Chapter 19: Story of Rose: Reconsider
"We respect you, Rose Quartz," Yellow Diamond said, squeezing the bridge of her nose, "but we can't respect your wishes."
"But there is life on that planet! Please Yellow Diamond," Rose Quartz insisted. "We invaded a planet that bears life. I suggest we—"
Yellow Diamond slammed her hand down on the table. "Enough of this, Rose! Your mission was to plant Kindergartens all over that planet so we can grow our armies. If you do not, we will have no choice but to terminate you. Do you understand?!" Silence spread through the room where the Diamonds sat. Rose Quartz closed her eyes, stood up and left the room. Blue Diamond shook her head as she left.
Back on Earth, she and Aquamarine had finished the job. The drills were doing their jobs just as programmed. They injected Gem DNA into the crystals inside the crust and incubated the Gems inside before they were ready to hatch. Several Gems were left inside a Kindergarten as they grew to look after the one that were made. Rose Quartz looked at the Kindergarten's destructive powers. The land, it turned so gray, so dead. It became nothing more than a desolate wasteland filled with artificially made creatures that were being thought nothing but how to fight.
"Is this all we are?" whispered Rose, looking down at the first Gem of this Kindergarten coming out. Aquamarine was down there, examining the Gem. It was a red one with short, light-orange hair. "Aquamarine! I'm leaving back for Homeworld." Aquamarine saluted her and returned to her work.
Back on Homeworld, Rose sat in her home after checking in with the Diamonds. Her room was larger than a normal Gem's home as she was ranked near the Diamond's authority. Her home was pink with the diamond symbol engraved on her desk and door. She was filling out approval forms and licenses for Gems who have proven themselves to move up a rank or are trying. Not many people are able to pass the tests. Many have died in the process. The thought of the Kindergartens on that planet haunted Rose's thoughts. They suck up the life from within the planet in order to create new life. It was a disgusting thing. "I have to do something about it..." She stopped her work.
Rose walked out of her home. Outside, Gems walk along the sidewalks of this part of Homeworld. This was the largest city, housing the largest population on Gems. Some conversed with each other like friends, some sat silently, minding their own business and some rushed to places unknown. Rose walked down there and was greeted with much praise. Everywhere stopped and bowed and moved out of her way as she walked down the streets of the city. Rose headed towards the Diamond's castle to try to change their minds once again. But if it didn't work, then she would have to do things herself.
The Diamond's castle was an amalgamation of three castles, each controlled respectively by White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, and Blue Diamond. The castle looked like a fusion of all three Diamond. Rose Quartz lived right below the castle. Then the classes lowered down to the newborn Gems who were still in training. Some of them were made in the Kindergartens.
Rose walked inside the castle. The door was opened for her by a Pearl, one of many that were owned by the Diamonds. This one had a round Gem on her neck. "Ms. Rose Quartz," the Pearl bowed, "you are here unexpectedly."
"Where is Yellow Diamond?" Rose asked.
"She is out for now, milady."
"Then I will wait for her."
"Very good, milady. This way."
Later, when the sun was almost set Yellow Diamond returned to her castle she found Rose sitting near the front door, talking to one of the Pearls. The Pearl looked past Rose and panic. She stood up and left in a hurry.
"I hope this isn't about the Kindergarten, Rose," Yellow Diamond said. Rose looked at her. Yellow Diamond grimaced. "Why are you so persistent towards that insipid planet?"
"Because this one is like none other, Yellow Diamond," Rose replied, standing up. "There life on that planet, just like on ours, and I can't bare to watch that be destroyed. There is another planet right next to it. We can use that one."
"Yet there are no crystals on that planet. The planet the Kindergartens are on has an abundance of crystals, far more than we've ever had. Do you even realize the extent of what an army we can create? Do you, Rose?"
"I do, but who are we to destroy life that already exists? All life is beautiful, Yellow Diamond, whether it's use or them."
"What can they even contribute to our society?"
"It's not our society for them to be in. Let them create their own. They're intelligent. Just like us. When I went back to Earth to finish the mission, I acquired one of the creatures living on the planet and brought here to Homeworld, if you would like to see."
"Fine," Yellow Diamond said, narrowing her eyes, "but this better not be a waste of my time.
Rose led Yellow Diamond to a prison cell. To much of her own dismay, she has no choice but to imprison the creature in a jail cell. The creature was a burly, hairy thing, covered in sweat and dirt, clothed in filthy rags. It hid in a corner, scared. Since it arrived, it had no food or water and was on the verge of death. But it was only to the Gems' ignorance that it was in such a state. On sight of it, Yellow Diamond glowered, staring the creature directly in its sunken eyes.
"What is this?" Yellow Diamond inquired, gesturing to the creature.
"They're called humans," Rose replied, "though the dominant species, they are not the only ones who inhabit the planet. There is much more to—"
"Enough, Rose!" Yellow Diamond shouted. She was fed up with all of this. "You show me this thing and expect me to reconsider the Kindergartens on that insipid planet? You are a fool for ever thinking of this. I don't know what goes through your mind, Rose, but this will stop here and now. You are to never bring this up again, do I make my self clear, Rose Quartz?"
"Yes...ma'am," Rose whispered.