It's the moment a lot of you have been waiting for. Our Pink mother is back!

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Orange smiled as the dropship entered open Sol space, small, familiar planets coming onto the console's scanner, the screen lighting up with a signal that the nearby planets had been pinged on the radar. Leaning forward, Orange tapped on the Captain's command console, bringing up more recent information collected on the previously surveyed planets, as well as a time projection to their arrival of the ship's marked destination. During early lessons, the young Diamond had learned that Homeworld had hoped that the handful of other planets in Sol might have been useful for more colonies in the future. None were deemed viable, at least not the way Pink's colony planet, the Earth, was. If it wasn't an issue with climates, or the gravity, it was the actual make up of the planet, so utterly useless that not even the best Lapis Lazuli would be able to terraform it to work.

The only thing that was noted as a potential interest during the initial survey, by Yellow Diamond nonetheless, was the belt of asteroid around the inner planets of the system, which Yellow specialized in finding useful materials from the planetoids. However, whether from Pink's refusal to have another Diamond stationed so close by, or because it had been pushed off as a potential mining spot after Pink had successfully turned her colony, the ring of asteroids had remained untouched. Hitting another button, a view of the Earth's moon, as well as a basic schematic of the moon base filled the screen.

Orange couldn't remember a time she had felt happier to be nearing Earth's moon base, except for perhaps the first time she had been returning from her first stay with White Diamond, when both she and her Pearl were strangers to her and she wanted nothing more than to be back in her mother's comforting arms and the familiar pink walls of the base's spire.

In all honesty, she was giddy. It had been too long since she had seen Pink, and while not the longest she had been away, it felt like they had been centuries apart. Between her angry parting words and the situation she had found herself in, what had become her surprisingly pleasant life semi-independent from her mother, she felt more than ever the distance that had been growing between them. More so than just physically, but the distance that had been slowly created from her jealousy of the Sol colony to her pulling away in favor of the other Diamonds when she realized Pink would not be there for her as she always had as time went on. As the Sol Colony needed more of her attention when the Rebels began to grow from more than just a simple Rose Quartz gone rogue.

Something she recognized as entirely selfish on her part, not that she saw it that way in the moment. She had been an angry child, feeling abandoned and scared of losing her mother. She believed she had since grown from that experience. A stronger, wiser person, who didn't need be indulged so heavily, but still someone who missed her mother like crazy. Of course, only time would tell if that was true.

It seemed, after every wrong turn she had recently, things were finally looking up. She not only felt more and more like herself, like a person she could be proud of being, she was getting to see the other Diamonds, her family. Her friendships were growing in number, forging bonds outside of what she had always know, more than just the Diamond's Pearls, or an odd guard. She finally felt like she was emerging from the shadows and seeing a light she had only known from a distance. A light that made her feel radiant, powerful, like the gem she wanted to be.

It was wonderful seeing Blue, even with the little hiccup in their time together, Blue somehow always managed to make her feel cared for, even when she didn't know it was something she needed. Experienceing Yellow's guidance again was enlightening, alike and yet so different from Iris Agate's teachings. She had even had a moment to speak with White Diamond and her Pearl days before, when she was calling to ensure she would be able to get to see Pink, considering she was still, technically, under White Diamond's care and seeing Pink Diamond hadn't been on the schedule. White Diamond had agreed and had seemed quite happy for her to be getting the chance to see Pink, saying it would be good for the older Diamond to see her before she came back to Homeworld.

"We will be arriving shortly, my Diamond. The view of Pink Diamond's colony is so stunning, even from here."

Orange absentmindedly nodded in agreement to the voice before she fully registered what had been said, taking a moment to pull back to reality, she turned her attention to the owner of the bright voice.

The Nephrite captain, a different one with a different crew from the one that had ferried her to both Blue and Yellow Diamond's colonies, waited with her hands clasped in front of her for the young Diamond's response. This Nephrite had a cheery disposition and seemed all too pleased to take her to Pink Diamond's moon base before she and her crew would ultimately be stationed on Earth to join the fighting. She had engaged the younger gem in small talk before they had even taken off from Yellow's colony, pleasant and inviting, like every person she talked to was already a friend.

Orange decided she rather liked her, and found it hard to believe she was one of Yellow's gems with how lively she was, not that she was complaining in the choice to have her be the one to bring her to Pink. She had certainly been in the presence of surlier gems who had made rides to a colony unpleasant.

Looking from Nephrite to the viewer, the young Diamond took in the sight of Earth and it's moon, the system's sun set as an almost blinding backlight behind it, while a much smaller red planet she had never bothered to learn the designation of blocked off part of the view at their current distance.

Even after five centuries, the Sol colony that was the sole conquest to Pink Diamond's claim, had not changed much at all. Unlike most of the planets Orange had watched colonized in her life, drained of their life force to the point they withered and cracked apart at it's very core, the Earth had barely been altered at all. It was still the same brilliant blue of a sapphire in the sunlight, landmasses of vibrant green and mountain rock hearty in reds and tans. White-blue clouds marbled over it all, reflecting a spectrum of light from the nearby sun.

When she wasn't thinking of it as some personified thing that was stealing her mother from her, subjectively, it really was a breathtaking sight to behold.

"It is, isn't it?" Orange finally spoke up after what was probably a too long pause from the initial inquiry, but Nephrite was gracious enough to gloss over her distracted state in preference to move towards the consoles, the nephrite to her left turning to acknowledge her captain.

"Contact the base." The Captain told her, "Get us clearance to the moon base before we're shot down, if you would be so kind, my friend."

Orange couldn't hold back her grimace at the unintentional reminder that, technically, she was going into a war zone. One where she, and the older Diamond that was her mother, would be at the safest spot they could be, but a danger none the less. It was a wonder that she was allowed to come here at all, but perhaps White had more belief in her capabilities than she was aware. Or, more than likely she supposed, she simply knew the guards would be enough to stop any rebels with ideas, that is if they somehow managed to highjack a warp pad.

The nephrite crew member gave the captain a single nod before turning back to her own console. "Yes captain. Bringing up coms now."

In mere moments, the skilled nephrite had connected to the base's sky control officer, the screen of the viewer changing and filling with the upper half of a seated gem, enough that the pink diamond symbol could be seen on her multicolored bodysuit. She was a pale lime colored Peridot with square shaped hair even paler than her complexion, accentuated by the darker colors of her suit. Her visor reflected the light of her screens, making her eyes appear dark in comparison to everything else about her, her tone dull while she addressed the ship.

"You are entering the protected space of Pink Diamond's moon base. This is a restricted fly zone." She spoke with a flat, nasally timbre, utter boredom reflected on her face in the form of half lidded eyes and a slanted frown tugging on her lips while she recited a script she must say at least a dozen times a cycle. "Any and all unauthorized ships will be shot down. Reduce your thrusters and transmit your authorization codes within the next standard minute, otherwise I will be forced to initiate the orders to defend our great and magnificent Pink Diamond's base. You have been warned."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't shoot us down. I just had this ship polished before we came here, and it'd be terrible to have it scuffed up like that." The captain responded humorously as she motioned for the Nephirte beside her to begin transferring the requested codes.

The control officer scowled back at the captain, her thin brows pinching together behind her visor. "I don't care about your ship. If you do not have the proper codes, you can retreat or be shot down, the choice is yours."

"Calm down, the codes are being..." The nephrite that had been designated to the job cut in, "Almost...done, and..." the entire crew and young Diamond turned to watch as the nephrite's slim fingers flew over the console, entering commands and typing in long strings of characters that Orange, unfortunately, could not make out from her position in the Captain's chair. In only a few moments, she was leaning back, cocking her head up to look at the Peridot, who was not even paying attention to her but at a screen to her right. "Done."

"One moment." Peridot continued to work on the screen, even after several moments had passed, which was starting to make Orange nervous. What if their codes had been changed last minute? It wouldn't be too outlandish, considering they were entering a war zone.

The Captain, still with that sugary sweet tone, began to tap her foot on the metal flooring, hands clasped together behind her while she tilted her head up to look at the control worker. "We have a very important guest. You might want to hurry."

Peridot's eyes cut to the Captain, narrowed on her in indignation before they returned to her work screen. "I will not be rushed. It is important we ensure..." Peridot began to trail off into silence as her annoyed expression slowly slipped off her face, eyes widening as her jaw dropped, staring at the screen. "We ensure...oh gosh!"

"Is there an issue?" Orange questioned at the same time the Peridot turned back to the crew's screen.

The controller's cheeks darkened as her lips pulled up into a forced, nervous smile, as one would when trying to be polite in an awkward situation."Oh gosh! Oh gosh! Orange Diamond! My apologies, I had no idea this was your ship! Please, continue on, we will have a landing area and escort guard prepared for you at once."

Orange refrained from reacting to the the suddenly nervous Peridot, as awkward as it was, she was aware this would become a common enough occurrence the more she got to travel on her own. There would always be gems to fawn over any Diamond they had not been expecting to interact with. Sitting a little straighter, the young Diamond gave the green gem a single nod, keeping her facial expression neutral. "Very well. Alert Pink Diamond I have arrived."

"Of course my Diamond," Peridot nodded more times than Orange thought was necessary, "as you wish."

Orange turned and nodded at the Captain, and the connection was lost, returning to the view of Earth and the moon base. "Well, did you hear that, Captain?" Orange offered her a small smile, "We have a welcome party awaiting us."

"You heard her, crew." Nephrite cheery tone was loud and clear, all eyes of the crew turning to her. "Let's finish our set course."

"Thrusters reengaged," one of the crew members called out as they all began working on their individual consoles. "Reducing initial speed."

"Pink Diamond's moon base approach." Another called out. "3 minute ETA."

Orange leaned back and watched the main viewer, eyes focusing on two small, mostly unimposing ships that hovered motionless in the empty space above the moon. The sleek gold metal of the octahedron shaped ships reflected the near by sun's light on one side, and the moon's on its opposite. Three leg-like prongs sprouted from the backside of the ship, resting against the back faces of the ship's body, red oscillate lights on their ends the only indication that they were not actually stabilizers for landing.

"Captain, what are those ships?"

The Captain turned to look at Orange Diamond in question before following her line of sight to the ships. "Those are our new imperial warships, my Clarity." Nephrite answered deligently and with as much enthusiasm and excitement as Orange felt just from looking at them. "They are one of three new lines of ships. Quite efficient, and much more maneuverable than the hand warships. I believe they are still a work in progress."

"Amazing." The young diamond mumbled, mesmerized by the ships. She very much wanted one, or at least be allowed to test drive it. It had been much too long since her last hands-on flight and she missed the control over the sleek machines and cutting through a system with abandon.

A few moments later, another crew member was speaking up over the beeps of multiple consoles in use, "We're getting the okay to enter lunar atmosphere, Captain."

"Proceed."

"Breaking through. Slowing to minimal thrust for descent."

The Captain nodded, focusing on the view of the moon base before them. "Take us down."

Touch down was simple and easy, the crew experts at their craft and proud under their captain's enthusiastically delivered praise.

"Radioing in, Captain." The nephrite to her right reported, "Escort party is on standby for Orange Diamond."

Orange stood up, turning to face the captain as she turned to the young Diamond. Twisting her arms into a diamond salute, Nephrite bowed her head to her, "It has been my greatest honor, my Diamond."

"Thank you for the escort, Captain." Orange offered her a genuine smile, "You and your crew were excellent. Do be safe on Earth with those shameful excuses for gems. I'd like to see you back on Homeworld sometime."

"Thank you, my Clarity!" the captain chirped, "We will win this war yet!"

Stepping off the ship alone was odd, considering the last two times she had debarked with it's Captain the last two times. Orange paused on the ramp as she found herself looking down on a line of four gems she wasn't familiar with. Four quartz gems stood with their arms crossed in a diamond salute, head leveled and looking directly at her.

"My Diamond." They bowed their heads in respect, the quartz to the far left spoke up for all of them, "We will be escorting you to the base, Orange Diamond."

"Very well." The young Diamond stepped off the extended ramp, addressing the one who she assumed was in charge, "Take me inside. I wish to see Pink Diamond immediantly."

"Yes, your clarity."

Pink Diamond's compound was much smaller than the previous one Orange had been staying on, which could have been seen as a reflection of how extensively Pink was different to the three diamonds that came before her, but Orange theorized that Pink could have possibly wanted it this way. A simple base for a relatively small planet, less room to be crowded by her guards and soldiers, a reason to be given as much independence as possible. Orange could never comprehend before why Pink would want to be secluded away from her family like that, and to an extent, she still couldn't. But she understood the want for space, no matter how little could be claimed.

Glancing around, the young gem noted new buildings that had been added on the perimeter of the compound, oblong, sleek pink and the source of more gems moving around the grounds than she can ever remember seeing in Pink's command before.

Interested in the changes to the base, Orange turned to the head Quartz soldier, "There is a lot different, and i haven't been gone all that long. Tell me, what has changed?"

The soldier seemed surprised by her question, or maybe that a diamond was even talking to her at all, but she was amenable enough to answer the young diamond's questions. "With the war's change, things had to be built quickly, my clarity, especially on Pink Diamond's base."

Orange tilted her head toward the gem in interest, "Continue."

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Pink Diamond stood in the center of the circular room, hands fidgeting with the ends of her skirt, turning her head towards Pearl to talk while her body remained facing the double doors. Her eyes continuously shifted to the doorway every few moment and losing her place in their jumbled conversation

"Oh, Pearl, what's taking so long?"

Pearl, as patient as ever, allowed her Diamond a moment to breathe before explaining, "Orange has only just arrived on base, my Diamond. It will be a few minutes more."

"Really? It feels like we've been waiting so much longer." Pink paused, going rigid before she turned to look at Pearl with wide, slightly panicked eyes. "You don't think she's having second thoughts, do you?"

"My Diamond?" Pearl blinked, confused, but not entirely surprised by the question. Pink Diamond had been a nervous wreck for most of the early cycle, pacing to and fro in her command room, as if she was anticipating something would go horribly wrong, or already had, and she was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not even Pearl's best words could comfort her, and when they had finally gotten word from the space control that a Homeworld ship had entered Sol space, Pink was darting down the stairs before Pearl could even confirm it was Orange Diamond's escort ship.

"I mean, she might not want to be here." Pink continued, touching her fingers to her lips as she turned to look at the door, her eyebrows slanting up as her eyes shimmered in the light of the room. "She could decide she wants to return to Homeworld."

"My Diamond, please calm down." Pearl pleaded, "It has only been a few minutes since Orange Diamond's landing."

"But-" Pink turned her head back to look at Pearl, eyes wide, but hopefully scared, breaking Pearl's heart.

"If I may remind you, my Diamond," Pearl interrupted her before she could work herself up more, "It was Orange Diamond's idea to come here. She, if you mind my frankness, is very stubborn once she decides something. Much like you."

This got a small smile from Pink, who took a breath while her hand fell away from her face, but returned back to her skirt, "You think so? I suppose you're right. She did seem excited when we were talking, didn't she?"

"Yes. So please do not fret. She will be with us soon."

No sooner had Pearl finished speaking did the doors to the spire open, letting in the natural light from outside and attracting both of their attentions. Pink Diamond's head whipped around to catch the first sight of Orange as she stepped into the building, followed closely by four Quartz guards Pearl had chosen for her.

Pink froze, lips slightly parted and eyes taking on a whole new shine as she stared at her daughter, who hadn't noticed her quite yet, giving her time to take in her appearance without interruption.

If it hadn't been for the guards for a visual comparison, Pink might not have noticed the subtle height difference between them, the older diamond positive she was taller than she had been when she left for Homeworld. She was not only taller, but she seemed to have lost some of the roundness in her face, her eyes sharper and jaw more defined, though it was somewhat hard to tell exactly how much as she had her head turned towards one of the guards while she stepped into the spire's entrance. She hadn't changed too much physically, not that she had expected her to, she still had the same clothes that Pink remembered, and the same long, bright orange hair with those tuffs that stuck up at odd angles, as it always had since she was a baby.

But it was something else entirely that stuck out to Pink, the way she walked, how she seemed to take up more room than just physically between her rather imposing quartz squad escorts. It was in the way her shoulders were squared, her steps confident as she led the four gems inside, like the moon base was hers and she was the one guiding them around. It was simply like a glowing change in the young gem she had cared for, and loved, for centuries. A newfound strength and confidence that she hadn't exactly lacked before, but certainly hadn't exhibited it to such a noticeable extent. At least, Pink had never noticed it until now.

Orange, as if sensing her stare, looked up from the quartz soldier towards the inner room, her body freezing mid step, the young gem stopping so suddenly the escort guard barely had enough time to react and stop from walking into her back. Orange's eyes widened as she met Pink's eyes, fixed only on her to the point the movement around the base was lost to her, the quartz that had filed in behind her respectfully keeping their distance as they waited for Orange to react, or even Pearl, who stood silently beside her diamond, watching the tense exchange with darting eyes, jumping from one diamond to the other while silently willing one of them to do something. But neither of them made a move, Orange standing in the door way and Pink in the center of the atrium, frozen with a look as if the very air of the spire had been sucked into the vacuum of space.

It was Orange that found her voice first, her breath rushing past her lips as she simply uttered in a tiny voice, "Hey."

Pink's eyes teared up, the sound of Orange speaking knocking her from her stupor. In an instant, she was running towards the younger gem and pulling her into her arms for a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed down on the top of the younger Diamond's head, tuffs of hair flattening under her wet cheek while her arms wrapped around her back to hold her close as Orange responded in kind, holding onto Pink as she shakily returned the hug.

"Zirconia." Pink sobbed, unashamed to be crying in front of her own gems, who had paused to watch the scene.

Orange ducked her head under her chin, tears burning her own eyes as her lip quivered until she began to cry herself. "Mom!"

That single word seemed to tip something over in Pink Diamond, her sobbing becoming loud and her hold becoming almost uncomfortably tight on Orange while the younger gem cried into her chest.

Pearl watched, taking a step towards them before she stopped herself from interfering with their reunion, even if her Diamond's sobs were becoming quite ugly and uncontrolled, a distraction to everyone in the base who had stopped to watch the quite touching moment before them. It wasn't exactly every day you saw two of your leaders crying in each other's arms.

Eventually, the tears slowed, and Pink simply knelt down, refusing to let go of her daughter, fearing if she let go, she would never get this chance to hold her like this again. More tears slipped from her eyes as she realized that on her knees, Orange was no longer shorter than her and Pink was actually able to look her in the eye by slightly tilting her head back, a reminder the younger gem was growing up, regardless of whether she was there or not.

"Mom?" Orange's voice was hoarse and throaty, snot stuffed nose and wet eyes that looked down at her when she tilted her head to remain looking at her.

"You haven't called me that in so long." The older Diamond told her earnestly, more tears burning her eyes that she didn't fight.

Orange's eyebrows scrunched up, something between embarrassment and grief twisting her features, "It's not that i didn't want to, but White asked..."

Pink didn't understand why it hurt to hear, she should have known better, knew she shouldn't have been, but it hurt to know it was White that had persuaded her daughter to stop referring to her as her mother. She didn't know why, considering she knew how White Diamond could be, knew that one way or another she would have it her way, but it felt like a betrayal she could never have expected. It made her wonder what else that had caused her grief regarding Orange had actually stemmed from her intervention. What else had White asked her to do?

"But White doesn't have to know." Orange chuckled, unaware of Pink's inner turmoil, worry flickering over her glossy bright eyes when Pink didn't respond right away to her awkward attempt at humor in the tense moment. "I can still call you that, right? I mean it might be weird after everything, but-"

"Of course you can!" Pink cut her off, voice rising in pitch as she leaned back to look her directly in the eyes, one hand reluctantly releasing her back to reach up and brush one of the locks that curled onto her face. "I'll always be your mother. Always."

Orange bit her lower lip to keep from crying out again, "I'm glad. I've missed you so much."

Smiling, a laugh bubbled up in Pink's chest, bursting from her mouth as she leaned her head against Orange's, the thumb of the hand still curled around her cheek rubbed it affectionately, wiping away stray tears of her own. "I've missed you too. I always miss you when you're away from me."

The guard Orange had been speaking with made a loud, short, grunting sound that pulled the two Diamond's attention, the quartz pointedly looked away, but the nervousness of her body language as she shifted from foot to foot, and the way she held a curled hand to her mouth as if she had just cleared her throat and was embarrassed to have interrupted them, made it very clear she was uncomfortable with having overheard their rather emotional exchange. And she was not the only one, the other three guards were determinedly looking away from them, giving them the pretense of privacy, but being unable to move away without specific orders.

Orange blushed brightly, embarrassed herself to have allowed the Quartz soldiers to overhear them, and turned to Pink, who look decidedly less flustered than she, but aware they had perhaps caused a scene unintentionally.

"Perhaps we could go to the command room." Orange suggested, the overwhelming urge to get away from the situation now, or more namely, the gems that had unintentionally just heard her pouring her heart out to the older Diamond while she cried like she was a small child again.

Pink offered Orange a small smile, wiping at a few tears on her cheeks and nodding, "That a good idea." The older Diamond then turned to the guards that had been escorting Orange inside, "You're dismissed. Please return to your original duties."

Pulling themselves together surprisingly quickly, the four gems straightened up and saluted the two diamonds."Yes, Pink Diamond!"

Pink stood up, Orange offering her hands to her mother who gladly accepted the help up. Once on her feet, Pink turned to where she had left Pearl to find the small gem already moving towards them, a small smile on her face as she met her Diamond's gaze.

Pearl turned from Pink towards Orange, bowing her head respectfully, "It is good to have you back, my clarity."

Orange offered Pearl an even smile, "Its nice to see you as well, Pearl. You look well."

Pearl nodded her head once in acknowledgement, "Thank you, my diamond."

Pink sighed, a smile stretching her lips as she looked between the two gems, "I'm so glad to see you two get along."

Orange and Pearl glanced at one another, exchanging a knowing look as they both turned back to Pink. "Of course," Orange responded, "Pearl and I are friends."

"That is right, my Diamond." Pearl nodded again.

"I can never tell with you two sometimes." Pink reached down, either hand going to touch the back of both their heads affectionately, earning twin smiles from the both of them. "But I'm happy to hear that."

"Don't worry about us, mom." Orange reassured her.

At the use of her reinstated title, Pink's smile brightened and she gave Orange a single nod. With a gentle tug in the direction of the stairs where her hands still touched their heads, Pink urged the two to walk with her. "Let's go upstairs. There is so much we have to talk about, Zirconia."

Orange and Pearl followed Pink's leisurely pace to the stairs, Pearl trailing behind the two larger gems and their longer gait, for which they did not take too much notice of, their attention half on the stairs, and half on each other. Making a point to look around as they walked, Orange noted the extra gems inside the spire as well, casting her eyes from one gem to the other as she asked over her shoulder to the older Diamond, "I know there's a war, but why all the gems? You hate having so many in your moon base."

Pink's lips thinned, her own eyes looking to the gems that were slowly going back to their jobs now that the scene between the two diamonds was over, "Yellow...suggested I keep more gems in my base, simply as a precaution. A stupid precaution. I don't need all these guards, or the space control. The Rebels don't have ships."

Orange blinked, a little surprised how much Pink's words rung with her, or rather, how close their words were. How long ago was it she had been saying essential the same thing to Blue?

"It does seem a little like overkill." Orange agreed, counting at least ten gems alone in the atrium, although not all of them were guards or soldiers. "But..." Orange looked back up at Pink, "you're also warring with unpredictable Rebels. It might be better, just for now. If Rose Quartz manages to get inside the base somehow, it could be dangerous."

Pink worried her lower lip between her teeth, looking up the stairs and then back at the younger gem, her eyes showing her protest, even as she spoke, "That is...sound, I suppose. You have been learning from Yellow. You sound like her." She noted.

This earned a surprised look from Orange, that quickly morphed into something akin to pride at the notion, "You think so? I should hope. She's really smart, and I've been staring at battle plans for a week, but it's all been kind of running together. I'll admit, it sort of goes over my head, but I can get the gist of it."

Pink remained silent a moment, thinking over Orange's confession and the expression on her face, and knew this was her chance to learn more about her daughter that she felt she had missed out on. "Do you...do you like battle planning?" she questioned, almost hesitantly.

Orange tilted her head, humming as she considered the question, "Mmm...planning? Not really. I rather just punch things, to be honest." Orange made a quick jabbing motion in front of her as she grinned, obviously happy to be talking about something she liked with Pink, before she hastily added, "If I have to. Or not fight at all."

Pink was the first to enter the command room, Orange and Pearl following in after her. Pearl remained behind to lock the entrance to the room while Pink and Orange began to ascend the stairs to Pink's command chair, ultimately remaining at the bottom of the platform to give the two more privacy.

Orange took the moment to continue talking, "I like the exercise of sparring," she explained further, "but...I don't really want to hurt anyone, if i don't have to."

Pink cocked her eyebrow at Orange over her shoulder, her expression not quite appalled at the notion, consider Orange had already told her about her incident with the Topazes, but something much more akin to confusion. "But you've been learning to fight anyway?"

"Well...what use would I be as a diamond if I can't?" The younger diamond proposed, using the same reasoning she had to persuade White Diamond to allow her to begin her lessons with Iris Agate, "What if I'm ever separated from my guard? I should....I want to be able to defend myself, and those around me." Orange looked to Pink, assessing her expression to judge whether she should keep talking.

Pink, seeing Orange's hesitation, smiled kindly at her as encouragement. "You have always been incredibly smart, my love." Pink stopped to reach out and pet Orange's cheek with affection, "I would never have thought of it that way. Your friends are incredibly lucky to have you to protect them."

Orange's cheeks burned, "I'm lucky to have them." She countered before she could hold onto the words, but she would be a liar if she said she didn't like the praise of the older Diamond. "And a lot of them don't need protecting."

Pink nodded, "But its always nice to know that we can if we need to."

Orange nodded her head in agreement, keeping step with Pink as they continued up the stairs, "Don't get me wrong, I love being able to fight now, it's amazing. I had no idea you could use your body like a weapon." Orange held up her hand, her expression morphing into amazed wonder as she dived back into the topic, "I've never seen you, or the other Diamonds, fight. I didn't even think it was something we do, honestly."

Laughing softly, Pink titled her head as she considered this. "I suppose it could be surprising, fora lot of people. We only would in certain situations."

"That's what White Diamond says."

At the mention of White's name, Pink had to stop the smile from falling from her face, if only for Orange's sake as she continued talking about something Pink could tell she felt passionately about.

"She doesn't really care for my interest in fighting like Yellow does, but she lets me anyway."

"She lets you?" Pink could not stop the raise of her eyebrow or the slight contempt in her voice, but Orange either didn't notice or refrained from commenting on it.

"Well, I had to talk her into it." Orange gestured with her hand as she explained, her smile brightening as she added, "Pearl helped, of course. Well, helped me talk it out some." she chuckled, "she's really smart when it comes to word play."

"Pearl?" Pink's breath hitched as he she quickly enough realized who her daughter was talking about, but asked for confirmation to be sure. "As in White's Pearl?"

"Yeah." Orange turned her head down when she felt her cheek begin to burn, the smile flattening out some as she hastily added, "We, sort of, talk. Sometimes."

Reaching the top of the platform, Orange joined her at the top a step after as she had turned to her. "If I remember right, you called her a good friend before."

"Oh," Orange breathed out in what Pink could only describe as a sigh of relief, "that's right. You know." The tightness in Orange's posture loosened at the reminded, a soft laugh slipped from her lips as she pushed back some of the hair against her neck, turning her head away as she did so. Her eyes looked at the older diamond from the corners of her eyes, gauging her reaction as she admitted, "I...I guess I was getting used to lying about Pearl and I being friends."

Reaching out, Pink gently cradled her face between her hands, turning her head to look at her. "You don't have to lie to me. You can tell me anything, I won't judge you."

"Really?" Orange questioned in disbelief, "I know you and your Pearl are close, but..." Her eyes cut away from Pink's gaze before returning as she asked in a quieter tone, "You're okay with White's Pearl and I being real friends? Even though she's...a different class?"

"Of course." She quickly reassured, her eyebrows turned up at the look of relief that softened the younger diamond's feature. "Do you remember..." She questioned as she comfortingly rubbed her cheek with her thumb, "when you were younger, and you could not comprehend why I was so upset with how you were talking to my Pearl?"

"I...oh." Orange's cheeks flared in embarrassment and shame, "I remember that." She confirmed, her eyebrows scrunched together as she frowned, "I can't believe I...I think back to that, and I wonder how I could think like that.

"You were young." Pink responded, "You didn't know any better."

"But I think about Pearl, and how much I care about her." The younger gem explained, "To think of someone insulting her like that..." Reaching up, Orange grasped the hand that held the right side of her face, giving it a soft squeeze. "I can see why you were so angry at me."

"But you understand now." Pink said pointedly. "That's the important part."

Orange nodded, her expression turning to one of mild frustration a moment later, "I'd punch someone if they talked about Pearl like that."

Pink's eyebrows shot up into her hairline, "You don't need to resort to violence, just because someone has said something you don't like."

"I know." The young diamond's lips pulled at one corner as her eyebrows turned down, "I...I can just imagine it though, and it really makes me mad to think someone could say that to her." Orange explained, "I know it's just my short temper, though. Yellow has been helping me with controlling my anger. "

"Do you.." Pink tilted her head down, her eyes briefly looking away as she searched for the right words, fearing to upset her daughter with the topic. "Are you still having outbursts of anger? Has Yellow been really been helping?"

"Yes. Sometimes." Orange answered easily enough, and Pink got the impression this was something she was becoming used to talking about, and she wasn't sure if she should be proud, or hurt that it was something she had to become accustomed to talking about at all. "I've tried pushing down how i feel, or ignoring it, but that only makes it worse. I tried focusing it into lessons, but I just can't do what Yellow does. I feel...I feel really frustrated. But it isn't so bad when I can take it out in a spar with the Quartz soldiers, or in a long run."

"I'm sorry." Pink blinked back tears that burned her eyes, surprising Orange.

"For what?" She questioned in confusion, alarmed with the sudden change in Pink's expression.

"You shouldn't have to go to Yellow, or anyone for help like that." She admitted her guiltiest thought, "I should have been there for you. I...I've been thinking, of all the times I let you down." Pink pulled away from orange to wipe the tears from her own face, her head turned down in shame, "I promised, the moment I held you in my arms for the first time, that I'd always be there for you, and i fear you're so angry because of me. I've let you down so much, Zirconia."

"No you haven't." Orange stepped forward, reaching out to pull Pink into a comforting hug, making Pink's lips quirk up sadly even as she returned the hug, one hand going to Orange's back and the other weaving into her hair to hold her close.

"How could I not have?" The older diamond questioned, "You...I should never have agreed to White's decisions. I should have fought for you so much harder."

"Don't say that. I'm.." Orange tilted her head back to look Pink in the face, "I'm glad things have turned out this way."

"How?" Pink's voice raised slightly, her eyes widening in disbelief, "How could you be happy that I've left you to rely on the others over me? I'm your mother. I should be the one you turn to for help, I should be the one helping you, and teaching you, and-"

"Mom. Stop."

Letting out a long breath, Pink's shoulders slumped, her grasp on Orange loosening as something that could only be described as defeat came over her face. "I'm sorry. I'm just so sorry."

"I don't want you to be." Orange responded in a much more determined tone, " I...I'm glad for how things have been. I love my time with the others, I'm grateful to be able to see them. You haven't let me down. You've let me grow."

"But-"

"Pink. Mom. Really." Orange smiled, comforting and bittersweet," I...I used to blame you. I used to think that, yeah, you were abandoning me. But in reality, I was being given the chance to be myself."

Pink sniffed, her grip on Orange tightening again as she began to return her daughter's smile more genuinely.

Encouraged, Orange continued, "I could never be who I am if I was always here. I wouldn't have all the people in my life if you had constantly been by my side."

"I still should have been there."

"Maybe." Orange conceded, "But we can't work on maybe's, or should be's. It's happened, theres no changing that."

Sighing, Pink continued to hold onto the hug with Orange with one hand while she wiped at the still falling tears on her face, "You shouldn't have had to grow up so fast. You should still be playing in the base, and pranking the guards, or bothering the Pearls."

"I don't want to be a child forever." Orange countered, "I don't want to prank people. I do other things. I'm...I don't want to be seen as the child everyone has to take care of, or watch out for. I want to be a part of the Authority, and someone the others can rely on. I want to be the Diamond I know I'm am, and someone you can be proud of."

Pulling away slightly, Pink's hands went from Orange's back to cup her face again, "Oh, my love. I'm already so proud of you."

"You are?"

"Look at me?" Pink chuckled humorlessly, "I'm sitting her crying and telling you that you should still be my little baby, but you've grown up so much. More than I ever noticed. You're so strong, and you've already started doing things on your own. You're so unafraid and determined. How could I not be proud of the person you are?"

"Thank you." Orange breathed out, not stopping the tear that escaped to slide down her cheek, a smile breaking out on her face.

Pink raised her eyebrow, "For what?"

"For telling me that. I really needed to hear that from you."

"I thought you already knew." Pink admitted, "I'm so, so proud of you, Zirconia. I loved you before you even came into this world, and I always knew you were going to be someone special. Homeworld is so lucky to have you."

"Hah." Orange reluctantly pulled away, using the back of her hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks, "Are we going to cry all day? I feel like that's all we've done."

"It has been a very emotional day, hasn't it?" Pink agreed, wiping at the wet tracks on her own face, "But it's alright to cry."

Orange grunted in response, as she hesitantly admitted, "I don't like it. Crying makes me feel weak."

"Don't. Don't feel that way." Pink told her, the serious expression on her face surprising Orange as she clarified, "Crying is normal, and it doesn't make you weak. Your allowed to feel, and your allowed to cry when you need to."

Orange nodded, accepting the explanation, though the expression on her face told Pink she wasn't entire convinced, but did not push the matter further than that. Taking a breath, Pink slowly pulled herself back together, feeling much lighter in wake of the high emotions of the day.

Orange sighed loudly, cleaning her face with her hand again and forced a smile her face, "I don't want to cry any more right now. I want to do something happy."

Pink returned her smile, inquiring, "What did you have in mind?"

Looking over her shoulder, Orange looked at the sighting of Pink's colony, clear from her view on the platform. "Tell me about your colony."

Pink's eyebrows scrunched up, "War isn't exactly happy."

"Not the war, the planet." Orange clarified, turning back to the older Diamond. "You always like talking about Earth. I've never really given you the chance to talk about it with me. Tell me about it, and it's organic."

"Are...are you sure?" Pink questioned tentatively.

"Yeah...." Orange pursed her lips and gave Pink a single, firm nod. "Yeah. I want to know. Tell me anything, everything. I want to know."

A few moment passed as Pink stared at her, her expression turning from one of hesitance to something much more elated. Motioning fro Orange to follow her, she lead her to the other side of the desk, sitting on the first step of the stairs and waiting for Orange to join her. Turning to look at the unobstructed view of Earth, Pink began to talk. "The planet...the planet is beautiful, Zirconia. It's still so alive, even after everything."