The next couple days were a rush of activities for Steven. He hardly had the time to actually sit down, think and process anything that's happened since his kidnapping/surrender. A Pyrope was assigned as his teacher for etiquette. She teaches him how to behave in public, how a diamond should present themselves, speak and look. Their relationship started off… rocky to say the least… Pun intended.
A chime sounds throughout the room Steven had claimed for his office. He didn't want to work and have lessons in the same space he relaxed in, so, with Pink Pearl's help, he had one of the many empty rooms in his palace furnished. There's a desk the perfect size for him with a chair and a small carpet underneath. There's a few extra chairs and seats against the far wall, several of which are diamond sized.
He moves to stand in front of his desk while Pink Pearl answers the door, wringing his hands nervously. She hardly has the door opened when Pyrope, fancily dressed in pink red and white, pushes past and strolls into the room.
"It is I, Blue Diamonds most fabulous, elegant, poised and loyal Pyrope!" She sweeps her arms out, gesturing to herself with her eyes closed and a pleased smile on her face, before bowing and elegantly sweeping her arms into the diamond salute. "Come all the way from managing the lustrous Blue Diamond's most successful and productive colony to instruct the radiant Pink Diamond on the art of etiquette and decorum!"
When she's, finally, finished with her… introduction, Steven awkwardly clears his throat, "Um, it's… Nice to meet you?"
Pyropes eyes fly open and she gazes in shock at what appears to be a small organic being standing where Pink Diamond should be. Smile, turning wooden she glances around the room, as if expecting someone to jump out from behind a chair and yell "gotcha". When nothing happens she drops the smile and looks simultaneously disgusted and offended. "What is the meaning of this!? I knew Pink Diamond was prone to pranks but this! This is simply insulting!" she practically shrieks.
Steven frowns and looks away, nervously wringing his hands together more.
"My Pyrope," a pearl Steven hadn't noticed following Pyrope speaks up. She's standing next to Pink Pearl near the door. The two could almost be twins, though this pearl is a slightly darker shade of pink, matching Pyrope, with reddish pink hair in a short round bob, wearing a dark pink, almost maroon, leotard and a long poofy reddish pink train. Her gem is on her stomach just like Pyropes as well.
Pyrope doesn't bother to turn to look at the pearl, simply continues to look Steven up and down with disgust, "What is it Pearl?" the high, lilting tone of her voice from before is gone, replaced with a slightly deeper, wooden, tone. The sound is unpleasant to his ears to say the least.
The dark pink pearl is incredibly soft spoken, especially compared to Pyrope, "According to the report that came with Blue Diamonds request, that is Pink Diamond."
Pyropes' expression goes blank as she summons a hard light tablet and begins reading. The rapidity in which she jumps from arrogantly performative, to disgusted, to simply nothing at all, makes Steven dizzy. Her face flushes suddenly with embarrassment as she reads, the emotions suddenly clear and open on her face. Putting the tablet away she claps her hands, summons a hand fan and covers the lower half of her face.
"My most sincere apologies, my diamond, for the failure of my pearl to properly inform me of your… situation. I will be sure to have her properly punished and replaced at once!" That high lilting tone returns to her voice, though her fan hides the expression on her face.
Steven's head snaps up, "No it's okay! She didn't do anything!"
"Precisely, my diamond! She didn't do anything. A pearl who cannot keep me well informed, and causes such embarrassment to one such as myself, is a useless pearl, and a useless pearl is a worthless pearl. I will not have a worthless pearl in my service, tarnishing my pure reputation." She snaps her fan shut, both Pink Pearl and Pyrope's Pearl flinch at the sudden, sharp sound. "Now then! Why don't we start with the basics; posture and articulation."
Her sudden shift once again from hidden anger and embarrassment to lecturing throws him off. For the first time Steven's met someone he's fairly certain he doesn't and won't ever like. Even Aquamarine had to prove just how nasty she was through her awful actions when kidnapping his friends and him but this gem has done nothing but talk and that's enough for Steven to decide he's not a fan. Maybe the lessons will be different though, she's clearly respected by the other diamonds so there has to be something good about her. He just needs to give her a chance, get to know her. Maybe underneath it all she's actually as soft as her pinkish red updo looks.
"A diamond is the highest ranking gem in our society, and as such you must conduct yourself in a manner befitting." Pyrope begins to walk around him, "Back straight, shoulders back, chin up!" she pokes and prods him with her fan. He does as she says, though uncomfortable.
"As a diamond your mere presence must command respect and awe from your subjects."
On and on she went, lecturing about proper grammar, enunciation, posture and so on. Steven did his best to follow her instructions. She wouldn't let him sit, he had to stand the entire time with perfect posture. Every time his focus waned, or his posture faltered, she would prod him in the back with the point of her fan. He got the feeling she was doing it more out of anger at him for her mistake, taking advantage of her current standing as someone with some form of authority over him, despite his rank. A mistake she blamed on her Pearl. He definitely doesn't like her…
For hours they worked until Pink Pearl spoke up. "My diamond, your next appointment will arrive shortly."
Pyrope dissipates her fan, "Well then I suppose we shall stop here for today. Until our next lesson, my diamond." She and her pearl salute him again, then leave his office.
Steven sighs and sinks to the floor, leaning back against his desk. Pink Pearl kneels on the floor next to him. He hadn't even gotten the chance to actually talk to Pyrope. She wouldn't actually hurt her pearl would she? That had to have been just a show or something because she was embarrassed… right?
"I'm gonna have so many bruises…" he peeks an eye open, "What appointment is coming up? I thought we had all day blocked off for her."
Pink Pearl smiles, "You did my diamond. There is no appointment, but I could tell you were getting tired and probably hungry so… I lied!" she giggles
Steven stares, dumbfounded for a moment before a large grin splits his face and he starts laughing. "Thank you Peony!"
Pink Pearl's giggling stops suddenly, "Pe-ony?" She tilts her head to the side.
"Yeah!" Steven leans forward a little, "It's a nickname."
She waves her hand, "Oh I know what a nickname is. Pink used to come up with nicknames all the time but… I've never had one of my own. What's 'Peony'?"
Steven sits up fully, relieving the pressure on his bruised back, "It's a really pretty flower on Earth. It comes in all sorts of shades of pink. Humans like to grow them in their gardens."
Pink Pearl, now Peony, smiles in glee, "I love it!"
The next day is his first lesson on gem history with a gem named Hessonite. At first he wasn't sure what to make of her. She's loud and kind of full of herself, like Pyrope, but it didn't take long for them to warm up to each other.
"My diamond, Hessonite, has arrived."
Just like yesterday Steven stands in front of his desk when Peony announces Hessonite. He takes the opportunity to practice some of what Pyrope taught him. The night before he decided the sooner he picks up on it, the sooner his lessons with her will end, and after what happened he really doesn't want to be around Pyrope more than he has to. Just like with Pyrope, Hessonite practically shoves her way past Peony. Unlike Pyrope, she kneels in front of him while saluting him. Thankfully he's getting used to the whole saluting thing, though he still doesn't like it.
"Hessonite, Yellow Diamond's most loyal general, at your service."
Steven waits for her to stand before greeting her, "It's nice to meet you uh, Hessonite."
She frowns, but wastes no time, standing at attention and staring at the far wall. "During Pink Diamond's war, I was on the front lines, commanding the majority of my diamond's armies. I have proven myself indispensable and as such I am the only gem, outside the radiant diamonds themselves, with the expertise to educate the new Pink Diamond, Steven Diamond."
Steven has to suppress a giggle. She's acting as if he's interviewing her for a job. Despite standing at attention he can see her fidgeting a little, feet twitching where she stands. Standing still must be difficult for a soldier like her. A lightbulb goes off in his head, he's got an idea.
Clearing his throat he speaks, "Hessonite, while you educate me on gem history, why don't we go on a walk. I don't wanna, I mean, I would rather not be cooped up indoors all day."
Surprised, Hessonite nods her agreement and they walk around Homeworld together while she talks. She tells him of the known origin of their species with White Diamond as the first gem in existence followed by Yellow and Blue, then later Pink Diamond. She talks of several smaller wars in the past, some against natives of planets being colonized, and taking the opportunity of their stroll to show him several murals and statues in their honor. Many of the murals make him cringe, the images displayed on them unsettling him to his core. Hessonite spends a little too much time telling of her exploits and accomplishments, especially during the war 6,000 years ago. She commanded many gems, including drop ships filled with quartzes and agates, and piloted by only the best nephrites. Her stories remind him of something.
"What did the drop ships look like?"
She waves a hand somewhat dismissively, "Back then they were grayish white disc shapes with large clunky, rectangular, legs for landing and dropping off our foot soldiers."
Steven gasps, "Centi!"
Pausing in their walk, Hessonite folds her arms behind her, "What was that?"
Steven explains the corrupted gems to her, and tells her of one they named "Centipeedle". He tells her of his first interaction with her, when he couldn't even summon his shield, accidentally popping her bubble and befriending her, then trying to heal her. He grows sad as he explains, she was healed enough to tell them some things, but quickly reverted, and now she's locked in one of the drop ships still on Earth with several other Centipeedles.
Hessonite stares at him in silent shock. Peony standing demurely behind them stares at the floor wide-eyed. Both thinking the same horrified thought.
What horror has our young diamond been through?
Coming to a decision, Hessonite clears her throat, "May I offer a suggestion, and ask a question, my diamond?"
"Uh… sure?" Steven shrugs, having long abandoned trying to keep up with the "decorum" stuff.
"I suggest speaking to my diamond, Yellow Diamond, about this in further detail. She may be able to help come up with a solution to healing these corrupted gems. At the very least I'm sure she'll find this information interesting, if horrifying." He agrees, given her curiosity when he talked about corruption before she seems the most likely of the diamonds to be willing to help him heal them.
She then asks, "If you have combat experience, would you like to spar? Much like with our walk today, I find it much easier to teach while moving."
Taken aback, Steven has to think for a moment. The gems never really sparred with him, preferring practical experience until Connie started to learn sword fighting with Pearl. That never sat well with him, how it felt almost as though Connie's preparedness and safety in battle was valued more than his own. Granted he didn't really like fighting to begin with, especially back then, so he understands that a large part of it was to teach her how to protect him. Especially when Pearl got into the whole "knight" concept. That was scary, the thought of Connie sacrificing herself for him… Those thoughts have contradicted and circled around in his head for a long time now, so he has no trouble simply pushing them aside for now, shaking them off.
Steven grins at Hessonite, "I'm not very good, but I'd love to spar and tell you about my fights with corrupted gems while you teach me more about gem history!"
That was all he needed to do to earn Hessonites respect and possible friendship. Moving down to the quartz barracks Hessonite orders the training soldiers away so she and Steven would have plenty of room. When they begin sparring it becomes clear Hessonite is much stronger than him and going easy on him, but he still held his own with his shield against her sword. As they traded blows across the training grounds they also exchanged stories. Hessonite tells him tales of battles during her time in Pink Diamond's army, Steven tells her of battles with corrupted gems. He tells her of the battle with the giant puffer fish, and how a family of humans were able to cleverly help them poof it, and of the giant glow worm that ate bright stuff and how he tangled it around the posts of a wooden dock causing it to collapse and poof the gem. While he talked he also showed off some of what he's learned. Changing the size of his shield, using it to skate/surf across the ground, and his bubble, adding spikes to it.
Though Hessonite had just been humoring the young diamond at first she quickly grew to appreciate and respect his abilities. He may be physically small, and weaker than many gems, he makes up for it by being clever and resourceful. Plus she finds his dramatic flare as he talks and acts to be completely charming. He's a lot like herself! Glancing around her she can see the same reflected in the faces of the bystanders that have been trying, and failing, to pretend to not be watching. This hybrid is not their former Pink Diamond. He's better in many ways. A diamond willing to get down in the dirt with them, willing to earn their loyalty through more than his mere existence. He's going to be their diamond. Their Steven Diamond.
Across the universe, through the darkness of space, on a small blue planet, in a small house on the beach nestled in the arms of a massive goddess statue, a warp pad chimes and lights up the otherwise empty home.
Pearl steps off the warp pad, panicked and muttering, "We'll never get that drop ship to fly! We need to get to Homeworld! Who knows what they're doing to Steven!"
She paces around the beach house, around a sleeping Lion, muttering to herself. As Garnet and Amethyst try to calm her Connie and Greg notice the sky growing darker outside despite the rather clear day.
"Uh, guys?" Connie gets everyone's attention, pointing out the window just as a red teardrop shaped ship flies into view, its shadow that had been over the house, disappearing as it flies overhead.
They all run outside to watch as the Roaming Eye awkwardly flies over the water then back before crashing somewhat roughly into the sandy beach in front of the Big Donut. The gems rush to the site as humans crowd the boardwalk to get a look at the strange craft. The newly appointed mayor, Nanafua, and her security team work to keep order and keep the bystanders back.
As Connie, Greg and the gems reach the ship its hatch opens and someone tumbles out, wearing a familiar white and blue tunic and loin cloth. A young man stands up, spitting sand and muttering something about "Stupid alien ships and their stupid difficult controls" as he shakes the sand out of the shock of orange curls atop his head.
"LARS!" Sadie rushes out of the Big Donut and tackles Lars to the ground. He sputters as more sand gets in his mouth.
The gems rush to him as well, everyone talking over each other, asking what happened, how he escaped, was Steven with him and so on while Sadie just hugs him tightly.
"Everyone calm down." Garnet steps back out of the Roaming Eye. No one had noticed her silently walk off looking into the ship for their young hybrid.
The group goes silent as she walks back to them, Pearl fidgeting with her ribbon in anticipation. Everyone's faces fall, losing the little hope they had gained, when she shakes her head. Steven's not on the ship.
Looking down at Lars, still on the sand with Sadie, she gestures back to the temple, "Let's go somewhere more comfortable and talk."
Lars nods, face serious, but as he stands everyone can see him shaking. Sadie stands with him and takes his hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb. They all walk to the temple together.
Lars and Sadie have only been on this side of the beach, let alone into the beach house, a couple of times. Considering the crazy weirdness of Steven and his family, the house is oddly normal. Open floor plan with a kitchen to the right, living room to the left, bathroom down a small hall and stairs leading up to a loft bedroom. The only indication of Steven's family's weirdness, aside from the giant statue holding the house, is the crystal rock walls in the back of the house with a shining warp pad and a single door decorated with a jeweled star.
Garnet gestures to the couch so Lars and Sadie make themselves as comfortable as possible while everyone else does the same around the room. Greg sits on the end of the couch near the stairs, Connie, joined by Lion, sits on the stairs and Amethyst sits on the coffee table while Garnet and Pearl stand nearby.
"Please, uh…" Pearl starts.
"Lars" Sadie pipes up, frustrated they didn't even know his name. She knows for a fact Steven talks about them and the Big Donut all the time. They've even joined him for a donut several times. They should know who Lars is by now.
"Right. Lars. Please, tell us what happened." Pearl finishes, looking a little ashamed of herself.
Lars takes a deep breath, he's avoided thinking too hard about what happened. Trying to prevent the inevitable anxiety attack. It was difficult while alone piloting a stolen alien ship but now it's impossible to avoid.
It's okay to be afraid.
Stevens' voice echoes in his head. It's okay to be scared, but he's not going to let that stop him, not anymore. So he takes another calming breath and retells what happened after the ship left the atmosphere with him and Steven trapped inside.
"That big yellow one held Steven and me while trying to fix something or other that was broken. Steven and I argued then had this, kinda, touching moment I guess. He admitted he was scared… and stuff…" Lars crosses his arms. He's not good with relaying emotions, especially his own, so he's fairly uncomfortable. Especially given the tears building in everyone's eyes.
"Next thing I know the yellow one is crying and offering to help us escape." Frowning, he wonders what those two Topaz are doing. He hopes they're okay, they seemed pretty nice. "It didn't work, we were caught and still taken to their planet. Steven called it Homeworld I think."
"We were separated for a while. I was kept in a small white room. Then the part of the floor I was sitting on lit up! Next thing I knew I was in this massive room, Steven sitting nearby, two ladies with these glasses things that only had one lens,"
"Monocles." Pearl provides
Lars waves his hand dismissively, "Yeah. That. Anyways there were also two ladies who kinda looked like you," he points to Pearl, "except one was yellow and the other was blue. What was really freaky though was these two absolutely massive women! They had to have both been like… at least 50 feet tall! One was Blue and looked really depressed, the other was Yellow and kinda hotMEAN! She looked kinda mean!" Lars blushes bright red. He wouldn't be surprised if steam started coming out of his ears.
The gems don't seem to notice his slip up, though the humans certainly do, especially Sadie who's giving him that look. If he hadn't just been through some seriously traumatic stuff, he'd be in so much trouble right now… Instead Pearl covers her mouth with her hands, gasping, and Garnet clenches her fists at her side, both shaking intensely.
"The Diamonds." Pearl whispers, "He was on trial before the Diamonds!" Everyone is silent, in shock and fear, so Lars continues the story.
"Uh, um. I tried asking Steven what was going on, but suddenly one of those bubbles was around my head. I couldn't really hear anything after that." He looks down.
"They talk for a while, even let Steven talk a bit. Not sure what he said but next thing I know he's by me and popping the bubble. He says they want to examine him or something, but I dunno, he seemed pretty worried. Then he just smiled and told me they were sending me to a place called "The Zoo"" he shudders, "It sounded awful but Steven told me not to worry. He even told me how to get out."
Lars hugs himself, tears in his eyes, "Then just like that I was on another ship, and then stuck in that weird zoo…" Sadie hugs him tight, offering what comfort she can. She can only imagine how awful the place must've been, especially given how Lars is currently dressed.
"So? How'd you get that ship and get home?" Amethyst asks. Everyone else seems confused on that part but she's pretty sure she knows exactly what Steven told him to do.
"Yeah that was the easy part. Steven told me I just needed to get enough humans upset and freaking out for the gems to show up, then ask them for help. He told me to mention someone named 8XM?" Amethyst grins, she was right.
"So I just used my epic skills of making-everyone-around-me-hate-me™, and BAM! All those weirdo humans start freaking out, a door opens and a bunch of purple and orange ladies rush in. I hid in the bushes a bit until a small one that kind of looks like you," he points to Amethyst, "but red, walked by. I talked to her, she talked to some others and they got me out of there." Carnelian Amethyst grins wider. "While they kept me hidden from some loud, shrieking blue lady, I explained what happened with Steven. After that they helped me sneak to one of those ships and told me what symbols meant what and what buttons to press to get home, and here I am."
Lars positively deflates, exhausted and ready to sleep for a week. He looks up as a hand lands gently on his shoulder. Garnet is staring down at him, he can see himself reflected in her visor, with a small smile on her face.
"Thank you for telling us. Why don't you head home and get some rest?"
"W-what about rescuing Steven?" he asks.
This time Amethyst speaks up, a bright smile on her face, "Dude! You just dropped the best ticket for saving Ste-man on our doorstep. We had no way of even getting to Homeworld before, and you just brought us an entire ship!"
Pearl grins and adds, "You've done more than we could have hoped. You rest, we'll save Steven."
Lars gives them all a shaky smile, and he and Sadie head back to his house. He misses his mom and dad. Plus he's incredibly hungry. Those fruits from the zoo helped, but they're too sweet for his taste, he'll be glad to never have to eat one again.
"You know Lars, not everyone hates you." Sadie pipes up as they walk down the beach.
He smiles a little, thinking of Steven, and her, and his parents, "Yeah. I know."
The gems, Connie and Greg watch the two leave, hope and determination sparkling in their eyes.
"Amethyst, go get Peridot. We need someone who can pilot." Garnet's visor flashes in the light.