"You just put one foot in front of the other, like this." Peridot explained, annoyance reeking through her tone of voice. She walked a few paces in one direction, then turned and walked back to her starting point, pacing the floor in front of the young gem. "Now you do it."

Julianna wobbled slightly as she tried to walk, her legs shaking beneath her. Usually, the process of hatching required a few days of recovery, but Peridot had decided not to waste time on such trivial matters, so Julianna was very weak. She struggled with every step, her small body trembling with exhaustion.

"Mama, I'm tired." She murmured, finally collapsing in front of Peridot's feet, struggling to keep her eyes open.

Peridot scoffed and rolled her eyes, then scooped her up off of the floor as if she were a garbage bag. "Alright, then. I suppose we can't skip your rest time." She carried her into the adjacent room, where the makeshift beds were set, Julianna's right beside Peridot. Truthfully, adult gems did not need sleep, but it proved to be a good transitional time between working shifts, and this way they didn't require the usage of extra power for lights while it was dark. So they had learned to imitate the diurnal habits of humankind.

She lowered Julianna onto her mat, not taking any care to be gentle with her, plopping her down like a sack of potatoes.

Too tired to protest, the gem slumped over the edge of the mat, her arm and part of her torso hanging over the edge. She had already fallen asleep in Peridot's arms, and was too tired to notice any discomfort. Peridot shifted her position so she stayed on the mat, not wanting to deal with her inconvenience if she were to fall off. She walked back into the next room and continued her work for the Diamond Authority, careful to stay under their radar so they didn't find out about what she had been up to. Julianna was her little secret, and that was how things were going to stay.

-Ten Years Later-

"Julianna," Peridot spoke. "It's been years since you were harvested. You're a skilled gem now, and it's about time you started being useful. Starting now, you're going to be my assistant."

Julianna's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh yay! Your assistant!"

Peridot rolled her eyes. "Now, pay attention, cause I'm only going to explain all of this to you once." She stepped around the base, teaching her how each machine worked and how to use them. "Here's a list of everything that needs to be done. When I return, I expect them to be done. And don't leave the base." She left without waiting for confirmation, trusting that she'd be obedient.

Julianna hummed to herself as she worked, checking items off of the list with ease. She had a knack for technology, as had the previous Pink Diamond. After she completed her work, she began to grow bored, and her gaze shifted to the door.

"Don't leave the base." Peridot's words echoed through her head, but she ignored them. "How bad could it really be?" She wondered aloud, cracking open the door and stepping outside for the first time.

"Hi!" A light and airy voice echoed from a short distance away.

Julianna searched for the voice, the whoosh of wings echoing above her head as the gem landed in front of her. She jumped slightly, startled.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." The gem grinned slightly, her wings dissolving into a puddle beneath her feet. "I'm Lapis Lazuli."

"Julianna." She replied, studying the gem's features. She was very different from Peridot, which was rather odd. She thought that there were only two kinds of gems.

"I don't think I've heard that name before." Lapis mused. "What gem do you have?"

"Um, diamond. I think? I'm not sure."

Lapis chuckled. "You seem a little sheltered. What do you say we change that? I'll take you out to see the world."

"Yeah, I'd like that. If it's not too much of a bother."

"Not at all; I've been rather lonely lately."

"I have been too." Julianna admitted. "Can you teach me how to do the flying thing you just did? It looks so cool."

"Uh, I think that you can only do that if you have water manipulation power… Which you don't, you don't have the right gem for it. But I'll fly up and carry you. You look small."

"I take it that's a good thing?" Julianna asked.

"Oh, yeah, it is. I couldn't carry you if you were a quartz. Now try to keep still." She lifted her beneath the arms and spread out her wings, taking to the sky.

"Whoa!" Julianna exclaimed, her eyes widening as the world became smaller beneath her.

"Alright," Lapis chuckled. "I'm gonna move a little bit, so don't get too scared." She flew slowly at first, giving Julianna a bird's eye view of the gem colony. Julianna marveled, never having seen anything besides the inside of Peridot's base.

The rooftops peaked against the sky, the gems walking on the streets smaller than her thumbnail. The coming setting of the sun painted the skies beautiful shades of purple, the colors darker towards the land.

"I wonder why she kept me inside for so long," Julianna thought to herself. "It's so beautiful out here…'

Just as soon as it had started, their flight was over, and Lapis set Julianna back down in front of Peridot's base.

"I'm sorry we couldn't stay up there longer," She apologized. "I know you were having a lot of fun. It's just that I'm not a very good flier yet, and your added weight makes it a bit more difficult."

"Oh.. I didn't think I was heavy. I'm sorry."

"No! It's okay, really. I'm just not very strong." Lapis admitted sheepishly. "And besides, I have to get back now anyway. It was nice to meet you, Julianna."

"You too, Lapis Lazuli."

"Just Lapis."

"Okay, Just Lapis."

"No," Lapis chuckled slightly. "Lapis."

"Okay. Lapis... Did I do it right?"

"Yeah, that's it. Goodbye, Julianna, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Lapis!"

For the first time, tomorrow began to seem like a desirable prospect