Lamp Entertainment presents…
Chapter 20: The Ghost of Christmas Present
In White's Head.
December 23rd.
White stood back up on shaking legs. Her entire body quivered and large tears ran down her cheeks. Quiet sobs echoed inside the large chamber of her tower.
She stumbled over to the window and looked outside. The sun was setting and it was coloring the sky bright pink. Yellow and Blue were emerging from the distance, walking slowly towards the tower. Spinel was sitting on Yellow's shoulder, like usual. The setting sun cast long shadows on Homeworld, hiding their faces in dark silhouettes.
White wanted to get out of her tower and run to them. But she couldn't. The tower wouldn't let her out. She wanted to call out to them. But she couldn't. Her voice wouldn't work. She could only stand there high up in her tall tower and watch while they passed her by. Watch and listen as their voices made it into her tower.
"Is White hiding inside her tower again?" Yellow asked, saying White's name as if it was a horrible curse.
"Yes," Blue responded, her voice as cold as the deepest darkest sea. "She really hasn't changed, has she?"
"Not at all," Yellow scoffed. "Here we are, trying to make everything better for the little gems; I'm repairing the gems I've broken and you're helping spread happiness. And what does she do?"
"She thinks the best way to help gems is to let them pretend they're her for a while," Blue sighed. "Still as self-centered as always. Did you see what she did to that adorable little Ruby's gift?"
"I did," Yellow said. "How rude. I'm sure that Ruby put a lot of work into crafting that gift, and the first thing White does is break it. How long do you think it will take before she does that to a gem? 'Accidentally,' of course."
"I know, I know…" Blue sighed. "But we have to keep up with her. That's what Steven wants. He still thinks she can be redeemed."
"Hmph," Yellow snorted. "Steven is hardly perfect himself. He could be wrong, you know."
"Probably," Blue admitted.
"Definitely," Yellow said. "It'd be better if we could just get rid of her."
"It's not like anyone would miss her, " Spinel piped up. "Not after everything she has done. Just look at what she did to me!" She smiled an empty smile while pointing at her upside down gem. "Cause if you really think about it, in the end, this was all White's fault."
"True," Yellow said, patting the tiny pink gem on her shoulder. "So true, Spinel."
Their voices started fading away as they left the tower behind them, disappearing into the coming night.
The tears flooded down White's face, landing on the floor. Her legs gave out under her and she collapsed on the floor. She buried her head in her arms. Loud sobs filled the cold empty tower.