Pink Sapphire stared at the message on her light screen. She leaned her elbow on her desk and gave it a tired expression. It was another letter from Morganite- one of her lesser business partners. The gem had been compensating for her loss of assets by attempting to snuggle up to Sapphire, as if being buddy-buddy with one would make her less of a nuisance. Two weeks had gone by but she was still sending way too many personal messages.

The screen was handed off to a Pearl with the request to read it, as even trying to made Sapphire's stone ache.

"Dear Pink Sapphire," began Pearl. "I'm so glad you received my last gift so well! I had it hand picked by my new- and more lustrous- Pearl. You really ought to stop by for a visit some time and see her. She is a marvel compared to the one I generously let go. Alas, I have not gotten a response in my request for a new Ruby, but time will tell what the Diamond's will do. All major-"

"Stop," Pink Sapphire cut off. She rubbed her cheeks and huffed. This was getting painful. Then she signaled for Pearl to keep going.

"All major robonoid search units have been called off for some time now, however you and I both know that by the power of our radiant Diamond no gem can evade capture for much longer. My other servants have been taking it well, though I am suspicious of Peridot. Well. Enough of that! It's been so long since I threw a party. In fact, I'm thinking of throwing one again soon. All the better to show off my new Pearl. Why don't you come as my honored guest? I'll even have the bath run for you in private so no one will be a bother. Not sharing with Jasper would make for a lovely evening. We can talk about our latest contracts after all other guests have gone, as well. See you soon, your loyal Morganite,"

She knew that was coming. Well, she'd just send a reply later. The light screen was returned to her sleek desk and she stood up, moving to a tall window at the back of the room. She could look down at the gem city; pulsating with gems running about. A pair of Zircons were carting a Topaz away, but had to use Jaspers to keep the big gem from going mad and ripping away. There was an Aquamarine bartering from something on the street and had apparently made a small Carnelian cry, and then closer to the building an Emerald observed the crowd with a Peridot chattering at her side.

Sapphire wondered about it all. Homeworld was the pinnacle of gem civilization but had been dwindling the past couple thousand years. It seemed more and more gems were being shattered and imprisoned in larger numbers than she'd seen since the war for Earth so long ago. And what for? Freedom and love? Could they not find that on Homeworld?

Ruby and Pearl- two low class gems who ran away together. She knew them briefly. They were just a tiny blip on her radar, but they had somehow wormed their way into her head. Morganite couldn't seem to stop talking about them. Pink Sapphire had kept Ruby and Pearl at arms length. They didn't interact. It wasn't befitting of a gem of her stature to be friendly with gems of their type. But every time she looked at one of her own Pearls now, she couldn't help but wonder if she ought to be nicer to them.

Sapphire was very nice, if not quiet. But still, could she be nicer? She saw in her minds eye the fear in Pearl and Ruby. To them it seemed everything was terrifying. But- whatever it was they had together- it devoured that fear entirely. So, while Sapphire was not friends with her Pearls, and her Pearls did not fear, if she could allow them that bliss of never needing to fear at all should she?

As a Sapphire she saw a lot. She did not see indefinably, but she saw pretty far. She had know that Pearl and Ruby would fall in love, and had seen just the slightest bit of what would happen behind closed doors for the first time. She didn't see, however, just how far it would go.

The prestigious gem would never know the couple's life outside of Morganite's rule. Her mind was empty of the depths of the Kindergarten; of Rhodonite discovering friends among the maze below. She didn't see Fluorite, or Padparadscha, or Rutile, and she would never in her life see Rhodonite help steal a ship with an assumed-to-be-extinct human. Didn't see them happy. As far as Pink Sapphire knew, the two were still out there alone and sad.

She finally turned from the glass and sat back at her desk. Her hand loomed over the light screen- she was ready to reply to Morganite. Yes, she would attend the party. And yes, she'd love to talk about their business relationship. Sapphire didn't mention, though, that at that meeting they would most certainly be cutting ties. Morganite was unpleasant. It was a long time coming that they sever it.

Sapphire smiled just thinking about it.