Steven stared at White's tower from the balcony, but he jumped down from it and looked around the room.
"Hello...?" He called out, still scared, "Is this... Pink's room?"
"Why yes, it is."
The boy jumped in fright, staring at the entrance of the room, seeing another Pearl holding his duffel bag.
Steven stared at her with bewilderment, "Huh? Who are you?"
The purple Pearl did the salute and smiled, "Greetings, Pink Diamond. Your new Pearl is in your service."
From her appearance, she had pale lavender skin, curly mauve hair, and dark violet eyes. Her outfit was typical of a Pearl's, though she seemed to have a short, translucent cape behind her. Her outfit was added with lilac stockings with violet slippers. Her cabochon gemstone was located on her right shoulder. Even her voice was like Pearl's, slightly deeper.
"M-My new Pearl?" Steven was confused, but rather uncomfortable to call this stranger the name of one of his guardians, "Erm... Can I call you... Iris instead?"
The Pearl blinked, "Iris? Well, of course, my Diamond."
Steven cringed at the name, "Just call me Steven. Please."
"Alright then, my Steven."
"D-Don't add the 'my'."
"Alright then, Steven."
He sighed, "I need to sit." But just as he sat down on the floor, a square-shaped platform lifted up for him. In confusion, Steven looked under the platform to find tiny, gray Gems. The moment they saw him, they scurried away in fear.
"Wha?" Steven looked up at Iris, "Who are those Gems?"
Iris tilted her head, "What do you mean? They're Pebbles. They manufacture almost anything you want."
Understanding this, Steven walked over to a wall, "I... need shelf for my face?" The wall complied and opened a small door into the interior of the wall. Steven poked his head inside to see the multiple Pebbles. They gasped at the sight of him and scrambled to get away.
"Uh... thank you?" Steven said gently. The Pebbles stopped.
"'Thank you'?" One of the Pebbles whispered.
"Is it?"
"It is her!"
The Pebbles all began to gather around Steven's face, cheering upon 'Pink Diamond's' return. Steven moved away just as the tiny Gems climbed over his body, making him laugh from the feeling of tiny hands around his skin. Iris placed down the bag and stared at her new owner with a patient smile.
Steven spat out a Pebble and a tiny house as he laughed, "H-Hey! You guys don't have to call me Pink Diamond! I'm Steven!"
"Very funny, Pink!" One of the Pebbles in his hair grinned.
Another climbed into his back pocket, "That's our Pink Diamond, coming up with silly nicknames!"
Steven sighed in disappointment, just as they heard the sound of a bell chime. The Pebbles quickly ran for cover as Iris looked over to the door opening to reveal Yellow Pearl.
"Pink Diamond," Yellow Pearl saluted, "My Diamond has requested your presence in the Extraction Chamber."
Steven glanced to Iris, "Extraction Chamber?"
"It's Yellow Diamond's sauna," She explained.
The boy nodded, opening his duffel bag, "Then I gotta find my swimming trucks. Spinel doesn't like it when my clothes get wet."
Down a yellow hallway, trailing behind Iris and Yellow Pearl, Steven looked up to see Gem figures on the walls. He gulped anxiously from their whispering, but they stopped.
"U-Uh... Hi?"
One of the Gems on the wall blushed and looked away in embarrassment. Steven tensed up, what were these Gems? What were they made for?
Later on, they stopped at the entrance to the chamber, two Topazes guarding the closed door.
"Pink Diamond..." Yellow Pearl spoke, saluting.
"I-It's Steven," He almost snapped.
The Pearl listened, "Pink Steven."
Iris saw Steven's growing frustration, "She insists being called 'Steven', Pearl."
"Alright then," Yellow Pearl complied and opened the doors, "Have a nice extraction, Steven."
Sighing, Steven walked into the chamber. Inside, was the place that Iris described; a sauna. Yellow Diamond was sitting on the edge what appeared to be a empty tub, sweat all over her body.
"Pink." She greeted calmly.
"Hey Yellow..." Steven replied nervously, still not liking the fact everyone was calling him Pink Diamond, "Cool... sauna... Heh heh heh."
"It's new. Have a seat."
Steven jumped up, slowly floating down on the edge away from Yellow.
"So, you met with White." Yellow Diamond commented, crossing her arms, "How was it?"
Steven frowned, "All I got to say was 'I' and 'Um' and she cut me off when I was about to say 'no'."
"Two and a half words, that's a record."
"But that isn't enough! I need the chance to talk with White about healing the corrupted Gems!"
Yellow Diamond humphed, somewhat unaware of Steven's stress, "Good luck with that. White never leaves her own head these days and she never lets anyone in, except you, I guess. It's so unfair. I have hundreds of successful crystal system colonies. But you get to see her because your one colony is a failure!"
Steven cringed a bit, not knowing what to say to that, and he was afraid of offending her and getting on her bad side.
She breathed out a sigh, "Did I scare you? I apologize. It's just that White-"
Another chime rung above them.
"Already? Excuse me." Yellow Diamond shut her eyes, squeezing the sweat from her body and into the draining area, "I've got to check on the latest Citrine production reports." She stood up and walked out of the sauna.
Steven tried to follow her, "B-But what about the Gems?! What about White?! We need to-!" He groaned in annoyance.
Yet another chime played, and at the entrance, stood Iris and Blue Pearl.
"Pink Diamond-"
Iris shoved her lightly, "Just Steven."
Blue Pearl cleared her throat, "Steven, my Diamond has requested your presence."
"How was your time with Yellow Diamond?" Iris gently asked as they walked down a blue hallway.
Steven groaned a bit, "I tried to talk about White, but I think Yellow was more frustrated about White seeing me and not anyone else, I-I don't know. And she had to leave for something, I dunno, the Citron production?"
"Oh! You mean the Citrine production." Iris perked up, "Yellow Diamond's the one who's in charge of all Gem production of every single colony she creates."
"Then... what else does she do?"
"Conquering worlds. From what I've seen before they transferred me to you, she seems to really enjoy it ... I believe so."
Steven raised a brow, "Have... you served anyone before?"
"Formerly a Lepidolite. Only up a few days ago, they took me away to serve you and keep an eye on you," Iris smiled at him, "She'll get another Pearl..."
The boy wasn't sure if her smile was genuine, since her tone sure wasn't, but they soon arrived to Blue Diamond's Pool. Blue Pearl activated the doors to open the doors, Steven nearly gasping to see one of the Gem statues blinking. Wow, this place is so weird. How did Spinel, Pearl, Ruby or Sapphire live in such a strange place like this? Oh... if only any of them were here right now...
"Blue Diamond's right up there," The purple servant pointed to the top of the stairs when they were inside, "I'll await here."
Steven understood and hopped up the stairs.
"... Hm, wonder what that Pearl who rebelled against Homeworld was like..." Iris pondered out loud. Blue Pearl wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Steven got up to the top of the stairs, revealing Blue Diamond sitting in a pool, combing her with a sentient comb, who was singing something. She sighed deeply until her eyes laid on Steven.
"You're here!" Blue Diamond gasped, placing the comb in a cup, "Come in."
Steven wasn't sure if the water could affect him, but since he still was part Gem, he gently stepped into the water. He poked his head above the water, smiling at the wonderful, cool feeling it gave off as he paddled.
"Wow, who knew space water would feel so nice?" Steven joked, paddling close to the blue monarch, "And I've swam in the ocean hundreds of times!"
Blue Diamond began to laugh heartily, shaking the water until she sunk in, lifting Steven with her knees, "You have't changed. So silly... so small."
Steven smiled a bit, "Spinel always said I might be small now, but I'll grow up big and strong, just like her and the Gems!"
A small frown adorned the Diamond's face, "She did? Oh dear. Hm, many things Spinel said, before she rebelled, were silly as well."
"I... think that was she was meant to do, right? Entertain?"
Blue Diamond nodded, "She was your treasure, Pink. But... I suppose I can't blame her for leaving, she was only following your orders. It was so unfortunate that Yellow had destroyed the garden a month or so ago."
"Destroyed it?" Steven felt a bit of alarm.
"Yes. I tried to change Yellow's decision, but... you know how she can be. She did say that several times a strange Gem kept visiting that place, so she wanted that to end."
Steven frowned a bit, "Bet it was beautiful when Pink and Spinel played..." He glanced down at his reflection. A dark pink blur stood behind him, but the sudden ripples made it fade away as Blue Diamond shifted a little.
"Suppose you don't remember the games?" She asked.
Steven tilted his head, "Games?"
"We had such fun together, you, me, Yellow, and White..."
"What kind of games did you play?" He became curious.
"You would stand underwater, all the way at the bottom, and sing. And we would be above the surface trying to guess the song."
"No... I don't remember that." Steven murmured, "I'm sorry."
Disappointed, Blue Diamond sunk a little deeper, "Oh Pink..."
Steven stood up, "W-Wait, what happened to the Gems that you bubbled? Y-You didn't shatter them, did you?!"
"No..." She shook her head, "They're in Yellow's throne-room. We're still determining their punishment."
Dread stabbed Steven's heart, fearing if the Gems would be shattered, "W-Well, why don't we spend more time together? It's been a little lonely."
The blue monarch smiled calmly, but a chime played and Blue Pearl appeared, "My apologies, my Diamond, but your next appointment."
"Of course..." Blue Diamond sighed.
Steven panicked, "W-Wait! I-I wanted to talk to you more about White!"
"Maybe later."
The Diamond stepped out of the pool, the water draining until Steven landed at the bottom on his stomach.
"Steven!" Iris called out, "Are you alright? Need some help?"
She was taken by surprise as Steven leapt out of the empty pool, not expecting him to float, but she smiled, "Let's get you back to Pink's tower and dry you up."
"This place is so weird, Iris. It just felt like a spa day with Yellow and Blue." Steven muttered as he dried himself off, "Hey, were you ever... how do you say it... 'loyal' to Pink Diamond?"
"Yes. She was Lepidolite's former Diamond, so you could consider her my Diamond too, I suppose." She replied.
"Then, do you know what Pink did before she got her colony?"
Iris thought about it and she brightened up, "Oh yes, I remember. Over 6000 years ago, Pink Diamond used to throw massive balls for every Gem of every kind. My Lepidolite would only take me there several times, and oh, those times were the light of my life..."
"But why?"
"Well, she usually threw them when the Diamonds accomplished conquering other planets. Every Gem from every court on Homeworld would come to bask in their radiance." Iris laughed in remembrance, "Even White Diamond herself would appear as well."
Steven immediately got an idea, "Hey! That's perfect! We gotta set up a ball so I can talk to White!"
The purple Pearl nodded in agreement, "Excellent! Now, you'll have to excuse me for a moment, I'll have to discuss this to the other Gems."
However, as she began to walk away, Steven's eyes widened in fear. He ran up to Iris, grabbing her hand, "W-WAIT! D-DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE!"
Startled, Iris almost jumped back. They stared at each-other in shock, Steven gasping for air.
"... A-Alright," Iris whispered, "I-I won't leave."
Steven sighed in relief, "T-Thank you. A-And... I'm sorry."
"O-Oh no, don't be sorry. I'll stay as long as you like, Steven.
"Thank you, Iris."
Iris nodded, before adding, "W-Well, what are you going to do now?"
"... I think I got an idea." Steven sat down on the floor, the platform lifting to make a seat for him, "Pebbles?"
The Pebbles all climbed around him, curious of his desires.
"Do you think you could..." He whispered what he wanted. The Pebbles complied and begun their work. Behind a curtain, Iris handed the Pebbles a few pieces of fabric, wondering what her new owner was doing.
After a while, Steven walked out, revealing his outfit to be Pink Diamond's clothing in his size.
"What do you think?" He asked, posing a bit.
"You look amazing," Iris nodded in approval, "This ball is going to change everything."
Yay, an OC! Enjoy her while you can! If you think Iris is a ridiculous name, you guys do remember irises are flowers, right? What can I say? Steven likes flowers as much as Spinel does.
Also, I'm sorry for skipping yet another song, but hey. My AU, my choices.
