inform sensei and the others that you're awake"
"Well, nothing says 'I'm back' more effectively than strolling past all of them in broad daylight, the uniform swap alone will make me stick out like a sore thumb. Closing her Rutile glanced back at the bowl on the table before completely disentangling herself from Padparadscha.
"… I see time hasn't mellowed your sense of humour, it's been missed" she said as she motioned for Padparadscha to follow her.
"Huh, has it?" she said with an amused laugh as she followed Rutile to the main hall where a few other gems were hanging about. What quickly followed as she came to a view were a handful of shocked yelps and shrieks as all the surrounding gems dropped what they were doing to approach her.
"Padparadscha!" Heliodor chirped as she hugged the older gem by the waist and almost knocking her off her feet. She managed a little chuckle as she patted the gems head and glanced up at the other
"Its been ages senpai, we thought you were gone," Benitoite said as she walked over to Padparadscha.
"Welcome back," Chrysoberyl said with a smile while holding some books in her arm.
"Thanks, everyone" she replied sheepishly as other gems poured into the room form all the commotion.
She got a few more friendly hugs from Alexandrite, Yellow Diamond, and a few others while Rutile went off to fetch sensei but there were good few unaccounted. Likely patrolling the fields in case, the Lunarians attacked and hopefully not whisked away to the moon.
Once the pleasantries were over and Sensei had arrived the others went back to their tasks with the exception of Yellow, Rutile, Alexandrite and Chrysoberyl. Call it a bit predictable but as the oldest gems present they'd spent thousands of years alongside each other, that gave a certain bond that couldn't quite be replicated with any of their youngers.
"I've been gone long enough for everyone to have a change of clothes and renovate the main hall. I'm guessing its been a few years."
"… Well, that's putting it lightly" Yellow Diamond stated prompting Padparadscha to glance at her wearily. Something told her she didn't want to push that line of questioning. But sensei did it anyway.
"Padparadscha. Do you know how long you've bee gone?" sensei asked with an expectant look.
"… Maybe six or eight years" she said feeling like that was a decent estimation, but when everyone looked at her sorrowfully she shrunk back "What? How long was I out then?"
After shifting his gaze between Rutile and Padparadscha Kongou looked tried to articulate a response when Rutile answered first "It's been twenty-eight years and three months since you fell into your coma and in that period I've operated on you a total of seven thousand five hundred and ninety-six times" Rutile explained as Pads eyes widened in horror from the reveal.
She was walking along the field now, blade in hand with Yellow at her side. Rutile, Chrysoberyl and Alex had more work to attend to, and though she did protest her walking outside alone they eventually compromised when Yellow offered to escort her. Not that she felt like she ever had anything to fear personally from the Lunarians. Pad just wanted some personal space to take it all in and was just tolerating the company.
"I know you probably want to be alone after that bombshell, but everyone's just worried about you" Yellow explained as they walked along the grass, the sun sparkling over their powdered bodies. "But I guess you probably don't need any protection."
"We didn't lose anyone while I was out cold, did we?" Padparadscha asked with an anxious look in her eye to which Yellow shook her head.
"Don't worry Pad, maybe a few close calls but we've all stepped up since then, and with Bort on the frontlines, everything's been calm" Yellow said prompting Padparadscha to blink in surprise.
"Wait, Borts a fighter now?"
"I guess you weren't around, but she really is amazing in a fight, possibly just as good if not a little faster than you" Yellow stated. It made sense, she supposed. Bort had all the potential in the world, and she was probably doing all she could to harness it.
"Really? I'll have to see that in action to believe it" Padparadscha said with a playful smile before shading her eyes to look over the horizon. She could just vaguely make out a pair of silhouettes on the horizon walking in their direction. "Any other changes other than that?"
"Well, Rutile's retired from fighting on the field to be a full-time medic. Other than that everything's the same as its always been, just not with you around…" Yellow admitted her tone. Her head slumped in guilt from the reveal, even if she already an inkling from the way she dressed she couldn't help but feel responsible.
"I see… I'm sure it hasn't been easy on her" she said as she felt Yellow rub her back.
"It was hard on all of us, actually. You're pretty irreplaceable as far as friends go Pad" Yellow said prompting her to glance back at her. "You know… I didn't realise just how much I'd miss you until you were gone" she said, her head nudging just a little too close to with so much honest it rose the slightest of blushes to her cheek.
"Ah. You're close…" Padparadscha pointed out to which Yellow's cheeks went gold in emberrasment before backing away.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I just got a bit carried away" she said averting her gaze utter mortification.
"Don't worry... I appreciate it a lot Yellow. Thanks for saying that" she said just managing to smile at Yellow despite the awkward tension surrounding them. However, before it could last any longer, a cold wind passed by and they glanced up in time to see a sunspot forming over some feet behind them in the sky.
She immediately tensed up at the all too familiar sight as she unsheathed her Nagamaki and focused her gaze on the shape they would form to get a fix on what their formation would be. "On your guard" Yellow warned as she also drew her katana.
Instead of forming in a long horizontal line the Lunarians were splint into three rows of archers that already had their bows drawn back when they formed, seems they were going for a more aggressive approach. Turning to Yellow she spoke.
"Think you can give me a launch pad?" she said to which the other gem gave a slight smirk before the both breaking into a sprint towards their adversaries that left a blurry gold streak behind. Padparadscha only took a moment to gauge the vertical distance between them and the Lunarians before leaping about eight feet into the air in a single bound her body just almost making it to the base of where their little floating perch before her assent slowed to halt and her body plummeted back down.
As her body descended she performed a mid-air flip so her feet were facing the ground as she peered below her to see just the smallest flash of yellow beneath her, it was all the heads up she needed and she lined her feet up as she felt the side of yellows form the briefest foothold for her to get launched even further into the air. Her body zipping right over the Lunarians who fired their arrows wildly to try and get a hit in, but any shot that she didn't immediately deflect was either too far off or too low to reach her.
While they were distracted Yellow who still had enough momentum to reach them began slicing the Lunarians one after another as Padparadscha crashed on top of the tallest one, her sword cleaving the body half and moving straight to the next enemy that she cut down just as Yellow sliced down the Lunarian ahead of her. There were at least twelve more of them surrounding them and moving as a single unit the gems cut down each one with maximum efficiency while covering each other's flanks.
Soon there were only about five of them left but just as Padparadscha was about to move in and strike them all down a vaguely familiar dark figure appeared at the edge of her peripheral and landed right in front of her, forcing her to come to a staggering stop.
"Who…" she wasn't sure if she was annoyed or confused at the mystery gem for getting in her way. But without so much as a backward glance, she lunged right at the Lunarians, shattering the bow off one's arm before following up with a decapitation. Both Yellow and Padparadscha ceased fighting in favour of watching the gem brutally strike the last of them down, though while it was more astonishment in Pads case, Yellow looked more relieved as the final Lunarian was cut down. When it finally clicked Pad glanced at Yellow who sheathed her blade.
"Like I said, Bort's incredible," Yellow said assuming a more relaxed composure.
"…Huh". Placing an arm on her hip, she regarded the gems back in awe as she turned around to regard the two of them. Almost instantly making eye contact with Padparadscha, though before any words could pass between them, the sunspot faded beneath their legs and the gems all landed softly on their feet.
After briefly dusting themselves off Bort gave her a scrutinising glare, akin to sensing a bit of familiarity but not really grasping it. "And who are you supposed to be?" Bort asked rather bluntly as she scanned her from head to toe.
'Well I see she's as demanding as she's always been'
The thought passed the redheads mind as she brushed her back. "Forgotten me so easily?" Padparadscha replied with an exasperated expression as she sheathed her blade. In response, Bort raised a brow and looked to Yellow Diamond.
"Forgotten you? I've never met you…Yellow Diamond. Who is that gem?" she asked, her tone curt and straight to the point. Drawing a slight frown on Pad from the dismissive nature she seemed to regard her. It was honestly a bit whiplash-inducing, seeing a gem that to her just a few minutes ago could only just speak in grunts and enjoyed pats to the head act with such a commanding presence
"Well, Bort… This is Padparadscha… The first gem that found you" Yellow Diamond pointed out as Bort turned back to her. In response, Bort squinted slightly to get a better look at Pad before for the briefest of instances a flash of emotions ran through her before settling back into a blank gaze
"I see. I thought I noticed a mild resemblance. So, Rutile's finally succeeded then?". It was more a statement than a question as she folded her arms and looked towards the school.
"I suppose so…" Padparadscha said, running a finger along her chest where some crystals had been inserted to cover up her numerous holes in her torso.
"Bort!" she heard Dia's familiar singsong voice yelling out and looked over her shoulder to see the gem running over to them, looking quite out of breath as she stopped just a few feet away from her partner who gave her a passing glance. "You ran off without saying a word Bort…" Dia whined as her arms slumped over on her knees panting. That was when she spotted Padparadscha who gave a friendly wave.
"Hey Dia" she greeted as the gems eyes widened in shock.
"Padparadscha, your back!" Diamond said with a smile quickly forming on her lips. "I was really worried you'd never wake up again. Thank goodness" she said, intertwining her fingers and smiling warmly at Pad.
"Well, Rutile fixed me up so, I'm here to stay" she replied, returning the smile. Bort who so far had taken her return with little more than indifference and passing acknowledgment began walking away.
"Meet me by our usual patrol route when you're done with your little reunion," Bort said as she walked past Diamond who flinched slightly by the curt tone Bort used, more akin to an order than anything else. But being the soft-spoken kind gem, she was Diamond replied with the same kind tone she always used
"I'll be there shortly" Diamond responded with a smile to Bort as she passed by her and kept walking. The allowed a few seconds to pass as Borts figure retreated into the distance before resuming their conversation. "She can be a bit rough around the edges but she's really nice when you get to know her"
"Now who does that remind me of?" Padparadscha muttered with a smile, she wasn't going to judge Bort from a single encounter, maybe she wasn't too friendly and was a bit direct but her skills more than compensated if that display was anything to go by.
"I'd say Rutile but in a different way" Yellow answered, stepping closer to Padparadscha.
"Yup," she said as she turned to Diamond, a gust of wind and leaves tossing her hair forward.
"I think I owe you an apology Diamond," Padparadscha said in a sincere tone, catching the gem off guard.
"An apology… For what senpai?" she asked in confusion to which Padparadscha let out an amused giggle. That's right, over twenty years had passed for her.
"For not keeping our agreement on training her together," she said looking at Bort in the distance. "Instead conveniently fell into a coma and left you with everything by yourself."
"Oh. You don't need to worry about that Padparadscha, everyone helped out with it, and Bort was a fast learner" Diamond said waving her hands in a reassuring motion as Padparadscha frown widened. "And besides that, you just offered to help, you weren't obligated to do anything
"I guess you have a point. But as a fighter, I could have offered her a lot." Padparadscha admitted with her eyes downcast.
"Come on Pad, you had no control over that. And even then Bort still ended up being stronger and faster than any of us" Yellow pointed out giving Padparadscha a slight pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah, Senpai Bort's incredible, so much more than I ever was. You saw what she did to the Lunarians" Diamond said in agreement. Putting aside the immediate guilt in her gut she supposed Bort's speed, and strength were far beyond that which most of them were capable. Faster than even Pad herself? Well, that was anyone's guess. So long as she was faster than the Lunarians, those comparisons didn't matter to her.
"True, I suppose I'm just being silly" Pad conceded, resting her sword.
"Well, your feelings are understandable Pad. Just don't beat yourself up about" Yellow said with an understanding smile, giving her shoulder a supportive squeeze, she returned the gesture by placing her arm over Yellows.
"Leave it me to make the mood sulky on a warm sunny day like this, thanks guys," Padparadscha said with a grin, assuming her usually upbeat mannerisms. "Better start making myself useful again."
"Ha, that's the Padparadscha we know and love" the gold-haired gem encouraged as Dia nodded in agreement before looking back a bit uncertainly.
"Yeah, keep your spirits up senpai… I think I should head back before Bort gets impatient" Dia said with an apologetic look. "Can we chat later Senpai?"
"Ah, sure thing. I've probably got a lot of catching up to do with everyone else" Padparadscha said with an understanding nod, but just before leaving she gave Pad a quick bear hug before turning on her heel and hurrying back leaving her Pad and Yellow Diamond alone once again.
After a brief pause, a mischievous thought crossed the old gems mind as she glanced over at her long-time friend. "Where were we? Oh yeah, I believe you were in the middle of saying how much you missed and adored me Yellow" Pad teased with a toothy grin that almost instantly rose the heat back to her cheeks.
They both knew full well that Padparadscha was teasing her but that didn't make any easier to ignore the blush on Yellows cheeks
"Wel-l-l yes… I said that" the gem answered, folding her arms and pouting slightly. It didn't last though, and after a few seconds Yellow managed to compose herself and reply with only the smallest dark gold on her cheeks "Well… If the goal of bringing that up was to make me blush. Mission accomplished Padparadscha"
"I'll take that victory" she replied with a giggle before looking up to the sky. "Just so you know. I'm really glad you said that… Helps remind me more than just a layabout".
They're eyes met and kept contact probably longer than they needed to before breaking away and even though no words passed between them, it felt like a silent understanding passed between the two longtime comrades.