Chapter 6: Cloud Arena
Hidden in layers of clouds and behind a mountain was Cloud Arena, a large floating Gem structure designed for cultural meetings. The arena resembled a dome-shaped building turned upside-down. Hundreds of arched windows lined the walls below the arena's platform. Gems were seen roaming inside, looking down at their would-be new colony or just simply having a conversation with each other.
The Nomad was docked at the arena's landing pad. Sol stepped out, wearing his emissary robes, and smelled the crisp air. It was a good change of scenery after spending most of his years on Earth sitting around in Firebase Sard. Instead of soldiers marching about, there were Gems of nobility and respect crowding the marble-floored area. Their physical forms had extravagant and luxurious appearances to match their status and wealth. No Gem was seen without wearing an elegant dress or coat. Some had their Pearls beside them, boasting on about their talents.
Sol found the whole scene quite amazing and disturbing at the same time. Only a few hours ago they had been besieged by the rebels, now they act like nothing had happened.
"Whatever business you have with Blue Diamond, you better make it quick." Morgan said with a curled lip as he stood beside the Feldspar. "I don't like being surrounded with all these 'Poshes'. They're too full of themselves."
"Then why don't you just stay with the Nomad. I'll make this one quick and brief, provided that Her Excellency isn't in a bad mood."
"Has she ever been in a bad mood?"
"Sometimes," Sol admitted. "But not in front of her subjects."
Two blue Quartz guards then appeared, walking in unison towards the two visitors. They wore navy blue cuirasses, a short cloak around their broad shoulders and diamond-crested visor halfhelms just like the ones back in base but unlike them, these Quartzes were less brutish and more 'graceful' in appearance. This was a trait most commonly seen in Caerulean Gems, Gems that were made in Blue Diamond's territories.
"Her Grace, Blue Diamond wishes to speak to you." One of Quartzes said.
"I'm sure she does. We'll just—"
"Except for you," The Quartz guard glared at the pink Beryl suspiciously, looking at him as if he was about to cause trouble.
"It's okay," Morgan confessed. "Clearly I'm too low of stature to be here anyways. I'll just hang back in the Nomad if you need me. Have fun with the Poshes."
Sol was relieved that the guards brushed off the light insult. For a friend he is, Morgan always did have a loud mouth, even during his commander years. Most Gems just look at it as a joke but in a place like this, any joke that sounded like an insult, especially to an aristocratic Caerulean Gem was punishable by death or suspended imprisonment.
Most Gems in Cloud Arena were shades of blue and red, so it was unlikely that he stood out amongst the crowd. Every aristocrat, court member and visitor he passed through greeted him with courteous nods and bows. Sol had to maintain his smile along the way even after his cheekbones started to ache. Behind his back, he could hear them whispering about how he was White Diamond's emissary or that they've never seen any Gem like him.
As he neared Blue Diamond's palanquin, his path was blocked by three Gems conversing with each other, giggling and gossiping, unaware of his presence.
"Um, pardon me." Sol announced himself.
Two of them stopped and gasped while the other one, a blue Gem with a gemstone on her back turned around and was surprised.
"Oh, I'm… s-sorry for…" The blue Gem was hesitating to get her words out correctly. It was clear that she was shy and unprepared for a situation like this.
"It's okay." Sol raised a hand to hush her. "May I pass through?"
"O-Of course," The blue Gem and her friends made way for him to continue on his path.
"Have a nice day, sir." She said, letting out a warm smile. The way she said it sounded like she was mustering enough confidence just to speak those five words.
By the time he had reached Blue Diamond's palanquin, a Citrine emerged from behind the blue velvet curtains. It was Thunderfist.
"Well, well. I see Janae finally hauled your ass over here." He called out the moment he saw the Sunstone approached.
"Thunderfist," Sol greeted, exchanging handshakes. "So, why are you here?"
"My division patrols the area where Cloud Arena is floating above. So any problems that happen in this area, me and my soldiers have to deal with it. That said, Blue Diamond has given me orders to search the area below for two particular Gems."
Two Gems? "Let me guess, the rebels?"
Thunderfist chuckled. "Yes and no. I think its best you talk to Blue Diamond. She'll give you the full story. Oh, and be careful. Her Grace isn't exactly in a good mood today. Not since after the attack. "
He took the Citrine's advice to heart and took a deep breath before entering the palanquin. Blue Diamond's Pearl stood beside her, silent and graceful as all Pearls should be. The blue leader herself was sitting on her throne, the top half of her face was covered by her long blue cloak. She smelled of fragrance, strong and alluring.
"Blue Diamond, I've come to answer your summoning." Sol began.
"So you're the Sunstone that my White Sister has highly spoken about." Underneath her cloak, Blue Diamond observed the emissary with piercing blue eyes. "Tell me, do you know why you're summoned here?"
"I've heard that you and your court members were attacked by the rebels. As a representative of my Diamond, I offer you her condolences."
A small smile crept up her face. "Your sympathy is well noted, but the reason I called you here is because I have a task for you. From what I heard, you had helped my Yellow Sister in solving a few of her 'problems'."
"They were just minor problems, Your Grace." Sol politely replied. "It is her soldiers that made the big difference in crushing the rebellion."
"But you also contribute to that difference." Blue Diamond added. "This is why we must keep that difference into our favor."
"What are you implying, Your Grace?"
"A member of my court has betrayed me." She revealed with a tone that was half-distraught and half-infuriated. "A Sapphire, out of all Gems."
Sol was shocked. "The Sapphire that had just arrived? But how could that be?"
"Before the rebels attacked, she gave me her vision. The Rebellion would end with the capture of Rose Quartz and her renegade Pearl after they had destroyed the physical forms of seven Gems, including the Sapphire. The price was reasonable considering what we will gain at the end."
"You said the Rebellion would end."
"Indeed, the Rebellion would have ended there if not for the action of one of her Ruby bodyguards. She deliberately saved the Sapphire and thus, changed the outcome of the vision."
"The Ruby was doing what she was assigned to do, and that was to protect the Sapphire."
"True," Blue Diamond begrudgingly admitted. "But a Gem must know when to serve their purpose and when to know when that purpose is done. And that wasn't the only thing the Ruby did. She also fused with the Sapphire."
Sol was baffled. "A Ruby fusing with a Sapphire? That's impossible. No Gem has ever tried mixed fusion, not even during battle."
"Which is why such an atrocious act must be met with swift punishment. The Ruby was willingly ready to accept her punishment, but the Sapphire…" Blue Diamond formed a fist with her right hand in anger. "The Sapphire had other plans. She took the Ruby and escaped into the world below. I fear that if they turned themselves to the rebels, the difference we have against them will drastically turn towards their favor."
"Then tell me what to do, Your Grace."
"You will go down and track down the Sapphire, no doubt the Ruby will guard her. Capture her and bring her gemstone to me, intact."
"What about the Ruby?"
"I don't care what happens to her, break her if you want. But remember, your priority is the Sapphire. She must not turn herself over to the rebels or only the stars know how long this rebellion will last."
"Very well, I'll return to Firebase Sard and—"
Blue Diamond cut him off with a raise of a hand. "That won't be necessary. I've already ordered the Diopside to prepare your equipment. It will be at the landing pad near your friend's ship."
"Thank you, Your Grace." Sol made a quick bow, gesturing the diamond symbol with his hands and left.
Sol approached the Nomad and saw Morganite sitting at what looks to be the equipment crate.
"Mind telling me why two Quartz guards just hauled this thing near my ship?" Morgan asked, his hand patting the top of the grey rectangular crate.
"A gift from Diopside."
"For you I assumed." Morgan shot a mischievous look at him and smirked.
Sol feigned suspicion. "Very charming, Morgan. Now get off the crate." Once the Beryl got off, he opened the crate and saw his equipment, as well as Morgan's. "I guess she didn't totally forget about you."
"Well, they always say that Morganites are usually created with a certain charm."
Sol couldn't help but snicker and make a sarcastic reply. "I'm sure they'd said that. Anyways, get this thing inside. Blue Diamond just gave us a mission."
"What's the mission this time? Search-and-Destroy? Bag-and-Tag?"
"How do you like the sound of 'Posh Hunting'?" He asked with a grin.
Morgan raised an eyebrow, amused at the idea. "Is that even legal?"
"Well," He closed the crate with a loud thump. "It is now."
Author's Note:
It's on now! I've decided to make this a two-parter to avoid it from being too long.
The idea of Caerulean Gems helps identify whose colony/territory they were created in. It's also one of the main foundations of how my idea of Homeworld works. For Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, and Pink Diamond Gems, they are called Flavensi, Alban, and Rosean Gems respectively.
In other news, the new episodes of Steven Universe (especially Same Old World) has expanded my idea on the Rebellion/Gem War. Can't wait for 'Hit the Diamond' where *Spoilers* they will introduce five Homeworld Rubies.
