The walk back to Pink Diamond's base was quiet as Pearl, Sharm, and Chromus walked behind her.
"Are we there yet?" Chromus asked.
"Don't worry, Chromus. We are almost there." Pink Diamond said with a smile.
"You do not need to be so impatient." Pearl said, scolding the taller male gem.
"He is just feeling a bit eager thats all" Shard explained.
"I just wish to rest a bit more before anything else is all." Chromes said, still tired from their duel.
After they walked some more eventually they arrive at their destination, the enviroment changing to a beautiful garden filled with lushy green and plants all alike.
Share and Chromus smiled at the greenery, looking around as they past the plants.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Pearl asked, seeing their expressions.
"Words are not enough." Chromus said.
The garden was a vibrant tapestry of colors and textures. Lush greenery covered the ground in a blanket of varying shades, from deep emerald to bright chartreuse. The foliage was a mix of both familiar Earth plants and otherworldly botanical wonders, creating an otherworldly blend of the familiar and the exotic.
Tall trees, adorned with leaves of various shapes and sizes, reached towards the sky, their branches forming a natural canopy that dappled the sunlight. Rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting patches of warmth and gentle illumination on the garden floor.
Flowers of every hue imaginable burst forth from bushes and vines, their petals seeming to shimmer with an otherworldly luminescence. Some flowers were massive, their blooms almost the size of a gem, while others were delicate and intricate, their intricate designs inviting closer inspection.
As the group continued their leisurely walk through the enchanting garden, they eventually arrived at a central clearing, a space meticulously designed to be both functional and visually captivating. Nestled within this space was a magnificent structure that immediately drew their attention – Pink Diamond's palanquin.
The palanquin stood as a symbol of elegance and authority, adorned with exquisite craftsmanship and the distinctive touch of Pink Diamond's aesthetic. It was a lavish creation, a fusion of gem technology and artistic design. The exterior gleamed with a pearlescent sheen, radiating a soft and inviting glow as it caught the shifting sunlight.
"This is just one example of what makes Earth so amazing, guys. All of this life here that is flourishing and thriving with just simple sun, water, and dirt! It's incredible!" Pink said with a smile. "It's even better than my old garden!"
"My diamond, what do you mean by that?" Shard asked.
"Hmm? What do you think I mean by this? Is it that complicated? Its just beautiful." Pink said to him, still smiling.
"What my brother means is, when did you have a previous garden and where?" Chromus asked more clearly.
This question made Pearl flinch a bit as Pink Diamond looked sad for a moment before shaking her head.
"It's not important. It was a long time ago, Chromus." Pink Diamond said.
"I'm sorry, my diamond." Chromus said with a bow. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's alright, Chromus. You didn't know." Pink Diamond said, giving a sad smile.
"A-Anyway how are things around here my Diamond?" Pearl asked, trying to change the subject.
"They've been going well. My duties are going well, it's everything I'd imagine being in control of a planet." Pink said with a smile. "We're even making a improvements to the base on the moon."
"What is it like on the moon?" Shard asked, as he never set foot on a moon before and wondered if it was different from Earth.
"It's like…..being weightless. Like gravity has no hold over you like it does on Earth." Pink Diamond said with a smile.
"But that's only if you let it, my diamond." Pearl said before turning to Chromus and Shard. "In case you two didn't know, our hardlight bodies allow gem to adapt to any kind of gravity at our command."
"But what about us? Our bodies are made of crystals. Could we be weightless?" Chromus asked.
Pearl opened her mouth only to close it as she complied her thoughts before answering him.
"You two are still a mystery so far as Im concern, there is a possibility of it being the case or not." She said.
"Hmmm but maybe we can solve it." Pink said, smiling as she got an idea.
Pearl then looked at her Diamond, surprised a bit.
"Are we planning a trip to the moon soon then, my diamond?" Pearl asked.
"Yes, Pearl, just to check in the improvements and construction but maybe I'll allow two more to tag along to see." Pink said, smiling at Chromus and Shard.
The two new gems seemed to be happy to be able to see more of the universe, that sense of curiosity kicking in. Like what the Earth looks like from above, what the stars look like up close, and what the moon base itself looks like on both the inside and outside.
They would soon find out as Pink Diamond led the small group through the breathtaking garden, each step revealing new wonders that left Chromus and Shard in awe. The lush greenery, a blend of both Earth's flora and exotic gem creations, surrounded them in a vibrant tapestry of colors and scents.
They could actually smell the scents even if they didn't have visible noses, loving the garden even more.
"Where are we going?" Shard whispers to Pearl.
"Just a little walk. Just enjoy, Chromus." Pearl whispered back.
As Pink Diamond led the group through the enchanting garden, the path eventually led them to a clearing where a gleaming warp pad stood, its surface reflecting the vibrant hues of the surrounding foliage. With a faint, anticipatory smile, Pink Diamond turned to her companions.
"Shall we take a little trip to the moon?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Chromus and Shard exchanged eager glances, their curiosity piqued by the prospect of exploring new horizons. Pearl, always vigilant, nodded in agreement.
"Of course, my Diamond. We are ready to accompany you," Pearl affirmed.
With their consent, Pink Diamond stepped onto the warp pad, its surface humming with energy beneath her feet. One by one, her companions followed suit, their forms becoming enveloped in the familiar cascade of shimmering light. The warp pad's glow intensified, enveloping them in a brilliant display before dissipating entirely.
The two brother were amazed by the warping energy around them, making them feel like they were flying in the air as they looked up to the endless energy. But as the warp pad's energy enveloped Chromus, his mind raced back to their earlier conversation within the enchanting garden. Pink Diamond's words about the other garden, one she had spoken of with an air of mystery as it echoed in his thoughts. He found himself fixated on the idea, wondering what wonders and secrets might be concealed within that unexplored space.
As the shimmering light of the warp pad swirled around him, his mind's eye conjured images of that second garden. He imagined vibrant, exotic flora unlike anything they had encountered before, colors and shapes that defied imagination. He envisioned a tranquil oasis, a place of respite and tranquility that stood in stark contrast to the bustling world they inhabited. The allure of the unknown tugged at him, and in his mind's fervor, he unwittingly reached out to that image.
-Moon Base of Earth Colony-
Once the warp was complete and the beam of energy arrived on the moon, Pink Diamond and company stood proudly inside of the moon base as the darkness surrounded them.
"Pearl, some light please." Pink said.
"Of course, my diamond." Pearl said before a light beam came from her gem.
"Whooooa, so this is the moon base?" Shard asked in awe.
"Indeed it is, Shard. This is my moon base." Pink said with a smile, gesturing to the building. "This is just the entrance area. Just up above us is the control room."
"Can we go to the control room?" Shard asked, looking up to the roof.
"Aboslultely, the best view is at the top." Pink Diamond said as she turned around to them. "Now let-"
Pink stuttered as she lost her smile, staring at them in shock as her arms dropped down limp.
"My Diamond? Is something wrong?" Pearl asked in worry.
She noticed that someone was not there, a missing piece.
"W-Where is Chromus?" Pink asked, finding her voice again.
"Chromus?" Shard asked, looking to his side but saw nobody there! "Brother!?"
"He's gone!" Pearl said in shock, looking around the area but found nothing.
Everyone was there except Chromus who for some reason had suddenly dissapeared from the rest of the group.
And if he wasn't there, then where in the universe could Chromus be?