"Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away."
–Ismail Haniyeh
I do not own 'Steven Universe.'
Chapter 16
Who We Are
Yellow Pearl opened the door to her Diamond's throne room and stepped into the room. Yellow Diamond was seated on her throne, hands folded in front of her face and glaring over her steepled fingers.
Yellow Pearl, noticing the irritated look on her Diamond's face, gulped before she nervously approached the throne. "My Diamond. I was not able to gain entrance into Pink Diamond's Palace. The guards would not permit me entry."
"And Pink Diamond will not respond to any of my attempted communications." Yellow Diamond growled and pinched her brow. "She's been stubborn before, but this is getting ridiculous."
"It would appear that Pink Diamond does not want to give up her human," said YP.
"Indeed," said Yellow Diamond. "What was I thinking? Pink is never going to agree to send that human back to Earth. She's too attached to it. I doubt she even told the human about the deal I offered her."
Yellow Diamond's eyes widened. "...Yes. I bet she didn't even tell the human."
"Do you have an idea, my Diamond?" YP asked.
"I do," said Yellow Diamond. "I do not claim to like the idea, but it just might work. All I need someone who can get into the Garden."
"Pink Diamond's Garden?" YP asked. "Do you plan to eliminate the human, my Diamond?"
"I can't do that. I gave my word." Yellow Diamond said regrettably. "I hate to say it, but…I think it's time that I gave Blue's method a try."
"This game is fun!" Volleyball declared. "What did you say this game was called, Amber?"
"This human game is called poker," Amber explained as she placed another chip in the center of the table. "It's a game based on taking chances. Gambling, Greg calls it. Humans play this game in order to legally steal from each other. Since we don't have human currency, we'll just have to play for the chips and pretend they're worth something."
Spinel's eyes bounced up and down as she glanced up at the cards drawn on the table and down at the cards in her hand. "...I raise ten."
"I fold," Amber and Volleyball both said.
"I'll follow that!" Amethyst put in her chips immediately after Spinel did. The little purple gem's eye twitched and she ran a hand through her messy hair. "I'm feeling lucky."
Spinel put her cards down. "Full house."
Amethyst's smile slowly melted. "...Is it too late to fold?"
Spinel smiled and pulled the pile of chips toward her.
Amethyst stared at Spinel's pile before looking over at Amber with big, sad eyes. "Amber, can you spot me again?"
"I'm not giving you any more loans," Amber replied sternly. "You've got a problem, Amethyst."
Greg chose that moment to come down the dais. He had a hand on his head and he moaned painfully as he walked down the steps.
"Oh, look who's finally awake," said Amber.
"Hey, guys," said Greg. "You playin' poker?"
"Yes, and it's very fun," said Volleyball. "Although, I think Amethyst may have a gambling problem."
"Hey, Greg, you think you could loan me a few chips?" Amethyst asked.
"I don't have any, sorry," said Greg.
"Seems like a pretty convenient excuse to me," Amethyst muttered.
"Hey, how come Padparadscha isn't playing?" Greg asked.
"She was, but she lost it all pretty early in the game," said Amber.
Padparadscha, with no cards or chips in front of her, pouted with her arms crossed. "You know, I wanna be upset, but in hindsight, it makes sense why I wouldn't be any good at this game."
"Hey, are you okay, Greg?" Volleyball asked. "You look a little…low on power."
"Ugh," Greg sat down at the table with the rest of the Gems. "I feel like I'm recovering from a wicked hangover. I haven't felt like this since that high school party I went to. What exactly happened to me last night?"
"Pink Diamond wanted to see you, so Pearl came to bring you to the Palace," Amber said. "When you came back, you were unconscious in Pink's arms. She carried you up to your sleeping area and then left."
"Let's see here." Greg rubbed his chin. "I went over to a woman's place for a visit. I can't remember what happened last night. I apparently had to have a friend carry me back to where I sleep. I feel like utter crap and it's probably about nine in the morning for me." Greg's eyes widened. "Dear God, I hope the numbers aren't adding up the way they're looking like they're adding up."
The Gems all just blinked at Greg.
"Uh, so…you don't remember nothing?" Amethyst asked.
"No, I don't." Greg rubbed his temples. "I remember talking to Pink about…something. And then…" Greg shook his head. "Everything fades to black. Or pink, rather."
Volleyball tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You know, Greg. I distinctly recall Pink Diamond being able to…manipulate emotions."
Greg remembered Pink Diamond briefly explaining that to him. She had placed a finger on his head and spoke directly into his mind. It really freaked him out.
"What…what are you saying?" Greg asked. "Do you really think Pink would…do some kind of mind control on me?"
"Not mind control. Telepathic empathetic manipulation," Volleyball explained. "She can get into a Gem's head and leave them feeling however she wants them to feel. Pink used to do that to the other Diamonds all the time to get out of trouble before they began to catch on. I've never seen the full extent of what she can do, but it's always been her most powerful ability."
"Oh, dang," Amethyst said. "That sounds a little low for Pink Diamond, don't you think?"
"Maybe she just made a mistake while she was practicing her stuff," Greg suggested. "She did tell me she's a little rusty in that area."
"Or maybe she wanted you to forget about something," said Padparadscha. "But, what exactly would she want you to forget about?"
"Something embarrassing?" Greg said. "But, would she actually do that?"
Volleyball drummed her fingers along the table. "...Listen, Greg. Pink Diamond used to be…different. More…temperamental, to use the best word possible for an adequate description. She used to be more prone to reckless acts and had less care for the consequences of her actions."
"Well, what changed?" Greg asked.
Volleyball pointed at her scarred eye.
Greg blinked as his face softened. "Oh…"
"Pink was wracked with guilt after what she did to me. It caused her to rethink a few things," Volleyball explained. "But, you, Greg. You mean a lot to her, that much is obvious. I think that might be affecting Pink in some…negative ways. Causing her to regress back to some old habits."
Greg ran a hand through his hair. "Yeesh. You think maybe I should talk to Pink about it?"
"Careful, Greg, she might mind-wipe you again," said Amethyst. "I can't believe she really did that to you."
"Hey now," said Greg. "We still can't rule out the fact that she got me super drunk and the two of us–"
The warp pad lit up, followed by a fiery explosion.
Everyone shot to their feet in alarm. That alarm turned to straight fear when they watched a pair of pink Topaz gems drop to the ground at Fire Agate's feet. Hands folded behind her back, the Agate casually strolled through the Garden toward the Gems and one human at the table.
"Oh, no," Greg whispered. "It was that easy for her to get in here?!"
Fire Agate's cape, which resembled flowing lava, swayed as she stepped through the Garden. "Hi, Greg," the mad Agate greeted. "I'm here for you."
"You do this, and Pink Diamond will shatter you herself!" Amber shouted.
"I'll take my chances," Fire Agate said dismissively.
Greg's wrist destabilizer extended from his jacket sleeve.
Fire Agate wagged her finger. "Ah, ah, ah. None of that, darling. Here's how this is gonna work: Either submit peacefully, or I'll shatter my way through these defects just to get to you."
Spinel's fingers and left eye twitched.
"Something wrong with the jester?" Fire Agate asked. "Weird little Gem, isn't she?"
Spinel blinked her eyes, which became red pinpoints. She pulled on her hair and the heart-shaped gem in her chest turned upside down. Once the whole transformation into her damaged form was done, Spinel let out a feral cry and leapt over the table at Fire Agate.
Spinel's transformation and her attack took Fire Agate by surprise. A spring-loaded punch to the face knocked the Agate back a couple of steps.
Spinel landed on her feet and glared and growled and Fire Agate, who stared in bewilderment at the enraged, pinkish-red Gem.
Fire Agate let out a laugh. "Well, I had you all wrong, now didn't I? You are a lot more interesting than I gave you credit for."
Spinel roared and sprang at Fire Agate. The Agate simply stepped out of the way and backhanded Spinel across the Garden.
"But I'm afraid I don't have the free time to play with you. I'm just here for Greg." Fire Agate walked toward Greg, who backed up in fear from the crazy Gem.
"NO!" Amethyst hopped onto the table and her gem glowed. She reached into her Gem and pulled out a black whip studded with purple crystals. Amethyst reared the whip back and struck Fire Agate right in the chest.
The attack apparently stung quite a bit. Fire Agate cried in pain and reeled back. Spinel ran up and elongated her body and wrapped around Fire Agate like a snake, holding her in place.
"Amethyst?!" Greg asked. "Where'd you get the whip?!"
"I have no idea!" Amethyst let out a battle cry and jumped off the table. As Spinel whaled on Fire Agate's head, Amethyst came up and cracked the whip against Fire Agate's body.
"We need to get you out here," Amber said to Greg.
"And leave Spinel and Amethyst to be killed by Fire Agate?" Greg demanded.
"It's not up for debate." Volleyball grabbed Greg by the arm and pulled him toward the warp pad, with Amber and Padparadscha following after them.
"Enough of this!" Fire Agate exploded in an eruption of flames, instantly poofing Spinel and Amethyst. A pair of fireballs formed in her hands and she tossed them at Amber and Volleyball, poofing both of them. Fire Agate then rushed at Greg and picked him up by his destabilizer arm, making sure he wouldn't stab her. Padparadscha tried to run, but she was poofed under Fire Agate's boot.
Although terrified, Greg managed to sum up enough nerve to look Fire Agate in the eyes. "So is this it? You finally gonna do it?"
Fire Agate tilted her head. "...You haven't told Pink Diamond the truth, have you?"
"Oh, is that what this is all about?" Greg asked. "I'm getting there, just give me some time. I've got more than one ball in the air right now. I may or may not have been roofied by my best friend."
"...Right," said Fire Agate. "Well…see you when you wake up."
"When I–"
Fire Agate headbutted Greg in the forehead and everything went dark.
When Greg reopened his eyes, he took a moment to blink the spots out of his eyes. When he finally managed to get his head clear, the first thing Greg became aware of was that he was sitting on what he could only assume was some kind of couch. Even weirder, it felt like Greg was leaning against somebody, with an arm wrapped around him and a leg laid over his lap.
Greg turned his head to see that he was resting against Fire Agate, who had an arm around him and a leg over his lap as if they were on a date.
"Hey there," Fire Agate said with a grin. "How's it goin'?"
"AH!" Greg tried to make a break for it, but Fire Agate's hold on him was as strong as steel.
"No, no. You aren't leaving." Fire Agate leaned in and booped Greg's nose with her free hand. "Someone very important wants to talk to you."
"What?" Greg then noticed that the couch-like seat he and Fire Agate was sitting on was the color of mustard, and the room they were in had walls and a floor the color of the inside of a lemon.
And when he finally noticed Yellow Diamond sitting on her massive throne in front of him, Greg nearly jumped out of his skin. He tried again to escape, but Fire Agate kept him in place.
Yellow Diamond stared down at Greg with a mostly blank face. Her Pearl stood to the side of Yellow Diamond's throne, with her hands folded in front and her head bowed.
"Gregory Universe," Yellow Diamond said. "That is your name, yes?"
"Yellow Diamond, please, don't kill me," Greg begged.
"If I wanted you dead, and I'll be honest, I do, I would have had Fire Agate here kill you in the Garden," Yellow Diamond said. "But, I swore to make no more attempts on your life. And I will keep my promise."
"Oh. So…" Greg blinked. "Why am I here?"
"I brought you here, Gregory, so that I could do something so atrocious that it shakes me down to the very core of my gem." Yellow Diamond crossed her massive arms. "I brought you here, so that I may help you."
"Wha...you…want to help me?" Greg asked in obvious confusion. "Help me with what?"
"To get you back to Earth, out of Homeworld, and away from Pink Diamond," said Yellow Diamond.
Greg's eyes widened. "You want to help me get back home?"
"Nothing gets past you, does it?" Yellow Diamond rolled her eyes and groaned. "Listen, human. I wanted you gone because I was afraid of what you knew. But, it's clear to me now that you know absolutely nothing that would be of any value to anyone. Nevertheless, there still exists the chance that you may still cause some trouble."
Greg gulped in fear and looked at Fire Agate, who gave him a toothy grin in return, running a hand gently through his hair.
"But, before I continue, there is something that you should know," said Yellow Diamond. "I have already discussed this deal with Pink Diamond, offering my aid in addition to Blue Diamond's aid in returning you home and getting rid of you."
Greg blinked. "...Pink Diamond…already knew about your offer to help her and Blue Diamond send me home." Greg looked down at the floor with a hurt look on his face. "...So that's what she wanted me to forget."
"Now here is my offer to you, Gregory Universe." Yellow Diamond smiled somewhat. "Leave Pink Diamond's Court and let Blue Diamond and I take care of the rest. We'll send you home. Hopefully, we'll be able to do so without White Diamond finding out. But, that will hardly be your problem. Either way, you'll be sent home."
"You want me to just up and leave Pink Diamond? And all the other Gems that have been kind to me. After everything they've all done for me?" Greg pointed a thumb at Fire Agate. "After this psychopath came into the Garden and nearly killed everyone?"
"He says the sweetest things, doesn't he?" Fire Agate asked.
"Well, if you really want, I can have my Pearl bring you back to Pink Diamond," Yellow Diamond offered. "Who, I take it, refrained from telling you about my offer to help you get back home."
"Kinda sounds like either way, you're trying to jam a wedge between me and Pink Diamond," Greg commented.
"You want to get back to Earth?" Yellow Diamond asked. "Perhaps that wedge is exactly what you need."
"If I were you, I would go back to Pink Diamond," Fire Agate softly muttered into Greg's ear. She barely even moved her lips as she spoke. "You know. So you can tell her the bad news. All, of the bad news, mind you."
Greg glanced at Fire Agate. Then, he closed her eyes and sighed.
"...Let me talk to Pink Diamond." Greg looked up at Yellow Diamond. "...Please."
"Very well," said Yellow Diamond. "And, never you fear. If Pink Diamond tries to force you to stay, Blue Diamond and I will intervene. One way or another, I'm taking you away from Pink Diamond."
"Do you really hate me that much?" Greg asked.
"Hatred has nothing to do with this. Irritation, maybe. But not hatred," Yellow Diamond said. "I simply do not trust your presence here. We have a good thing going here on Homeworld. The last thing we need is you messing everything up like your kind did all those millennia ago."
Greg had to bite down on his tongue to keep himself from saying anything.
"Pearl. Escort Gregory to Pink Diamond's Palace," Yellow Diamond ordered. "They should allow you entry if you have Pink Diamond's human with you."
"Yes, my Diamond." YP walked up to Greg. Fire Agate released her hold on Greg and stood up off the couch, letting him stand up as well. The couch sank down into the floor as if had been built in piece-by-piece.
Yellow Diamond stared down hard at Greg. "...You know, I've been thinking about what you said to me. Back when my Peridot had you cornered in that polonium processor. Do you remember that?"
Greg blinked, then he gulped.
"You called me a monster. And then, you told me that I do not deserve to have Pink Diamond in my life."
Yellow Diamond leaned forward menacingly.
"If you ever insult me like that again, I'll kill you," she warned. "That being said…there are indeed times when I feel as though you may be right about the former. I love Pink Diamond, I truly do. So do me a favor, and…let her down easy, would you? Losing you is already going to cause her enough pain."
Greg stared at Yellow Diamond for a second, then nodded.
"Good." Yellow Diamond leaned back against the throne, keeping her head held high. "Now get out."
YP led Greg out of the throne room. Fire Agate watched him leave with a wicked smile on her face. Once the Pearl and the human were gone, Yellow Diamond looked down at Fire Agate.
"Why are you so obsessed with that human?" Yellow Diamond asked.
Fire Agate looked up at Yellow Diamond and shrugged innocently. "He…gives me what I want."
Pink Diamond hummed to herself happily as she tended to the flowers in her throne room. The song she was humming was the 'Falling Stars' song she and Greg sang together before they went to go see the comet together. Humming the song made Pink think of Greg. And thinking of Greg made Pink happy. Pink Diamond placed her hand on the plant and watched as the flowers bloomed all over the throne room, not just on the plant she was touching.
The doors to the throne room opened and Pearl stepped into the room. "Um…my Diamond? Yellow Diamond's Pearl is here."
Pink Diamond's face fell in aggravation. "Again? What does she want now?"
"She has Greg with her. Apparently, he just got back from a meeting with Yellow Diamond."
"WHAT?!" Pink's eyes widened with panic. "Send him in!"
Pearl turned around and left the throne room. After a moment, the door reopened and Greg stepped into the room.
"Greg!" Pink Diamond shrunk down to Quartz size. "What happened?! What was Yellow Diamond doing with you?!"
"Fire Agate came into the Garden and poofed everyone," Greg explained. "Then she knocked me out and brought me to Yellow Diamond."
"The nerve of her," Pink Diamond growled angrily. "What did Yellow Diamond even want with you?"
Greg looked up at Pink Diamond. To her confusion, he looked hurt. betrayed, even. "She told me about that offer she made you to help get me back to Earth."
Pink gasped as her eyes widened.
"With Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond's help to get me back to Earth, well, that almost guarantees my safe return home," Greg said. "You could have told me about it. I think you were about to. But, instead, you messed with my head and made me forget all about whatever it is we even talked about."
"I can explain!" Pink said.
"Explain what? That you're trying to keep me from going back home?" Greg demanded. "Back to where I actually belong?"
"Excuse me for not wanting you to leave!" Pink cried. Her eyes began to water. "Excuse me for hating the idea of never being able to see you again!"
"Pink. I can't stay here!" Greg shouted. "And furthermore, I cannot believe you would screw with my head just so you could keep me here!"
"You're the one who wants to abandon me!" Pink shouted back. "You're the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and you want to ditch me! Me, and the rest of the Gems here that have become your family!"
"I want to go home!" Greg cried. "I want to feel the wind on my face again! I want to breathe in the air of the salty sea and feel the sand between my toes! I want to eat actual food and drink enough liquor to forget about Jaguar's death! I want to interact with actual humans again!"
"Oh, so I'm not good enough?" Pink demanded. "Come on, Greg, admit it. Your life is better here than it was on Earth. You love the Garden Gems. You love me."
"Pink. I'm grateful for everything you and the other Gems have done for me." Greg said. "But after what you did? How am I supposed to trust you again?"
Pink Diamond stared at Greg for a good minute. And then, her body began to glow. The Diamond shape-shifted into a different form, with large, curly hair, fairer skin, and a white, regal dress. The form of a Rose Quartz.
The form of the Rose Quartz.
Mouth agape, Greg stared wide-eyed at the Gem he had met down in the reservoir. "...You."
"Me." Rose smiled. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away. But secrets aside, that kiss we shared was proof enough of how we feel about each other."
Rose came up and took Greg's hand in her own. "Greg…I love you. And I know you love me."
"...Of course I do." Greg pulled his hands out of Rose's. "But that doesn't change the fact that you would rather brainwash me into staying here forever than help me get back home!"
"Do I mean so little to you?!" Rose demanded. "Do you want to leave me that badly?!"
"Pink. Rose. Whatever the fuck you wanna call yourself. Get it through your head that I do not belong here!" Greg yelled. "I belong with other humans! With actual people!"
"What do you mean with actual people?" Pink Diamond demanded.
"I mean you're not a real person!" Greg shouted. "You're barely even a real Gem! What the hell am I even supposed to call you anymore?!"
Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond clenched her fists as hot, angry tears fell down her face.
"Well, I'm sorry for being a Gem I never even asked to be." Pink Rose raised a finger at Greg. "I'm sorry for not being an actual person like you!"
She poked Greg in the chest, and the two of them became encased in an explosion of pink light.
When the light faded away, Greg and Pink Rose stood still with eyes wide with shock. They both blinked a few times.
"Wow, I've…never done that before," Pink said. "I'm not even sure what that was."
"Hey, where'd that mirror come from?" Greg asked. "And…did I get taller?"
"I feel…weird. Really weird," said Pink. "And what the heck is wrong with my voice?"
Greg and Pink looked at each other. When they both figured it out, they screamed.
"You're in my body!" the both of them shouted.
"What the fuck!" Greg shouted through Rose's lips and with her voice. "Are we seriously doing this Freaky Friday bullshit?!"
"Oh my stars, this is what being human feels like?!" Pink waved Greg's arms around and stomped her feet. "I've never felt so…limited before. It's like there's a million-kilo weight tied to me but I still feel so much lighter."
Greg looked down at Rose's chest and feminine figure. "Oh, great. As if I don't need enough therapy when I get home." Greg fletched Rose's fingers. "Fight the urge, dammit, fight the urge. hands to yourself."
"Gack…what's happening?!" Pink brought Greg's hands to his throat and fell to his knees. His eyes bulged and his face began to turn purple. "Chest…throat…hurts…!"
"Pink, for crying out loud, breath!" Greg cried. "Inhale! Then exhale!"
Pink opened Greg's mouth and breathed in some air. She then let the breath out and continued to inhale and exhale loudly through Greg's mouth. "That feels so much better," she said between breaths. "How do you put up with constantly having to do this? Isn't there some kind of automatic function to this–oh, there we go, through the nose."
"Please be careful with my body, it's easy to break." Greg fletched Rose's arms in admiration. "Unlike this body. My god, I feel great. Like I could lift up a building. Being a Gem feels so…solid."
Pink placed a hand on Greg's chest. "What's this thing making a drum sound inside of you?"
"That's my heart," Greg said. "It's like a human's gem."
"And I feel as if there's something constantly flowing through the inside of my body." Pink pulled back Greg's jacket sleeve and rubbed his skin. "I feel…so much more as a human. There's just…so much more to feel."
"Huh. Now that you bring it up, I'm suddenly noticing a particular lack of feeling." Greg rubbed Rose's bare arms. "I don't even feel cold. Like, at all. I don't feel tired, I don't feel hungry. It's like I'm a robot who knows how to feel emotions, but not much else."
Pink rolled back the jacket sleeve and slapped Greg's arm real hard.
"OW!" Pink studied the red handprint she had left on Greg's arm. "Crack me, that stings! Pain is so much more intense for humans!"
"Okay, okay, okay, this has been a fun experience for the both of us," Greg said. "But how about we stop slapping each other's bodies–for God's sake, Greg, control yourself–and switch back into our own bodies? So, work your magic."
"I don't have my magic," Pink said. "Not in this body. You have my magic now."
"Wha…but…how am I supposed to fix this?!" Greg asked. "I don't know how to use your Gem powers!"
"Well, you're the only one who can. So–"
A holoscreen suddenly appeared above them. The emblem of Blue Diamond was displayed on the pulsing screen.
"Oh-no." As Pink began to panic, it showed clearly on Greg's face. "No no no no no no no. This is bad. This is really really bad. Wow, panic and anxiety hit a lot harder in this body! I suddenly have a strong urge to go hide under something and stay there!"
"We humans call that the 'I don't wanna die, God help me' instinct," Greg explained. "Can't I just talk to her? I'm in your body."
"Yeah. In the form of Rose Quartz!" Pink yelled. "Shapeshift back into my regular form!"
"How?" Greg asked.
"Hurry it up and figure it out! Blue Diamond gets upset if I don't answer!"
Greg gulped. Then, he shut Pink Diamond's eyes tight as he concentrated as hard as he could. To Pink's relief, Greg managed to shapeshift her body into her regular, Pink Diamond form.
Greg slumped over. "Christ, that took a lot out of me."
"Oh, thank the stars," Pink breathed.
"I'm still not tall, though," said Greg.
"It'll do! Just answer the transmission!"
Greg looked up at the holoscreen and waved Pink's hand like he had seen her do before. The pulsing stopped and Blue Diamond appeared on the holoscreen.
"Well, that certainly took you long enough," Blue Diamond commented. "And why are you so small, Pink?"
"Heeeeey, Blue Diamond," Greg replied nervously, hoping he was making for a convincing Pink Diamond. "I mean, Blue. Hey, Blue. What's a, you know, what's…up?"
Pink slapped a hand on her face, only to do it too hard and leave a red mark. "Ow!"
Blue Diamond raised an eyebrow. "Are you…feeling well, Pink? Your behavior is even more abnormal than usual." Blue's eyes landed on Pink, who was currently in Greg's body. "Oh, I see you have the human with you. Saying goodbye, I hope?"
"Uh, yes," Greg said. "In fact, I have decided once and for all that I am going to send the human back to Earth."
Greg's eyes widened as Pink was overcome with outrage. "You jerk," she whispered harshly.
"Really?" Blue asked in surprise. "I'll be honest, Pink, I didn't expect you to come to that decision so quickly. I figured you would do all you could to keep the human in your Garden."
"What, did you think I would manipulate Greg's thoughts and try to brainwash him into staying here with me forever, eating nothing but rocks and sleeping on a cheap futon until he died lightyears away from any other human beings?" Greg asked. "Now that would be selfish and cruel."
Pink Diamond crossed Greg's arms and narrowed his eyes.
Blue Diamond blinked and stared at Greg for a few seconds. "...Um…okay, then. When do you wish to send the human back to Earth? We can put him on a shuttle immediately if you'd like."
"Soon. But, before we send him back home, I want to let him say goodbye to his friends," Greg said. "Let Yellow Diamond know that I've made up my mind. I'll let the human say his goodbyes, then I'll send him to Earth."
"As you wish," said Blue Diamond.
Greg brought Pink's hand up to her ear. "What's that, Greg? Oh, okay. I'll tell her." Greg put Pink's hand back down. "Greg's too shy to say it himself, which is why he isn't saying anything, but he wants to say that he's going to miss your Pearl very much. He wants to say that he greatly values his friendship with your Pearl, and he'll never forget her. He's also very grateful for everything you've done for him, Blue. And believe it or not, he'll miss you, too."
Blue Diamond's eyes widened and BP poked her head into the view of the holoscreen. The Pearl smiled and blushed a bit, and the Diamond tilted her head ever so slightly.
"...Tell Greg…thank you for not being just another disgusting, savage animal." Blue Diamond waved her hand to end the transmission. Before she disappeared off of the screen, Greg could have sworn he saw Blue Diamond smile.
"You can go burn in a supernova, you know that?" Pink said angrily.
"What? I'm just doing what you're obviously not gonna do," Greg said. "You know. Get me home?"
I don't want to lose you!" Pink exclaimed. "I have spent thousands of years feeling like the failure in my family! All of my friends are all of my closest subjects. Because a Gem like me isn't supposed to have friends. But then you came along. The one being, the one being, in the entire universe, who I could relate with. Who I could consider a genuine friend in total disregard of my rank. Why can't you understand that losing you would be unbearably painful for me!"
"Pink. I don't like the thought of never being able to see you again either," Greg said. "But there's nothing for me here. No dream to pursue, no new things to try. I can't live the rest of my life in that Garden."
Pink gritted Greg's teeth and shut his eyes, bowing his head shamefully.
"...I know," Pink Diamond whispered. "I just…I love the Gems as much as you do. But, you, Greg. I've never been in love with someone. And…it's terrifying."
Pink's face softened as Greg blinked her eyes.
"When you fell into the Underground, there was no guarantee I'd ever see you again. By the stars, I felt ready to send in an army to find you," Pink placed a hand on Greg's chest. "The very thought of losing you makes this thing in your chest beat even faster. And it hurts."
Greg let out a heavy sigh. "...Pink…the way I feel about you. It's different from anything I've ever felt before. I knew falling in love with you was dangerous. But that's the thing about falling in love; it's not a choice."
"So…what happens next?" Pink asked. "I send you back to Earth and just try to forget about you?"
"...Pink," Greg began. "Please. I'm asking you as a friend, who cares about you more than he cares about anybody else in this entire universe, who fell in love with you shortly after he met you…let me go home."
Pink Diamond closed Greg's eyes and hugged his arms, remaining silent for a minute.
"...Okay," she finally whispered. "I'll work with Blue and Yellow to send you home. I'll do whatever it takes."
"Thank you," Greg said. "And…I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who messed up," Pink replied sadly. "Can you forgive me?"
Greg smiled. "Of course I can, Pink. I'm hurt you messed with my head, but I know it came from a good place. I love you, Pink Diamond. I always will."
Pink smiled back, though tears still welled up in Greg's eyes. In Pink's tall body, Greg knelt down and held hands with his love. It was an awkward experience for the both of them, being in each other's bodies. But they still managed to share a kiss. A kiss that they were both happy to melt into, content with knowing that they were together with one another.
Pink Diamond's gem pulsed with pink light. Her and Greg's bodies both glowed like a pair of lights for a moment. When the glow finally faded away, only then did they part their lips to stare lovingly into each other's eyes.
It took them both a second to realize that they were looking into each other's eyes instead of their own. They blinked in confusion and looked down at themselves.
"We're back in our bodies!" Greg exclaimed happily. "Thank God! I missed having a pulse!"
Pink examined her arms. She poked her body in several places, as if testing something. "I'm…honestly not sure whether or not I miss having a human body. By the way, you didn't tell me humans could shapeshift."
"What?" Greg asked in confusion. "We can't. What makes you think we can?"
"When we were kissing, while I was still in your body, I felt a part of your lower body extend," Pink said. "I don't know much about human anatomy, but whatever you have between your legs–"
"Up, bup-bup-bup-bup-bup. Stop," Greg said. "How about we just kiss some more so I can avoid having to talk about that?"
"Ooo, okay." Pink Diamond picked Greg up by the front of his jacket and began making out with him. Greg melted like a stick of butter as the powerful space queen worked some more of her mind magic.
Pink Diamond finally removed her lips to let Greg breathe. He smiled like a dope at the beautiful Gem holding him up as if he were a large, stuffed teddy bear.
"I love you," Greg murmured.
"I know you do." Pink Diamond tossed him in the air to catch him and hold him bridal style, causing Greg to blush. "I love you, too."
"Hoo boy," Greg breathed. "Ah…call me an idiot for ruining the moment, but…about getting me a ride home."
Pink closed her eyes and sighed through her nose. "We can go back to the Garden so you can say your goodbyes. After that…it's off to Earth with you."
"I'm sorry, Pink. I really am," Greg said. "But-"
"But you're a human. And you belong on Earth. I know." Pink reopened her eyes. "I don't want to lose you, but…that's exactly what I'm gonna do if I try to keep you here."
Pink set Greg back down on the floor. "I wish you and I could live in the same world together."
"So do I," Greg said. "But you and I…we're just too different."
"The joys of being a Diamond," Pink remarked bitterly. "Now, let's go to the Garden. If we wait any longer, I may very well change my mind and put you on a lease."
Greg and Pink shared a laugh as they headed out of the throne room.
"...That…that was a joke, right?"
"Mostly."
The dead silence of the Garden was interrupted when Amethyst's gem glowed and rose into the air. Her physical form inflated from her Gem and once the process was finished, she fell to the ground and landed on her feet, immediately getting into a fighting position. The short Quartz looked around the Garden with panicked eyes.
Then Spinel's heart-shaped gem rose into the air, glowing with pink light. Her body formed from her gem and she landed on the ground as well, inflated fists ready to attack anything that moved.
"Spinel?" Amethyst asked.
"Amethyst?" Spinel replied. "You look different."
Amethyst had grown a little taller. She was still ridiculously short by normal Quartz standards, but still taller than your average Ruby. Her pale, lavender-tinted hair had also grown much longer, making her look a little more like a regular Amethyst Quartz. Her bangs were longer now, covering her left eye. As for her attire, she was now sporting a black tank top with her gem half hidden by the shirt and a pair of ripped pants with the holes shaped like stars.
"Never mind me!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Spinel, are…are you okay?"
Spinel looked down at her body and gasped in shock. She was still in her crazed form, with her longer ponytails and three black streaks under each eye. Her eyes were different, though. They were still a really dark pink, but held no amount of insanity. The one other difference other than her eyes was the position of her gem. It was still right-side up, as if symbolizing her mental state. Upside down for crazy. Right-side up for sane.
"W-w-what is this? W-why do I look like this?" Spinel stammered. "I-I-I'm not…I'm okay. I swear, I'm…I'm okay."
"Spinel, relax, I believe you," said Amethyst. "We'll deal with that later, but for now…where's Greg?"
Amber's gem rose into the air with a caramel-gold glow. Her body formed from the gem and the quirky Amber landed on the floor. Her form and her outfit hadn't changed at all. Her panicked, bespeckled eyes darted all over the place.
"Amber!" Spinel cried.
"What…? Spinel…? Amethyst?" Amber blinked. "What…happened to you two?"
"Hey, at least we're changing it up a bit," said Amethyst.
Padparadscha's gem was the next to float into the air. With a peach-pink glow, the Sapphire's body formed, starting and extending from her hand. She was wearing the same outfit and the same hairdo, just as Amber was.
Padparadscha calmly took in her surroundings. "...I predict…we will all be poofed."
"No kidding?" Amber asked.
Finally, Volleyball's gem rose into the air. With a pale, pink-tinted glow, the pink Pearl's body formed from her gem. Once her body was reformed, she gently floated back to the ground. With a look of shock, Volleyball blinked and looked around. Almost cautiously, she raised her hand up to her left eye. To her dismay, her face was still scarred.
"Where's Greg?" Volleyball asked.
"He's not here," Amber replied fearfully. "Fire Agate must have taken him. We need to contact Pink Diamond, we need to contact Jasper, we need to-"
The warp pad suddenly lit up. The Topaz guards were still poofed, so they couldn't bow before their Diamond, who stood at Quartz height alongside Greg.
"Greg!" Amethyst and Spinel both ran to Greg and nearly tackled him off his feet as he and Pink stepped off of the warp pad. Greg stumbled back a bit before dropping down to his knees.
"Woah! You both grew!" Greg smiled as he returned the hug. He then held the two Gems in front of them by their shoulders. "I love the new look, Amethyst. Were you going for a more Quartz look?"
"Um…actually." Amethyst looked away and blushed, rubbing her arm in an embarrassed manner. "I…I wasn't trying to look more like a Quartz. When I got poofed, while I was still in my gem. The only thing I kept thinking about and worrying about was…well…you."
Greg's eyes widened, then he smiled warmly at Amethyst, making her blush a little more. Greg turned his gaze to Spinel's new look.
"I know this looks bad!" Spinel quickly stated. "But I swear, I'm not–"
"It's alright, Spinel. You got scared, I know," Greg gently interrupted her. "I've been to a dark place before, too. I know what it can do to you. I'm just glad you're still you." Greg shrugged. "And, honestly? That look ain't half-bad."
Spinel grinned happily. She wrapped her arms around Greg's neck and nestled her head on his shoulder. Greg patted the little Gem's back affectionately as he hugged her back.
"Will you please stop scaring us like that?!" Amber demanded as she walked up to Greg. "I mean, really, are all humans this prone to life-threatening scenarios? Please, tell me. I can use it for research."
Spinel let go of Greg and he stood back up. "It's not like I'm doing it on purpose."
"Ya coulda fooled me," Amber replied. "That being said,"
Amber rushed up and lifted Greg off his feet in a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank the stars above you are still with us."
As Amber put Greg back down, Padparadscha came up and leapt up into Greg's arm. "I predict, we will all be overjoyed by Greg's return!" She planted a sisterly kiss on Greg's cheek. "Myself included."
Volleyball then walked up to Greg. For an unnerving moment, he remembered what the Pearl promised to do in order to keep Greg from leaving the Garden.
Volleyball smiled. "Thank you for not dying, my friend."
Greg smiled back and put Padparadscha down. "Hey, my pleasure, believe me."
"Dude, what the heck happened?" Amethyst asked. "If that Fire Agate psycho wasn't here to kill you, then what did she want?"
"Long story short," Greg spread his arms and smiled. "I got my ticket home."
All of the Gems gasped in shock.
"You mean…" Amber blinked. "You're going back to Earth?"
"Yellow Diamond has agreed to help me send Greg back to Earth," Pink Diamond explained. "She and Blue Diamond are ready to send him home whenever he's ready to go."
"Wha…?" Spinel blinked and frowned. "You're…leaving?"
"I'm afraid I have to." Greg knelt down and placed a hand on Spinel's shoulder, looking her directly in the eyes. "I know this looks like I'm abandoning you, and I'm sorry I have to leave."
"Then don't." Spinel blinked a couple of tears out of her eyes. "Why can't you stay?"
Greg smiled sadly and kissed Spinel's forehead. "I can't help being human. Sooner or later, I would've had to go. All I can promise you is that I'll never forget you, and that I'll always love you, kiddo. In exchange, I want you to promise me that you'll always keep this," Greg reached his free hand up and tapped Spinel's gem. "strong. Keep a smile on this family's face, alright?"
Spinel's lip quivered as she silently nodded.
Greg nodded back. Then he stood back up and faced Amethyst.
"You don't have to say anything to me, man. Don't make things weird, come on." Amethyst looked away and tried to hide her face with her hair. "I'm the whole freakin' reason you're even here in the first place."
"Which is why I have you to thank for making me a part of this family," Greg said.
Even with most of her face hidden behind her hair, Amethyst seemed taken aback by Greg's comment. She looked at Greg, letting her sad eyes appear through her hair.
"Out of all of the Gems I've met, you are, without a doubt, the most…human." Greg beamed at the short Gem. "Thank you for being my friend, Amethyst. You really made this Garden feel a little more like home. I'm gonna miss the heck out of you. Off-color or not, always be proud of who you are, you overgrown grape."
Amethyst blushed once more and smiled at the ground. "Yeah, yeah. You take care, too. And who knows, maybe I'll end up abducting you again in ten years."
The two of them shared a laugh before Greg turned to face Amber and Padparadscha.
"Amber…what else can I say? I owe you my life," Greg said. "On numerous occasions."
Amber gave a not-so-modest wave of her hand and a matching smile. "Oh, stop it. But go on."
"Thank you for the wrist destabilizer. For the cleaning cubicle, for all of this." Greg gestured to the whole Garden. "For everything."
"I am going to miss you…SO much." Amber wiped a tear away and sniveled. "So…so…so much."
"Yeah, same here," Greg said. "I hope it works out with you and Jasper."
Padparadscha walked up and took Greg's hand tenderly in her own hands.
"I know you and I never got a chance to really connect," she said. "But, please know that I care about you greatly, Greg."
"We're family, Padparadscha." Greg smiled and placed his other hand over the Sapphire's hand. "Take care of our family, okay?"
Padparadscha smiled back and nodded.
Greg released Padparadscha's hands and turned to Volleyball. The Pearl gave a polite bow of her head.
"Our time together was short," she said. "Nevertheless, I enjoyed it."
"So did I," Greg said. "Have a good life, Volleyball. You deserve one."
Greg and Volleyball shared a smile. Then, Greg took a deep breath and walked up to Pink.
"Should I contact Blue and Yellow?" Pink asked softly.
Greg stared down at the ground for a minute, as if contemplating something.
"...Before we do that…" Greg looked up at Pink. "Do you think we could go to the Factory? I…want to say goodbye to Peridot and the others before I go."
"Sure, we can do that," Pink said. "Shall we be off?"
Greg nodded. He and Pink walked back onto the warp pad. Greg turned to smile and wave at the Garden Gems he had come to love as family. They all smiled and waved back before the warp pad took him and Pink Diamond away.
"We can keep all this stuff, right?" Amethyst asked.
"That's what I was planning," said Amber.
When the light died down, Greg and Pink stood on a warp pad in the busy environment of the Off-Color Factory. For appearance's sake, Pink Diamond grew to her regular height before heading through the Factory, followed by Greg. Just like last time, the Factory was a bustle of activity like some kind of bee hive. Gems of every shape, size, and color imaginable were in every place you could look, performing some kind of task. Most of the Factory Gems took notice of the presence of their Diamond, and took a brief moment to bow or salute in respect before continuing with their work.
"You really oughta be proud of this place," Greg said. "All of these Gems are alive because of you."
Pink gave a small smile. "The Diamonds…are agents of death." Pink's smile immediately melted. "As long as I can remember, I've only ever wanted to create as well as preserve. The others…they don't care much for that second part."
"But you do," Greg said. "And that's why you're so important to Homeworld."
Pink blushed, her smile returning somewhat.
"Hey, hey! Welcome back!"
Greg looked to see Bismuth make her way through the crowd. The big, sturdy Gem walked up to Greg with a toothy grin on her face.
"By the anvil, he lives!" Bismuth cheered. "Ha-HA! I've met Topaz sentinels and Quartz warriors easier to put down than this crazy human!"
"Hey, Bismuth," Greg greeted. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise, my human friend." Bismuth looked up at Pink Diamond. "You too, I guess."
Pink replied with a calm smile and a nod.
"So, what brings you back?" Bismuth asked Greg. "You wanna jump down into the reservoir again? See if you can get two for two?"
"Yellow and Blue Diamond have both agreed to help Pink Diamond send me home," Greg said. "I just came by to say goodbye."
"Hey, that's great!" Bismuth grabbed Greg's shoulder and shook him good. "Congrats, friend! Wait here, I'll go grab the machine and the two half-sizes!"
Bismuth laughed as she headed off, leaving Greg and Pink alone amongst the bustle of the Factory.
"...Can I ask you something?" Pink asked.
"You can ask me anything," Greg answered.
Pink took a second just to smile at that. "When you get back to Earth…what will you do?"
Greg looked to the side and shrugged. "I'll…pick up where I left off, I guess. I doubt Marty would take me back, so I'll probably have to find a new manager. The state might've proclaimed me legally dead by now. That might be something I'll have to deal with. After that, all I can do is pick up the guitar and do what I do best."
"Do what you do best," Pink echoed. "You still think that's playing music?"
"Well, yeah," Greg asked. "What else am I good for?"
"Being a shoulder to cry on. Being a friend to love," Pink listed off. "Being the most important member of the family, even if no one else realizes it, including yourself."
Greg smiled. "By that logic…I guess we have more in common than we realize."
Pink chuckled softly. "I really, really, wish I could go with you to Earth. Life without you is going to be…drab, to say the least."
"Yeah, I'll admit, there's a part of me that's going to miss Homeworld, as insane as that might sound," Greg said. "There's nothing I'm going to miss more than you, though, Pink."
"I'll miss you, too," Pink said softly. "I…I still wish I could convince you to stay with me."
"You know I can't," Greg replied gently.
Pink nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I know."
"Listen, Pink. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on or a friend to confide in, you still have Pearl," Greg said. "She's a loyal friend to you, you mean the world to her. She loves you. She's in love with you, Pink."
Pink's eyes widened. "She…she… Oh." She looked to the side and bit her lip. "That…explains some things."
"You're not alone, Pink," Greg said. "Even with me gone."
"It's still going to feel like it," Pink said softly. "With you gone…that's going to leave a hole."
"Pink, I–"
"Greg!"
Greg turned to see who had spoken. He couldn't find who had addressed him.
"Up here, you clod!"
Greg blinked. "I know that voice."
He looked up and saw Peridot float down from the air, hands on her hips as if she were Peter Pan. She grinned at Greg's startled expression as she hovered just a foot above him.
"Impressed? Of course you are." The green, triangle-haired Gem wiggled her feet, which were fitted in little, metal boots. "As you can plainly see, I have been most resourceful with the provisions available to me here at the Off-Color Factory."
"Those look uncomfortable," Greg commented.
"They're prototypes," Peridot said. "Successful prototypes–"
Peridot yelped as her legs parted as if she slipped on some ice. She then fell upside down and hung there for a moment before she slipped out of her boots and landed on her head. The boots fell out of the air and both landed on her.
"...But still prototypes," Peridot muttered painfully.
"Do not be fooled by this sad but entertaining display of poor designing," Larimar walked up next to the fallen Peridot. "She has really flourished here. She smiles a lot more than she did back in the Underground. And the word 'clod' is used as more of a standard greeting than it is used as an insult."
"Hey, Larimar," Greg greeted.
"Hello, my human friend," the jagged, icy Gem greeted back. "How nice of you to drop by for a visit."
"This better be important. I have a lot of work to do. This time away from my work disrupts my schedule. The Factory requires my efficiency. Why am I here? Oh look it's Greg. It's nice to see you Greg. I am glad you are not dead. I am very glad. Yes I am."
Greg chuckled at the tall, brownish-yellow Gem who had approached him. "Hey, Sphene. Good to see you, too."
The cyber-Gem smiled, showing as much emotion as she was capable of showing. "What brings you back to the Factory? I am curious. Indeed curious. But still happy to see you again. Indeed happy."
"I just came to say goodbye," Greg said. "Yellow and Blue Diamond are gonna help Pink Diamond send me home."
"You're leaving?" Peridot scrambled to her feet. "Back to Earth?"
"That's right," Greg said.
"Oh." Peridot looked down at the floor. "Well…I suppose…logically speaking…you would possess the instinctual urge to return to your natural environment. You are a human, and humans belong on Earth."
Peridot cleared her throat and looked up at Greg. "I hope for your journey back to your home planet to be safe and secure. And, furthermore, I must express my gratitude for your aid during our trek through the Underground as well as for your tenacious companionship. In addition, I believe I have you to thank for the discovery of my own ferrokinetic abilities as well as my liberation from a callous sovereign–"
"Peridot, for crying out loud, just come here and give me a hug, you little, green clod."
"Okay."
Greg knelt down and let Peridot run up and embrace him. He held the little Gem in his arms and felt that feeling again. The same feeling he felt when he was with Spinel, or Amethyst, or Padparadscha. The feeling of possibly being someone's dad.
Larimar came up and joined in on the hug. The trio that had survived the Underground together hugged it out for a little bit before Peridot released Greg and let him stand back up.
"I'm gonna miss you two," Greg said.
"I will…regret your absence as well," said Peridot.
"That means she loves you and is going to miss you," Larimar said, making Peridot blush in irritation. "As am I."
Greg smiled at them. Then he turned to Sphene.
"I'll miss you, Robo-Gem," Greg said.
"I am not going to miss you calling me that Not at all. No I am not," Sphene said. "But I believe that I am going to miss you, Human Greg."
Greg nodded. Then, he took a deep breath, and turned to Pink Diamond.
"...Is there someplace we can talk in private?"
Pink tilted her head curiously.
The doors to the Fountain Room opened and Greg and Pink Diamond walked in. The door closed behind the Quartz-sized Diamond, leaving her and Greg alone.
Pink Diamond walked up to the fountain's edge and looked up at the statue dedicated to her alter ego, Rose Quartz. Greg walked up next to her. He took notice of Pink's sad and conflicted look.
"How come you didn't tell me?" Greg asked. "You told me just about everything else. How come this was the one thing you couldn't tell me?"
Pink sighed up at Rose's statue. "...When I first began…well…being a Diamond. It was all just a game to me. Everything was. Having a planet, being a monarch, forming a Colony, all of it. But then…the game stopped being fun. I began to realize that I wasn't making something out of nothing, like the Diamonds kept telling me I was doing. I was taking everything, and leaving nothing behind. And, almost suddenly…I hated being a Diamond."
"So you decided to be a Rose Quartz instead?" Greg asked.
"At first, I used my Rose Quartz persona to simply get away from it all. Hanging out with other Quartzes. Sneaking off into the wilderness to see the humans," Pink explained. "I honestly loved being a Rose Quartz. I could really pull off that dress in that body."
"Yeah, you could." Greg pried his eyes off of the statue and blushed. "Uh…sorry. I think you're just as attractive as you're alter ego."
"Awwww. Thank you," Pink said. "Where was I? Oh, right. When the Diamonds refused to let me spare the Earth, that's when I decided to begin a Rebellion to save the planet. But, I couldn't do it as Pink Diamond. So, I recruited Gems to my cause, promising them a new life, free of the Diamond's control with the choice to be whoever they chose to be, as my alter ego, Rose Quartz."
"Bet that was helpful," Greg commented. "Being the inside agent as well as the leader of the opposing team. The old 'Senator Palpatine' situation. It was a clever idea. What's the problem?"
"The problem?" said Pink. "The problem is that I can't stand pretending to be something I'm not. For as long as I can remember, that's all the Diamond's ever wanted me to do. I'm not a colonist. I'm not a tyrant. I'm not an authoritarian. And as appealing as it sounds compared to being a Diamond, I'm not a Rose Quartz."
Pink set her hands on the fountain's edge and stared into her reflection. "And even as Rose Quartz. What good did I do? I saved the Earth and I'm happy I did. But nothing's changed for the Gems. I wanted to give Gems a world, one world, where a Gem could be herself. And I failed."
The youngest of the four Diamonds closed her eyes and let a tear fall, adding to the pool. "So many Gems shattered. So many humans slaughtered. Being Rose Quartz, starting that war…it made me into an agent of death just like the other Diamonds. To this day, I hate myself for being responsible for so much carnage."
Greg slowly closed his eyes. He clenched his fists tight and gritted his teeth, as if preparing to do something he knew was going to be painful.
"...It's worse than you think."
Pink Diamond blinked and looked at Greg. "I'm…sorry?"
Greg groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "...There's something I need to show you. Or…someone, rather."
"I…I don't understand," Pink said.
"Remember where you found me down in the reservoir? Or, where Rose Quartz found me?" Greg asked. "We need to go back there."
"Why–"
"Pink, please," Greg begged. "I need you to trust me."
Pink stared at Greg for a minute. "...O…okay."
"Here we are." Pink looked around at the dark and dreary trench, where the large reservoir lake of water for the Factory lay. "So…what exactly did you find here?"
"Follow me." Greg continued down the dirt beach. "Hopefully, she won't be too pissed about me showing you her camp."
"She? Who's she?" Pink quickly asked. She followed closely behind Greg. "Who did you find down here?"
Instead of replying, Greg silently led Pink down the beach. Pink didn't press him for more details. Instead, she decided to trust Greg, even with her curiosity, as well as her worry, so great.
To Pink's even further confusion, she saw that Greg had led her to some kind of beachside campsite. There was a glowing, blue crystal in the center, surrounded by a bunch of broken, but neatly decorated and arranged, equipment and other such objects.
"What is this place?" Pink asked.
"She's not here." Greg walked up to the water's edge and stared across the lake.
"Lapis?" Greg called. "Lapis! I need to talk to you!"
"Lapis?" Pink asked. "You mean a Lapis Lazuli? Those are Blue Diamond's Gems. Why is one of them hanging around under my Factory?"
"Lapis! Lapis, come on!" Greg shouted across the water. "Look, I'm sorry I showed somebody where you've been hiding, but she needs to know. And I think it's best if she hears it from the both of us. You wanted to tell her, so come on out and tell her!"
"Tell me what?" Pink asked. "Greg. What in the cosmos is going on?"
"I know you can hear me, Lapis!" Greg shouted across the lake. "...I think I know how to get her attention."
Greg cleared his throat. "Come on out, Lappy!"
An arm made out of water rose out of the lake and slapped Greg across the face.
"Ow!" Greg rubbed his cheek. "Come on! That hurt!"
Lapis Lazuli rose out of the water without making a single ripple, in a motion so smooth she looked like she was being raised on an elevator.
"That was my intent," Lapis said angrily. "Do not. Call me. Lappy." She pointed at Pink Diamond. "And why is she here?!"
"Lapis," Greg said. "She needs to know. Everything."
Lapis raised an eyebrow at Pink. "Is that so?"
"I need to know what? What are you two talking about?" Pink asked.
"You mean in addition to the fact that every Gem that was involved with creating your Temple of Emergence was shattered?" Lapis asked sourly as she stepped onto the beach. "Including my best friend?"
"W…what?" Pink blinked. "What…what are you talking about?"
"How about we all sit down first?" Greg suggested. He walked over and sat down by the crystal. Lapis went over to sit down across from Greg. Pink, after taking a moment to stare at Greg and Lapis with eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar, went over to sit down next to Greg.
"Okay, so, what's this about?" Pink asked. "What exactly do you know, Lapis? What did you tell Greg?"
"Everything that you do not know about yourself," Lapis tilted her head, looking almost amused. "Red Diamond."
Pink Diamond recoiled with shock and confusion.
"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you."
–David Foster Wallace