Sorry for the late update everyone. I'd like to thank everyone for their comments in the last chapter, its really nice to see there are still so many people reading. Thanks for sticking with this. That being said, i also want to say that i am getting a little burned out on this story, which is part of the reason this came out so much later than normal. Im taking a bit more time for myself, so writing is taking longer than it normally does. The next few updates will probably be weekly, instead of every three days like i usually do. I'll eventually pick back up the three days update, maybe after the next three or four chapters, or so, just until i don't feel like I'm dreading writing this. I don't want the quality of the story dropping just for the sake of getting out updates. I enjoy sharing Orange's story, but at the end of the day, I do this for fun, and I don't want it to stop being fun. But I'm definitely not abandoning this story, so don't worry. Hope you you all understand.

Orange sat on the side of Yellow's chair, legs dangling off the side as she twisted around to look at what the elder diamond was doing. She hadn't used Yellow's assistance to get up there, and Yellow had done little more than look up from her screen when the smaller Diamond had begun climbing up her chair, a dark eyebrow raised at what have must have been an amusing site as she easily enough pulled herself up and jumped over to the side of the arm. Yellow did not bother to move her arm as Orange sat down near her, proceeding to stare at what her fingers were typing out.

"What are you doing, Yellow?" Orange questioned, eyes not moving from the screen. Long lines of script covered the pale yellow screen, large blocks of text and the occasion symbol that indicated caste ranks, proceeded by a complicated image of lines and simple shapes she didn't quite understand the order of would appear. Yellow would adjust lines in these images and then add more text below it, explanations and lists of gem types, but no actual designation were added.

Yellow took a moment to respond as she corrected another line on one image, and deleted another entirely, displeasure momentarily twisting her lips downward. "Going over information on troops and formations."

"What troops? Is this about all the gems you're making? Am I aloud to see?" Orange asked in quick succession before Yellow could reply, swinging her legs against the chair, intrigued to see Yellow's more militaristic talents in use. The lines were confusing, and if it weren't for the specific directions in the script, she wouldn't have known what line was meant to do what.

"You may look," The older Diamond's voice was stern, looking at Orange for emphasis in her seriousness, "but do not touch the screen."

"I won't." The young gem promised. Shifting in slightly, practically using Yellow's shoulder as a pillow to lean against, she looked curiously at what was outlined. Now with a clearer view, the diamond read what could be seen before Yellow scrolled up to do more or revise what she already had. The descriptions talked about entire groups of gems, exact numbers listed, as well as destinations with specific coordinates, and where and what sector they would need to be. Looking at another imagine, Orange realized that the triangular symbols represented gems that were in charge of other groups of gems, these captain gems were listed by destination and color coded by outlines in one of three diamond colors. Even just having the head gems listed, Orange was surprised by just how many she was planning to use. What kind of invasion was this? "That's a lot of gems."

"They are more than just my own." Yellow explained, shifting when Orange leaned more against her, adjusting to accommodate the weight being pushed against her shoulder. "This is Blue's." She pointed out a certain section of the screen, and then scrolled up to show more gem symbols and instructions she had fleshed out and already corrected, "And these belong to Pink."

"Oh." The young diamond blinked, glancing over the information as she began to scroll back down. "You're creating strategies for them?"

"Yes. I have a call with Blue and Pink to go over what i have done, and must insure everything is correct."

Orange sat up from leaning against Yellow, looking up at her with wide eyes, "You're talking with Pink Diamond?"

Yellow paused what she was doing to look down on her, an eyebrow raised high and her lips tugging down into a frown before she turned back to her work, "Pink and I may not always agree, but is it really that surprising to you that we speak?"

"No," Orange shook her head, "it's just..." her eyes fell from Yellow's, a more mellow expression sliding onto her face, "I wish Pink would speak to me."

Yellow's head snapped to her, eyes rounded as she blinked at Orange in startled surprise. "What?"

Orange didn't quite understand Yellow's reaction, but answered her all the same. "I tried to call Pink a few times, after I called you and Blue?" Orange waited until Yellow gave her a nod in acknowledgment, "She never answered me. I called her once more, but it was last on Homeworld, so I don't know what time it would have been for her. I know she's been busy, so I haven't really tried to call again....I guess I figure she's just not going to answer."

Yellow's lips thinned out, her eyes slowly going back to her screen were she typed out a few more things before she spoke, "Busy indeed. With the war efforts, she shouldn't have the time for much else."

"War...efforts?" Orange echoed, the breath in her lungs suddenly feeling choking in her throat. "Yellow?"

Yellow looked up again, briefly, and something in the younger Diamond's expression must have been very telling, because her expression softened. "You haven't been told?" She paused, as if considering her own question and coming to a conclusion quickly enough on her own. "Of course not. White wouldn't worry you with such things."

"Yellow!" Orange's voice held a tinge of panic, her eyes wide and demanding, "What war efforts?"

"Currently, Homeworld is fighting an escalating battle against those ridiculous Rebel gems on Pink Diamond's colony." Yellow paused, her eyes narrowing at her screen. "I will admit their leader seems to be at least somewhat clever, considering she has managed to keep an even match of us so far. We are wasting soldiers and resources on something that should have been settled centuries ago, and no matter what strategy I come up with, she always seems to be a step ahead. The whole situation is infuriating."

Orange hardly cared about the rebels, and how difficult they were being for the older Diamond, "But Pink? She isn't..."

"Don't be silly." Yellow chided, "She is fine. But," Yellow amended a moment later, her eyes cutting down to look at her when Orange's head fell into her hands as she sighed loudly, profoundly relieved to hear that. "no matter how busy she is, she should make time to answer a call from a fellow Diamond. I will remind her of this."

Orange's panic at the new information drowned in her sudden elation of the chance to speak with Pink, and she looked up at the larger gem with wide eyes and a growing smile. "You'll tell her to call me? Thank you!"

Yellow's eyes flicked to her and back, a simple nod of her head. "It's a matter of principle, really." Yellow scoffed, "Ignoring one's own peers like that."

Things were quiet after that, Yellow continuing to note things down, and Orange watching her, better understanding what was going on now. But, now that she knew that this wasn't just practice or colonization work, but actual war efforts, it somehow made it all incredibly important for her to know and comprehend. It also made her think on the rebellion, and Rose Quartz, their leader. She was no longer simply blockading Homeworld's efforts to colonize, they were now fully fighting them, so much that Yellow diamond had called it a war. Rose Quartz was meeting Yellow and the other diamond's efforts, which was just...astounding. How could she be so much trouble, and why had it all escalated like this? The last she had given it any attention she had been nothing more than a thorn in Pink's side. It was such a waste of what was obviously a perfectly made gem.

Orange concentrated on the screen when she asked the question that had been gnawing at her, her voice quiet, "We, um, the Authority, is going to stop the Rebellion, aren't you?"

Yellow grunted, her lips forming a frown at the question, and Orange could see it bothered Yellow, or maybe it was that Orange had questioned if they would lose at all. "Yes. Of course we will."

The younger gem frowned, She was not a part of the Authority, and she had nothing but a few gems to her name, and she would not give them up, as much as she wanted to be of service. "I wish I could help."

"You are." The older diamond responded, her hand falling away from her work to rest across her lap while she turned her attention to Orange, which surprised the smaller gem.

"How?" Orange questioned, intrigued how Yellow could ever think she was helping.

"Your visit cheered up Blue." Was her response, "And I am glad for the distraction you have given me."

Orange blinked, her head tilting down as she considered this. She wasn't stupid enough to not understand Yellow was simply offering some comfort for her lack of ability to help, but it was also something to consider that she might actually be some background figure. Not everyone could take the spotlight, after all, right? "So...I'm moral support?"

"Correct." Yellow gave her a single nod.

Smiling, the younger diamond chuckled, pleased she could at least say she was helping in her own way. "I'll take it."

"Mmm." Yellow hummed as she turned back to her screen, "I need to concentrate, Orange."

"Do you need me to leave?" Orange questioned, prepared to vault off the chair to allow Yellow to do her work.

"Only to remain quiet."

"I can do that." Orange nodded, leaning back in to look at the screen. "I'd like to keep watching you strategize."

"Quietly." Yellow reminded her.

"Quietly."

-------------------

Orange sat in her room, cross legged on her bed with a metal bowl laying in the hollow they created, little colored tablets piled inside. The obscene amount was almost silly to see, but Orange shoveled them down like a champ, almost able to completely ignore the taste they left after all this time. After having downed half the bowl, satisfied to have at least quenched the gnawing hunger, an unpleasant feeling she associated with her more organic origin, she had made a game of tossing the tiny pills in the air and attempting to catch them on her tongue. She was quite pleased to be without an audience for her less than delicate table manners, though if she had been back home, the Carnelians would probably have gotten a kick out of seeing her, more often than not, smack herself in the face when she missed.

She was absolutely starving after an impromptu training session with some of Yellow's guard, including the two Amethysts she had fought before. While she wasn't fond of the overly cocky one, who was still quite confident in their 'friendly' sparring session, the more serious one harbored no ill feelings about what happened, and Orange used to chance to speak with an Amethyst freely. She was still nervous being near one, old feelings that she harbored for so long would not die so quickly, but it was a start. When she had arrived back to her room, Pearl having already foreseen her need for some, the bowl awaiting her before she even got back to the spire.

Orange threw another tablet into the air, and was startled when a loud sound from the other side of the room caught her attention. Her head snapped to her desk, the tablet she had turned from hit her head and fell to the bed but went unnoticed and forgotten when the young diamond's eyes landed on her communicator, the little device blinked, chiming loudly to alert her of an incoming call.

She was jittery, overly excited, and incredibly nervous, having finally calmed down her ancipatoon for the call during her spar, only for it to come back full force in that moment. She nearly spilt half the bowl onto the bed as she slung it to the side, getting up from the bed and running to the desk. Before she was even sitting down she was activating the device, just managing to sit back in the chair as she watched with wide, excited eyes as it expanded into a large, two diamond shaped screen. White static temporally filled the screen before it was replaced by a very familiar face.

"Pink!" Orange cried out the moment she saw her before she could stop herself, leaning forward to be closer to the screen.

Pink, much like her, lurched froward from her position in her chair to be closer to her own device, her hands darting out to hold the bottom of the translucent diamond screen, "Zirconia! Oh, stars!" The older Diamond's eyes lit up, her voice cracking as she spoke, "You're alright. I haven't heard from you in so long."

Orange's smile dropped slightly at the reminder, "Ive tried to call multiple times."

Pink's own face fell, excitement and joy being subdued as her eyes widened, her eyebrows turning up and her mouth opening and closing multiple time, like she just couldn't comprehend that. Eventually, she managed to say, "You...you have? I haven't gotten them."

"What?" Orange's eyebrows shot up into her hairline, "That's...that's so weird." Despite the feeling in her gut, Orange began to chuckle as she rationalized the forced silence between them, "There must be an issue with your communicator then. I remember tossing that thing around quite a bit, probably more than i should have. It might need to be replaced by now."

Pink's eyes darted to the right of her at something Orange couldn't see before she turned back to her, the sadness slowly being drowned out by another emerging smile as she looked at her. "Yes, thats possible." She nodded, "Oh, but forget the stupid communicator!" Pink had tears forming in her eyes, her voice taking on an airy quality as she reached up to touch the screen, "It's so good to see you."

"I've missed you." Orange responded, tears forming in her own eyes, realizing in this moment just how true that was.

"I've missed you so much." Pink's tears started to slip down her face, but her smile only widened, "I was...I though- oh, it doesn't matter. I'm just so, so happy to hear your voice."

"It's wonderful to hear you too. But," Orange grinned, wiping away her tears before they could fall, "It'd be even better in person."

"It would." Pink Diamond nodded in agreement, "It's...I miss having you here." She motioned towards the room around her, but Orange understood what she meant. "This base isn't home without you in it."

Orange waited a moment, her eyebrow raising as she asked a little cheekily, "Then you wouldn't say no to a visit?"

Pink's eyes rounded, "Zirconia? I thought White-"

"Lifted my probation." Orange cut her off, "I'm free to go where I please, within reason, of course." Orange explained, "I mean, i plan to stay on Homeworld, but i want to come see you."

Pink blinked, her face falling at the news, "You're...you're going to stay on Homeworld? Permanently?"

"I..."the young diamond smiled despite Pink's reaction to the news, having anticipated she might not be so on board with it, but continued on all the same, "there's so many things i want to tell you about, and talk with you about. So much has happened. So much has changed. I've changed. But-"

"You look happy." Pink interjected, her eyes displaying her surprise of speaking without thinking.

Orange took a breath, settling more into her seat as she thought about the statement. A small, content smile slowly formed on her face as she met Pink's gaze, "I am. i really am."

"I..." Pink shook her head, her expression being replaced by another large smile as she laughed, light and happy sounding, "I'm so glad to hear that."

Waiting a beat, Orange moved on to a more recent topic she simply had to confirm. "I heard from Yellow, the rebels have started a war with Homeworld? An actual War?"

Pink's eyes turned from hers, her eyebrows turning up in what looked like discomfort,"Y-yes." Pink confirmed before looking back up at her, "I am strategizing with Yellow to fight them on a larger scale as i prepare more kindergartens to be created to help the war efforts. I'm having to rush the next one, unfortunately."

"But what about you?" Orange pushed, "Are you safe? You're not getting near the fighting, are you?"

"Yes, I mean, no." Pink shook her head, her hand coming up on the screen, which Orange touched with her own, "I'm safe. don't worry." Pink reassured.

"I'll always worry when it comes to you." Orange responded," That's a two way street, you know?"

Pink's eyes softened, her head tilted to the side as she regarded Orange with an affectionate look, her eyes shimmering slightly with more tears. "Look at you, you sound so wise."

"Hardly." The younger gem scoffed, "I just...things have really changed. I mean, before I left Homeworld to go see Blue, I was training with J9 and G2, they're two of my Topazes i got as a gift from White. Anyway, we were doing this training maneuver that ended up with me hanging upside down from a broken pillar. It was entirely my fault, of course, but it was funny in the moment. Or at least I thought so. Iris Agate, another of my gems, was livid." Orange laughed at the memory, and even more so at the face Pink pulled at the news.

"What?" Pink's voice raised an octave as her eyebrows shot up into her bangs, "Just what are you doing on homeworld?"

"Thats one of those things i wanted to talk with you about. In person." Orange reiterated, "I want to come see you."

"Yes." Pink's response was immediate before she could even think on it, sitting forward even more in her seat as the excitement shown on her face, "Yes! come here immediately."

"How about a week from now?" Orange offered, "I'm still staying with Yellow. I'm spending time with everyone, before my extended stay on Homeworld. I'll also need to see about organizing a ship, and clear everything before hand, since I would have been returning home."

Tears slipped down Pink's face again, "I'll be waiting for you. I'll be right here, waiting."

"I'll see you soon then."

"I look forward to it." Pink sighed, sitting back in her chair, and taking the screen with her. "I don't like being cut off from you."

"I don't care for it either. I..." Orange's eyes dropped from Pink, looking down at her lap, "I know what I said last time I saw you. I didn't mean it." Orange looked back up, her lip pulled between her teeth to keep it from quivering as tears fully streamed down her face, "I'm sorry."

"Oh, love." Pink breathed, her hand going back up to touch the screen where Orange's cheek was, "Don't think on it. I know...I know you didn't mean it. You were upset, and for a very good reason." Pink waited a long moment, allowing Orange to wipe her face, but the tears hadn't quite stopped despite her words. "How...how are you doing about that?"

"I...It's still not something I really ready to talk about openly." Orange rubbed the back of her hand against her nose, sniffing loudly as she attempted to calm her tears, but the relief of having heard Pink had forgiven her was such a big relief, she could help the ugly crying that refused to stop. "But i'm okay. Better, at least." Orange took a deep breath, "Maybe...maybe when I see you, we could talk about it?"

"I understand." Pink nodded, "Take all the time you need. I'll be here."

Orange eventually managed to stem her tears into a few drops falling down her cheeks, sniffing loudly again as she calmed herself enough to look at the older diamond much clearer now that she wasn't looking through tears. "Pink?"

"Zirconia?" Pink mirrored.

Orange gave her a large smile, chuckled born from joy bubbling in her chest. "I Love you."

Tears spilled from Pink's eyes before she could even react to them. "I love you too."

-----------

Orange smiled as she waited for the other end of the call to pick up. Her patience was rewarded as the screen went from static to the view of Blue's Pearl, and even though she couldn't see her eyes, she could tell by the expression on her face, she was surprised to see her.

"Orange Diamond." Pearl acknowledged, "What may i do for you?"

"Is Blue busy?" Orange questioned.

"Pearl," Orange heard Blue speak and she watched as Pearl turned to looked at Blue to the right of her. "Who is it?"

"It is Orange Diamond, my Diamond." Pearl responded.

"Oh!" The sharp note was followed by a sound of ruffling, and Orange waited as the screen was passed off to Blue Diamond, Blue's eyes expressed her joy at seeing her, her lips curing into an open mouthed smile. "Orange! i wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."

"I know, i imagine you're still pretty busy." Orange nodded, a part of her glad to see the Blue was still very happy to see her. "Yellow told me what's going on, with the war with the rebels and all."

Blue's smile fell, ever so slightly, the way it did when she was trying to hide her displeasure about something while keeping up her good mood. "Of course Yellow has told you. She has never been subtle about such matters."

"That might be my fault." Orange's smiled turned sheepish and she chuckled lightly, "I asked, and you know Yellow doesn't care to lie, or side step things. I was worried when she brought up Pink."

Blue sighed, her eyes shimmering as her eyebrows turned up slightly, her smile kind, "There is no need to worry. Pink is safe. we would never let anything happen."

"I know." Orange agreed, "I talked with her earlier. I'm so glad i got too as well." The joy from earlier bubbled in her chest, warming her and fueling her good mood. "Which, brings me to why i actually called, not that i don't enjoy simply seeking with you."

"What is it?" Blue's eyebrows raised in question.

"I have a favor to ask."

"Yes?"

"May I borrow a ship and a small crew?" Orange pleaded, using her best wide eyed look to help push Blue into agreeing, "I know you don't want me flying myself, and while i'm sure Yellow would agree to let me if i asked, i figured I'd respect your wishes to not." she said, and based on the look on Blue's face, the explanation had obviously pleased her. "I really don't want to worry you, but I spoke with Pink, and made very last minute plans to see her."

Blue nodded, "And you need transport to her moon base?"

"Yes, please?" Orange confirmed, "i would be forever grateful."

"Hmmm..." Blue hummed, her eyes falling from the screen to look at something Orange couldn't see before she sighed, turning back to the younger diamond. "Okay." Blue agreed, earning a quick cheer from Orange that made her laugh. "I'll see what i can do. It should be simple with the ships that are already being sent there."

"Thank you, Blue! This means so much to me."

"I know." Blue responded, "Pink will be so excited to see you. She deserves to get to see you as well."

"I'm glad i'm getting to see everyone." The smile on Orange's face was mirrored by Blue, "I wasn't sure i would get to see her."

"Between Yellow and I, we will arrange it." The older Diamond promised. "If that was all, Orange-"

"Work, i know." Orange cut in, nodding, "thank you again, Blue. Really."

"You are most welcome, Orange." Blue giggled, Orange's good mood being contagious, "i will send Yellow the information, so she knows."

"Okay." Orange grinned as she gave her a small wave, "Goodbye Blue. Orange Diamond out."

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Who ordered the feel good chapter? Is it bout time for things to start looking up for our littlest diamond?

Also, on a side note, almost finished with the last of Orange's blog responses that I had, so questions are open again. Get your questions in while you can, since I answer in order of asks.