"You two are in big trouble," the Amethyst had snarled, and promptly marched them out of the paradise.
A maze of darkened corridors later they finally found themselves in front of a squat door. She opened the panels using the interface and dropped them on the floor inside.
"These the ones?" she said. Looking down at herself, Connie now realised that her gem was in full view.
Ominous laughter echoed from all points of the room Connie shrunk back, scanning with wide eyes, before a tall orange Quartz advanced from the corner of the room, muscled arms banded, nose gem glinting—
She gaped.
". . .Jasper?"
"There you are, Little Holly," she chuckled, and grabbed her by the hand, hoisting her to her feet. "How was your stay in the Zoo? And—is that a loincloth?"
The whole chamber rumbled with laughter.
"Jasper, what's going on?" Connie's voice was wary.
Jasper grinned and flung an arm out. "All these Quartzes are from Earth, like me! Like you!"
"We're not all champions like you, though," a dark-skinned Amethyst huffed.
"Cool it, 8XL," Jasper fired back playfully. "I've been outta the game for too long anyway."
Another ripple of laughter.
"Finally, someone tolerable from the Beta Kindergarten," someone else sighed, and Connie turned to a slender orange Gem across the room.
"That's Skinny Jasper," Jasper explained. "Not as big as me, but made from the same stuff."
"You wish," Skinny grinned. "I may not be the perfect Quartz soldier but at least I'm not a rebel."
"Is that really a good thing?" Jasper teased.
"Jasper," Connie hissed. "We don't have time for this! We need to get out of here before we're caught!"
"Don't worry, they're all on our side," the Quartz replied. "It'll be easy to find the others." She turned to a smaller red Gem standing by the door. "Carnelian, can you open this thing for me?"
"Sure thing!" She tapped in a pattern and the doors slid open. The Quartzes filed out, surrounding the escaped humans and hiding them from view.
"There you all are!" A familiar excitable voice floated down the corridor and Connie froze, glimpsing a flash of pink through the bodies.
"Okay, line up, everyone! I need to make sure everyone's here and accounted for after the Zoo incident!"
Gems shuffled into place. Eyes wide, Jasper pushed Connie away. "You two, run. I'll find you
"Run! Just run," Amethyst said in a panic, pushing them down the corridor. "I'll find you—go!"
Connie activated and ran through the first door she saw. Perhaps not such a wise decision, as it shut with a clang! behind them as soon as they were inside. When she raised her eyes, she was surprised to be met with hundreds—no, thousands—of blue bubbled gems hovering around the room.
"The Holly Blue Agates," she whispered.
They were standing on raised platform, accessible by a large set of stairs against either wall. Dotted around the room were tall faceted pillars, and settled in the recess between the stairs was a gigantic plush pillow. The whole room was pink. When Connie craned her neck, she found above her not a pink ceiling, but an enormous glass dome. Beyond the glass, tiny jewel-like stars glittered against an inky void. Startlingly close, a gigantic orange ball—a ringed planet—loomed over the comparatively tiny room.
Doug gazed up at the masses of bubbles clustered around the ceiling. "These. . . These are Agates? There are more of them?"
Connie opened her mouth to answer when suddenly she found her palms clammy and trembling, her shirt wet. She started, pulling her father behind one of the towering columns. "Oh no—she's here!"
And not a second too soon. On the far side of the room, a dizzyingly large set of doors slid open to reveal the same tall pink figure from before. Beside her stood her companion.
Pink Diamond stomped into the room, her footsteps resounding like thunder. "Pearl, close the door."
The Gem behind her obediently locked the door and stood by, waiting.
Pink Diamond marched into the centre of the room and stood, fists clenched by her sides. She lifted her head to the ceiling and drew a breath. Just as it looked she was about to scream, she sank suddenly to her knees and let out a wail. Her delicate face, though childlike, had what could be described as adult proportions, and he dainty nose remained turned up the the stars. Her eyes shone with tears, and even as Connie watched, the water trailed down her face as she blinked. Her pale curls gathered about her head like a cloud, and in the mysterious light the room afforded the reversed diamond against her navel sparkled.
Unexpectedly, the door opened again with a groan, and there stood hugely tall figure, this one rigid and proud. The spiked helmet on her head gave her an extra few feet of height (as if she needed any!) and the gemstone against her chest glinted warmly.
Yellow Diamond.
There was a frown on her face when she spoke. "Please tell me you're joking." She took a few booming steps forward. "You only just left, and you're already back?"
"It's none of your business what I do with my time," Pink replied cuttingly, hurriedly wiping at her eyes with gloved hands.
"And what of these gems? They should be shattered."
"It's not fair to punish all of them!"
"You need to get over them—you need to get over her. She is gone and has been for six thousand years."
Pink whipped around, wet eyes boring into her. "I should say the same to you."
Yellow Diamond froze for a moment, something inscrutable flashing across her face before her expression settled again. "At least I am functioning like a Diamond, Pink."
Connie pulled her father back to the door they came through. The interface would not respond to her fingers.
"That's all you care about!" The smaller Diamond whirled fully, fists clenched. "About being a Diamond! You don't care about me, you don't care about Blue—you never did!"
Noticing their vulnerable position, Connie hurried back over to the pillars, Doug in tow.
"Of— Of course I do. You're being ridiculous, Pink."
Pink said nothing, trembling and gritting her teeth. After a few moments, Connie's hands began to shake, and then a tear dripped down the smaller Diamond's cheek. It splashed loudly to the floor, echoing in the empty chamber.
Yellow Diamond stopped, hardened expression falling. Doug tapped Connie's shoulder. When she turned, her eyes settled upon the tall doors on the far side of the room.
Behind them, Yellow Diamond sighed. "Pearl. Do something. Sing for her—make her feel better."
"Yes, my Diamond," her Pearl replied with enthusiasm. She cleared her throat and nudged her pink companion, and together they struck up a warbling tune.
With the noise as a diversion, Connie and her dad ran behind the next pillar.
"Why would you want to be here?" Yellow Diamond bent down to meet Pink's eyes. "What do you ever see here that doesn't make you feel worse than you do?"
Pink Diamond hung her head, which urged Yellow to continue her lecture. "Why would you want to save the subjects that destroyed her?" she stood and with a wave of her arms cleared the bubbles from around her head. "And why keep up this silly Zoo? Gems are created with a purpose—and if they cannot fill that purpose, or if they go against it, they are of no use to us."
Face twisting in anger, Pink summoned a faceted shield—waving her hand, it split apart into dozens of sharp fragments, and she sent them flying towards the older Diamond. With ease, almost dismissively, Yellow shot a current of electricity at the missiles, which dissipated on impact. She threw Pink a poisonous glare and turned away—Connie and Doug crossed to the next pillar, and closer to the door. They now stood at the top of the first flight of stairs.
Pink Diamond, not wanting to listen any longer, turned away and jumped atop the ledge. If she had happened to glance to her right, she would have seen the two humans. Panicked, they scurried down the stairs and away from her.
Yellow Diamond approached again and raised her voice, evidently not finished. "You've got to be a leader! Or at least try." She paused. "Yes, we still love her. . . but now there's nothing we can do."
The Diamond's gaze dropped to the floor, and Connie took the opportunity to grab her father's hand and run across the small landing to the next staircase. Now all that was between them was a flight of stairs and a few feet of exposed floor.
Evidently deciding that the song wasn't doing anything, Yellow clapped her hands twice, and the Pearls' melody dropped away. Instead, she scooped a resistant Pink up in her hands, lifting her onto a higher ledge so she could communicate more clearly.
"How can you stand to be here with all of this?" she continued, "You're drowning in your own regret—your own anger!—wouldn't you rather forget her?"
Pink's only response was to fist her hands in her hair and screw her eyes shut. Stop, the pose said, I've had enough. Yellow obviously didn't take the hint.
"Won't it be grand to get rid of it all?" she smiled drily. "Let's make a plan of attack—we need to start looking forward, not back. We can't change what has happened."
Connie and Doug cleared the last flight of stairs, resigning themselves to hide behind the furthest pillar in the event that the door would open.
"Yes," Yellow Diamond continued, tone softening, and she knelt in front of her companion, taking one of Pink's tiny hands in her own, "Of course we still love her, and we're always thinking of her." She sighed, letting her eyes close. "Don't you know I miss her too?"
Her voice broke, and she pulled away to gaze at the opposite wall. When she next spoke, her usually strong voice was fragile, and she steadied herself against a pillar, squeezing her eyes shut. "But what's the use of feeling blue?"
Pink paused for a moment, staring forlornly after Yellow. The smaller Diamond looked. . . ashamed. Cautiously, she skirted the ledge to stand beside her, and rested a hand on her arm. As if on cue, the large doors opened, startling Connie and prompting Pink to snatch her hand away again.
"Here we are, everyone!" came Rose Quartz's voice, and she padded into the chamber with Lapis and Peridot in tow. A set of Amethyst guards remained standing sentry outside.
When the door slid shut, Rose Quartz raised her arms in a salute to her leader. "My Diamond," she began, raising her head, and her eyes widened. "Oh, Your— Clarity! I wasn't expecting you here, as well."
"What do you want, Quartz?" Yellow Diamond replied brusquely.
She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I just thought that you—Pink Diamond—would be glad to know that this Peridot, who has been stationed on Earth, has brought you a new human!"
Pink's expression remained neutral. "Thank you, Rose."
"She and this Lapis Lazuli also dropped by to tend to the malfunctioning circuits and to tend the. . . Zoo."
Connie and the other Gems froze. Pink looked confused. "What? But I never called for anyone."
She looked at Yellow. "Did you. . .?"
"The Zoo is not my business," Yellow replied, and turned to Rose Quartz's convoy. "I apologise, Pink Diamond can be forgetful sometimes. Of course, you are more than welcome to tend to the upkeep of the Zoo."
All three Gems in the Diamonds' audience seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Connie's shoulders slumped.
Rose Quartz turned to leave.
"Peridot," Yellow Diamond called.
She froze. "Yes, Yel— My Diamond?"
"Has the cluster emerged yet?"
"Uh— no, it has not."
Yellow nodded. "Notify your superior when it does. That will be all." Like before, she gave two precise claps, dismissing the Gems and moving away.
The Gems filed out through the door. Connie and Doug barely made it out just in time before the doors crashed shut behind them—but not before she saw Yellow slumping down on the steps through the crack.
Once outside, Rose Quartz turned and began leading them back. Connie noticed, with some relief, that Jasper had also found her way back to them. Rose was uncharacteristically quiet as she led them back through the corridors—they walked in silence back to the loading bay, and slipped quietly past the Amethyst doorguards, who straightened and said nothing.
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Rose Quartz stopped. The Crystal Gems froze behind her.
After a moment, she sighed. "I know you aren't who you say you are."
Lapis gasped. Peridot struggled to maintain her composure. "Whaaat? That's ridiculous! Of course we came here to secure and maintain the Zo—" She stopped, eyes wide.
"You never asked to be taken to the control base," Rose Quartz said, and turned around with a soft smile. Connie and Doug were too shocked to move.
"Lapis Lazulis never terraform indoors, and I could recognise that gem anywhere." Jasper lifted a hand to her face, shooting a panicked glance at Connie. "And, of course, humans don't come back out of the Zoo."
In an instant, Jasper's helmet materialised, Peridot summoned a laser and Lapis activated her wings. Rose Quartz laughed. "You don't have to fight—you're free to go." She turned away and spoke again, quieter this time. "I'd give anything to go back to Earth."
A moment of silence.
"You can come," Connie offered.
Rose Quartz laughed. "Thank you. But I'm needed here." She shot a mischievous look at the Amethysts at the door. "Besides, I've got family here. And you have yours back on Earth." She steadied herself, and then shot them her usual dazzling grin. "Now get outta here. There's one too many active Holly Blues in this Zoo."
Connie wasn't quite sure what to say. "Thank you so much. . ." That was a nice start.
There was cheering behind them and Connie spun around. Crammed in the doorway were dozens of Amethysts, Skinny Jasper and Carnelian. Jasper grinned back at them and waved. Connie felt a hand on her shoulder and turned.
Lapis smiled down at her. "Let's get you and your dad back home."
Jasper pulled the Ruby ship out of the loading bay in a grateful silence. They all gazed out at the pink structure, flanked by two enormous anatomical ships, backlit by the enormous orange planet.
"Thank you so much, guys, for coming to get me," Doug said gratefully. "That has to be. . . one of the most amazing experiences of my life." He ruffled Connie's hair fondly. "And I got to investigate with my daughter."
"Dad, I'm really sorry I got you into. . . all of this," Connie said, hanging her head. "This all happened because I wanted answers."
"Honey, you don't have to be sorry about anything," he smiled. "I hope you found what you were looking for."
"I did. I found you."
At the controls, Jasper smiled. Then, she keyed the coordinates into the interface, and the ship warped away from zoos, Diamonds, and human disposal shoots. . . back home.
The shift between italicising Yellow Diamond's speech and leaving it as default is the differentiation between Connie seeing her a a scary space tyrant and coming to realise that she is just as much a person too.