It's a beautiful day for a walk.

It was the first indulgent thought Iris Agate had as her mind wandered from the current training session, tuning out the infuriating banter of the two brawlers, a skill she had quickly acquired in order to keep sane. Instead, her focus moved to the tops of the buildings she could see just past the two hulking gems. It was mid cycle, the daylight bright but obscured by a heavy dose of clouds that had been gathering and moving as one throughout the day, bronze-lined and uninterested in the restlessness of the gem cities underneath. How she wished she could take a single day to be so carefree, to not have a single worry nagging at her.

The normal silent hum of the city was momentarily drowned out by the loud smack of skin hitting skin and then the rumble of stone as the pillars, already unstable with small hairline cracks, shook more pebbles free that clattered to the ground, a few managing to roll and scatter off the side of the floor and fall down to the open abyss below. The noise signaled Iris to return her attention to the two large gems grappling in the center, none the wiser of the damage they had done around them.

On the floor, underneath Orange's locked legs, J2 groaned. Twisting to her right in an attempt to break free, but the young diamond only tightened her legs around the topaz's arm, both hands holding wrist and forearms while digging her heals into her wide chest, effectively keeping her in place under her.

"I give! I give!" J2 howled while smacking the ground with her free hand until the diamond's coiled grasp loosen on her arm, and on instinct rolled away, getting up onto her knees before she stopped to cradle her arm.

"Orange Diamond is the winner." Iris called, hands motioning to the side of the room the royal gem was on, officially ending the sparring match.

"Thats two to one, J." Orange grinned, hopping to her feet much more enthusiastically than her partner, unfazed by the sour look she was getting as the other gem grumbled.

"I thought you were gonna pull my arm off." J2 complained as she stood up, hand still sliding up and down her arm, the thin marks on her form proof that she had been hurt, if only barely.

"It was a loose hold!" Orange remarked, hands resting on her hips as she frowned, "You could have gotten out."

J grunted, hand falling away to point an accusatory finger at the larger gem, "I think you forget not all gems have the same constitution!"

Orange, to her credit, paused a moment to genuinely assess her parter, before asking in a quieter, concerned tone, "Was I really being too rough?"

"J2, stop being such a wuss!" G9 interrupted, jeering from where she stood on the sidelines with Iris Agate. "You got pinned like someone fresh from the hole. What were you doing?"

"I wasn't expecting to get my legs swept, okay?" J shot back, eyebrows pinching in anger at her fellow gem, who reacted by taking a step toward the approaching topaz.

"That's enough." Iris stepped in before it could evolve into anything more, waving her hand in dismissal of the two's argument, "You lost fairly. G9 is to tag in now."

"Good!" J's hand motioned in the air at G9, "Lets see you do better."

G9 grinned, slapping J2 on the shoulder as she walked passed, only to have her hand forcefully swatted away, "I'll gladly show you how it's done."

"All talk." J2 sneered, waving her partner off and then turning, heading to stand beside Iris as G9 had before her. "Don't come crying to me when you break your visor."

Orange looked between the two white topazes, forehead creasing as her eyebrows knitted together. As G9 took her place in front of the young Diamond, Orange leaned in to question her in a hush tone, "Whats going on with you two?"

G9 pursed her lips as she rolled her eyes, flapping her hand in the air as if to wave off Orange's question, "It's nothing. J got a dressing down earlier, and is blaming me."

From across the room, J2 stomped her foot, voice echoing as she yelled, "It was-!"

"Quiet!" Iris screeched, eye narrowing in warning at the taller gem beside her, "I said no more. Do not embarrass yourself further."

J2's mouth shut, the corners of her lips turning down as they pressed together, cutting her eyes to Iris, displaying the indignation she could not speak. A moment where she appeared she may say something ended when her mouth turned down, eyes narrowing to match Iris', but only a nod and simple "Yes ma'am." Were given in response.

Looking away from the two gems, Orange's eyebrows turned up in a questioning look at G9, "I've never seen you two fight. Should I be concerned?"

"Nah." G9 grinned smugly, "She'll get over it."

"I can hear you!" J yelled, both G9 and Orange glanced over their shoulders at her, seeing the angry tint of color creeping up her neck.

"She's awfully mad." The diamond commented, earning a shrug of indifference from her partner.

"In your stances." Iris' voice carried over the room, interrupting G9 before she could speak further. "Begin in three."

Orange was the first to move into position, widening her stand and bringing her arms up in front of her, waiting as G9 did the same. "Are you ready?"

G9 chuckled, a wide, toothy grin formed as she rolled her neck, "When it comes to hand-to-hand combat, no one is better than me."

"TWO."

"Boastful." The young diamond matched her grin, "We'll see."

"Just because your bigger doesn't mean you'll get lucky and win this time." G9 teased, "Don't forget who has won all our other matches."

"ONE!"

"Then maybe its time for a change." Orange was the first to move, quickly advancing across the small space that separated them, fist raised to strike.

As the count of one was called, G9 dropped, her body weight spread out with her legs and effectively becoming a wall that stopped Orange in her tracks, arms grabbing her and stopping the rush attack that had been coming for her.

Gritting her teeth, the Diamond latched onto the topaz's arms, and with her right leg, hooked it around the leg closest to her and pulled it back towards her, using her arms to push G9 backward in an attempt to set her off balance and knock her leg out from underneath her in one move.

G9, however, was ready for this, and pushed Orange away, surprising the diamond as she was suddenly stumbling backwards herself, attempting to find her center before G9 was coming at her, taking advantage of this moment of shock to land a punch on the diamond.

Bringing her arms back up, Orange took the hit and then lashed out, swinging multiple punches that forced G9 to step back, but largely ineffective as she either blocked with her forearms or ducked, allowing the diamond's fist to rush past her until Orange had to step back too for a momentary rest.

As was their normal dance when sparring, G9 took her moment to go after the larger gem, using her experience to her advantage to adequately judge how Orange would react, landing more hits than she was taking in return.

Crossing her arms, Orange blocked one large fist, ducked under another, and blocked a third strike that she knew was supposed to surprise her. Pushing away a fourth attempt, Orange swung forward, taking a step as the topaz took one back, deflecting the hit with the back of her forearm, and then taking one in the chest as the diamond ducked low under her guard and jabbed up.

Staggered back, G9 wasn't put off for long, delivering a series of mock blows that were guarded and allowed her to land real hits in less effective areas, but she knew they would add up over time, and it was, as far as she was concerned, only a matter of time before she had Orange Diamond pinned down.

Orange's guard lowered as her eyes shot up to look over G9's head and the large gem took the moment as her attention was diverted, G9's fist knocking her in the jaw and sending her crashing to the floor with a noise Iris could only describe as a startled tiny organic beast.

G9 dropped out of her stance seconds after, arms thrusted into the air as she made a motion of exasperated confusion, "Oh come on! What'd you lower your guard for?"

The rumble of a large ship had everyones head turning, eyebrows raising in surprise as all eyes followed a familiar blue ship, large metallic fingers lancing the thick clouds as it came down.

"That." Orange said, though no one looked away as Blue Diamond's ship circled the diamond square to their left before finally docking.

Already abandoning the notion of completing the session, Iris turned back to the group of gems still watching the ship, as if they'd see its owner before she retreated to the safety of the building.

Orange, still on her butt from G9's punch, rocked onto her back, the quick movement pulling everyone's attention as her legs kicked back over her head and in one smooth motion launched herself up off the ground, starting in a sprint the moment she landed on her feet until she was at one of the pillars that had began to crumble. But this was of no concern to her as she stood near it, watching the handship, a large open mouth smile lit up her face as she yelled, "Blue's home!"

Iris, in no rush, walked to stand beside her diamond, taking a moment to look as well, but she could see no movement from where they were, especially as White Diamond's headship partially blocked her view. Without looking from Blue Diamond's palace, Iris cocked her head so her question was clearly directed at Orange, "Were you expecting her?"

"No!" The young diamond responded, stepping precariously close to the unguarded edge of the room, moving from one foot to the other as if she could manage to shift to the side enough she would be able to catch a glimpse of her fellow Diamond, though, logically, Iris knew she would be able to do no such thing. "She shouldn't be here for another two weeks."

"Odd." Was all Iris offered in way of response, crossing her arms and continuing to stare at the diamond's ship.

Orange, in a split decision, turned to the Agate, eyebrows turned up and an apologetic smile told Iris all she needed before her Diamond was even talking. "I'm sorry Iris, i know i cut our last session short-"

"Go." Iris waved her hand in dismissal.

Bright orange eyes blinked once, twice, before the young diamond asked in a suspicious tone at her trainer's quick surrender, "Iris?"

"I am your Agate." Iris said as she turned her head to address her superior, "I have no say in if you stay or go, and you have obviously made up you mind."

"Really, Iris." Orange offered her another apologetic smile, but she was already stepping back towards the exit as she spoke, "Double time next session?"

Iris stared at her a moment before turning away, back to the ships that remained idle in her peripheral, "We'll see."

Orange turned waving at the confused Topazes as she began a fast pace jog for the doors, calling over her shoulder before she was out of sight, "Sorry again, Iris!"

"Mmmh."

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

At the bottom of the spire, Orange's personal guards, Carnelians 5PX and 7PX killed time waiting, talking quietly with one of the spire's Amethyst guards, the three caught up in quite debate until she looked up and noticed the quickly approaching Diamond. Pointing her out to the two Carnelians, she broke away from the group as they turned to look at their charge, confused why she was there so early.

Orange rushed past the two Carnelians, motioning for them to follow her, which they did after a shared look of uncertainty, rushing to catch up as the young gem had never stopped for them.

"My Diamond?" 5PX questioned as she fell into place beside her, taking large, quick steps to keep up.

7PX huffed, eyebrows turned up in alarm as she took her place on the opposite side of her, turning her head in an attempt to catch the Diamond's eye, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm done with training today and we're heading straight for the bath." Orange responded as she descended the remaining set of steps in twos, making it difficult for her guards to keep up as efficiently. The stairs they were on would take them to a back entrance where they would easily slip unnoticed, as they always did, and take the bridge across to return to White Diamond's palace, meaning the guards had a limited amount of time to find out what they were rushing for. "We're making this quick. I'm going to see Blue Diamond, she's just arrived."

7PX, taking advantage of being the taller of the two guards, managed to keep step with Orange, hands held out in front of her, palms up, in a questioning gesture, "But-"

"No but's," the young diamond cut her off, the happy smile on her face making it hard for the Carnelian to know if she was actually being reprimanded or not as she wagged a finger at her, "i'm walking in, getting out, and we're going."

"Wet?" 5PX blinked, confused, "I'm not even sure your water is ready. You know that is something that-"

"Don't care," Orange cut in, "whatever is there is fine. We're going to see Blue Diamond."

7PX, ever the voice of reason, shook her head, "We haven't gotten permission to leave, my Diamond! We can't just go-!"

Stopping suddenly, the Carnelians nearly tripped over their own feet as they stopped, the anxiousness the situation brought clear on their face as they turned to Orange when she addressed them both, some of the amusement lost to annoyance, "I'm going, and that's final. We won't be seen anyway." Orange waved her hand, beginning to walk again at a much more manageable pace for her guards, "You can send a message to White and Blue's Pearls if that will make you feel better," Orange offered as she gave 7PX a look over her shoulder, "but i'm going. I want to see her, and i'm going to see her."

Behind her, the Carnelians shared a tight lipped look before turning to look at their charge, "Yes, my Diamond."

Bringing up a screen to quickly work from, 7PX was already beginning a message to the two Pearl's to make them aware of the situation, and the stubborn Diamond's wishes. 5PX glanced at her partner, and then back to Orange as they made it to the safety of the bridge, "Will you need assistance in the bath?"

The young diamond smiled at 5PX, not at all easing her worry, "I'm not soaking today, i'm just using the stairs. Its fine."

"You'll be dripping all over the palace," the carnelian countered, "are you sure-"

"The keepers will take care of the few drips of water, I'll dry my form, stop worrying so much." Orange waved her off, 5PX's shoulders slumping as she turned to look at 7PX for help, but she was still busy composing a message for one of the Diamond's pearls, which one she wasn't sure, but she hoped it was White's. No one would be able to stop Orange in her tracks quicker than White's Pearl, that she knew. By whatever powers she held over the gem, 5PX was wishing for some of it now.

"Are you sure she is even staying long enough for a visit?" 7PX asked over her work, the question slowing their walk as Orange turned to look at her over her shoulder, confusion twisting her sweaty features.

"The Diamonds come and go all the time," the guard elaborated, "this could just be another one of those. Is it really important enough to potential waste the trip?"

"It is to me!" Orange said a little more harshly than the Carnelians we're used to being talked to by their superior, "It's why I want to go. She would have told me if she'd be here."

"I..." 5PX paused, lips pulled back in a grimace, "Forgive me if I'm being too forward, my diamond, but why would the diamonds tell you?"

Orange, once again, stopped to turn and address her guard, eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I just," 5PX hesitated, "why would they tell you when they are coming? It's their business, maybe she isn't planning to see you."

Orange took a moment to figure out a response, a force chuckle blew past her lips, "Don't be ridiculous. They always tell me when they'll be near." She reasoned, waving 5PX off and then turning to enter the palace, "Blue wouldn't come to homeworld and not see me. Im just saving her the trouble. I'm going."

5PX breath out, running a hand into her long hair as she exchanged another look with 7PX.

"Yes, my diamond."

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

The time in the bath had not been as quick as she had wanted, a reminder from 7PX that appearing before another diamond in such a disheveled state was not acceptable, and she had to relent to her reasoning. Her hair fought again the water weighing it down, sticking up at odd angles and matting against her skin in others spots, not to mention her form still bore scuff marks that she would not be able to get rid of by simply changing her form and had to physically scrub the dirt that had been layered onto her skin. Blue would lecture her if she appeared before her still marred and dirty from her training, a lecture she had heard one too many times.

As such, by the time they were making it across the secluded walkways meant mainly for the privacy of the Diamonds, Orange had become impatient and annoyed, aware the Carnelians were attempting to change her mind or outright stop her, thought it was little too late now that they had left White's palace and Blue's was before them.

No one had contacted her, nor had Pearl come rushing down from White's ship to stop her as she knew the Carnelian's had hoped for. Whatever their issue was, she would deal with after she had seen and had time with Blue.

As it was, peering at the entrance to Blue's palace from their spot on the connector bridge, they could see that the guards were out in full squads, a result of their Diamond being present she knew. Unfortunately, not one face looked familiar to her, which meant no one knew her either. A problem, given she could not outright tell them they were dealing with a Diamond.

Orange frowned as they were halted at the doors by the two Amethyst guards on duty, each wielding a destabilizing lance, which they crossed together in a gesture that clearly told Orange and the Carnelians that they were not to attempt to enter.

The Amethyst to the left was the one to address the trio, "Blue Diamond is not receiving any guests."

"We are expected." Orange told her, but was only met by the buzz of an activated lance.

"I have orders to not let in anyone-"

"We are here on White Diamond's command." 5PX interrupted, all four gems turning to look at her as she stared hard at the gem holding the active destabilizer. "You may contact either your own diamond, or White Diamond to verify. But know this, you are impeding our great diamond's orders, the longer you make us wait. What is your designation, so that I may be able to inform my Diamond which gem came between her personal gem's task and the time constraints given."

The trio watched, the hesitation clear on the guard's face before finally she moved her lance, her partner following suit, the buzz silencing as she stood at attention. "I will inform Blue diamond you have arrived."

The three remained quiet as the doors opened, the main atrium of the palace sparkled in azure light and polished crystal, the opulent stone walls were lined with carved gem statues that trickled water down into etched stone reservoirs.

As the doors closed, Orange turned to 5PX, eyebrows raised in shock, "How did you know that would work?"

"I didn't." The carnelian wheezed, hand over her chest as the color brightened on her cheeks, "For a moment, I was afraid she was actually going to do it, but who in their right mind would stand in the way of White Diamond's will?" She took a deep breath, laughing, "And we're here, so I figured we might as well get what we came for."

Orange's eyes softened at the red gem, "Thank you. I know neither of you wanted to come."

"It's more," 5PX paused a moment, hand making a circular swooshing motion as she settled on what to say, "We worry about leaving the palace so suddenly. Especially so close to your induction. There's no telling who is waiting to catch a glimpse of you."

"Or worse." 7PX chimed in.

"I guess I hadn't really thought of that." Orange admitted, hand reaching up to rub the back of her neck, "I just wanted to come see Blue. Nothing else really mattered, I've always been safe with you guys, so why worry?"

"As flattering as that is," 7PX said, "I prefer if this is a one time thing. We really shouldn't have just left like that."

"It'll be okay." Orange shrugged, "We haven't gone far, and you sent those messages, so everyone important knows." She cocked her head to give the carnelian a reassuring look, "Plus, I'll be under Blue's supervision. Everyone is happy."

7PX hummed, unconvinced, "I suppose."

Nodding, the Diamond began to lead the way further into the building, pass a few sparse guards and a lot more carved decorations of faceless gem statues. "Let's go see Blue and then we can go back. Will that make you feel better?"

"Yes." 7PX agreed, nodding her head when Orange glanced over her shoulder to look at her, "Yes it would."

"Alright. A half hour at most, and then we go." Orange then motioned with her hand for the guards to follow her, leading the way towards the anteroom that would ultimately allow them access to the rest of the palace, "Come on, let's go find her. She can only be in a few places."

Upon passing between the large doors that separated the two spaces, 5PX pointed to their left, her companions turning their heads to look as she exclaimed, "Hey, look! Isn't that that creepy gem from before?"

"I think you're right." 7PX agreed, "It's that Pearl, but I don't see those Topazes anywhere." She added after a moment of turning her head to look around the incredibly large room.

"Maybe she's waiting for them." Her counterpart suggested.

7PX hummed a moment, eyebrow raising as the two Carnelians looked at each other, "You think?"

"Well, what else could she be doing?"

Orange narrowed her eyes at the lone figure, simply standing to the side of the room, completely ignoring a group of pumice gems as they attempted to blend in with their surroundings, as if to be invisible to the gem idling silently as they tidied the already spotless area around her. The Carnelians said nothing as the young Diamond suddenly diverted her path to the gem, who turned to look at them as they approached.

"Hello again, Orange Diamond." The Pearl spoke, a smile already forming her lips into a more spine-chilling welcome than one would hope to be greeted with.

The two guards eyed the pearl wearily as they neared, both moving a little faster to keep side by side with Orange.

7PX inclined her head towards Orange, lips pulling back into a frown of nervousness, "Are you sure we should be going near her?"

"She's giving me the creeps." Five added, disregarding Seven's attempt to be discreet, speaking in a stage whisper loud enough that the pearl tilted her head towards the quartz, the carnelian flinching under her obscured gaze.

"Don't look at her." Orange barked, stepping to the side to partially block the Pearl's view of 5PX, which made the small gem turn her attention back to the young diamond as they stopped in front of her. Pearl, to her credit, did not flinch at all as the much larger gem towered over her, purposely being intimidating as she questioned, "What are you doing here?"

Pearl bowed her head, "My job, your radiance."

Orange stared impassively at the White Pearl, boring into where she knew her eyes would be under the mass of bangs clumped on her face. "Which is?"

Arms held in front of her, hands clasped together in a show of respect, the pearl answered matter-of-factly, "To follow orders, as is every Pearl's job."

Orange's frown grew to bared teeth, eyebrows turning down in very visible anger, "I know you were following me."

"My diamond?" Pearl tilted her head, "I'm afraid i don't know-"

Orange shocked the carnelians as she reached out, grabbing the pearl roughly by the long collar of her suit, eyes staring angrily at the gem as she lifted her effortlessly off the ground. Orange's voice was low as she hissed, "Don't lie to me."

Pearl's hands rose to grasp Orange's forearm to release the pressure on her neck as she dangled off the ground, voice slightly muffled as she spoke, "My Diamond?"

"I despise gems who lie." The young diamond snarled, "I saw you. Why were you following me?"

Despite her position, Pearl continued to smile, as if amused, and in a much more bolder tone, questioned, "Would that be before or after sneaking out of my Diamond's palace?"

Realization hit Orange hard, her grip tightening around Pearl's neck, finger threading to do real damage as she snapped, "How dare you-"

"Orange?"

The young diamond looked up, startled as she stared into the concerned eyes of Blue Diamond, "Blue?"

"Orange," Blue Diamond repeated, her voice taking on a reprimanding tone as she advanced towards the group of gems, her eyes narrowing on Orange and the Pearl still hanging from the younger Diamond's hand, "what are you doing with that Pearl?"

"I was..." Orange scowled at the pearl, her smile, while unchanging, felt a lot more smug than Orange thought any pearl should be in such a situation. Glancing back over as Blue stood over them, her Pearl beside her catching her attention. The slight strain on Blue's pearl's face, the way she held her hands behind her back in that manner she did when she didn't want her hands to be seen as she fidgeted anxiously. She had never seen Orange treat a gem in such a manner, let alone a fellow pearl, and the young diamond knew she was the one causing her friend discomfort at the sight. It was the sole reason Orange ultimately released the Pearl from her grasp, uncaring as she dropped back to the ground, landing gracefully on her feet, hands twitching up to her neck to fix her collar.

"Nothing," Taking a large step back, Orange was glad to put space between them, 5PX stepping beside her and placing herself between the two of them. "It was a misunderstanding."

Blue's narrowed eyes turned to the white pearl, "You, Pearl. You have what you came for. You are dismissed."

The pearl bowed to the larger diamond, hands falling away from her neck to clasp back in front of her, "Yes, Blue diamond." She stood up and then turned, offering a smaller bow to the young diamond as well," Orange Diamond."

Orange's eyes followed Pearl as she began to walk away, turning her head with her as she passed by the Carnelians. Her eyes widened in surprised as she was suddenly picked up, legs buckling as she was scooped up into Blue Diamond's hands and brought up to be face to face with her. "You shouldn't be so rough with the Pearl's, Orange." She said, flattening her hand to allow Orange a better surface to stand up on, "You know that."

"I know." Orange nodded, finding her balance in the large palm to look up at Blue standing, holding her hands out to the older diamond as a gesture for her to calm down, "It was just-"

"You have to be gentle." The older diamond interrupted, head inclined as made a point to look the younger diamond in the eyes, "Delicate hands, Orange, remember? I didn't think I'd have to correct you again."

Orange fought the want to roll her eyes, instead sighing in exasperation, "I know, Blue, please. It was a personal matter."

"Personal matter, or not," Blue turned around, starting for the opposite side of the room from where Orange and her guard had come in, "You wouldn't want to upset your fellow diamonds by destroying their gems on a whim."

Crossing her arms, Orange's eyebrows lowered, lips pulling back at the corners in mild annoyance. "Don't you and Yellow do that, already?"

Blue's own eyebrows lowered as her eyes turned down at the young diamond, "That's different, and we always have our reasons. But you, you have to be careful. Destroying one of White's Pearl's...." Blue's free hand rose up to cover her eyes as she took a breath, an act that had Orange uncrossing her arms and looking up in concern at Blue sudden weariness. When her hand lowered and her eyes were back on her, she settled the younger gem with a pleading look, "I don't think even you could escape her anger at the moment. Things are very stressful right now, you don't want to set her off."

Orange pursed her lips, taking a moment to honestly consider her words, and the situation she had put herself in. Eventually, she turned an inquisitive look to Blue, "Because of the ceremony?"

"Yes." Blue Diamond gave an affirming nod, pausing as they passed by a group of gems that saluted Blue, the Diamond taking a moment to acknowledge them with a simple look and moving on, her pearl and the Carnelians trailing behind the two diamonds. Blue inclined her head towards Orange, voice lowered, "Everything must be perfect. It is why we are staying on Homeworld for the duration of the remaining planning."

Blue then looked forward, Orange following suit to see where Blue was taking her. To her confusion, Blue moved to a room she had never been in, but based on its decorations and size, the young diamond could surmise it was either a sitting room or a place for important guests to wait instead of standing out in the open anteroom that lacked the privacy a high class gem generally expected.

Blue stopped inside, turning to half face the two Quartz soldiers still trailing behind with her pearl. "Both of you, wait at the door."

Both of the carnelian's saluted, eyes glancing to Orange simultaneously as she looked down at them, giving a reaffirming nod to do as Blue had ordered. "Yes, your clarity."

Blue turned then, leading her further into the room with Pearl following, until they had more privacy to themselves to actually speak.

"But Blue, what are you doing here?" Orange took the opportunity to ask what she had wanted to know since she had seen the handship land, "Shouldn't Yellow be here first? It seems very early."

Blue Diamond looked down at the gem in her hand, "She will be, I am only stopping by quickly." She spoke as she leaned down to allow Orange to jump off her hand, remaining kneeling on the floor as she continued to speak, "I'm afraid I cannot stay just yet."

"What are you doing then?" The younger gem questioned.

"I'm getting something for Pink's Zoo, as a favor."

"Oh." Orange's eyebrows rose up, taking a moment to think what she could be getting for Pink's zoo. "The organics need something?"

"Something like that." Blue made a dismissing wave of her hand, eyebrows pinching together as she asked, "But that is beside the point right now, what are youdoing here? Why did Pearl get a message from your guards that you were coming without much notice?"

"I saw you landing earlier, and I wanted to see you." Orange responded, put off by Blue's irritated tone, for a brief moment, her earlier talk with the Carnelians nagged at her. Perhaps Blue really hadn't wanted to see her. Eyebrows turning up, Orange looked up at Blue, distraught at the realization, her voice wavered as she asked, "Can't I come see you when you're here?"

"I-" Blue paused, the trepidation and dejection pointed up at her from large, bright eyes softened her response, a hand reaching forward to stroke a finger over the younger diamond's cheek in affection, "Of course you can, Orange. But you have to schedule these things, I don't have a lot of time." She explained, the change of seeing Orange comforted by her words a small relief to her. "Does White even know you're here?"

Orange rubbed the back of her neck, eyes diverting down from Blue's face to the floor, before sheepishly looking back up at her to respond, "Well, not exactly, but-"

"Orange!" The older diamond yelled, startling Orange, and alarming the Carnelians across the room, though they did not dare to try and interfere with the two diamond's conversation.

"What?" Orange asked quickly, taking a step back at the look on Blue's face, a mixture of anger and concern, a reaction she hadn't expected. "Why are you so upset?"

Panic was clear in Blue's voice as she slapped a hand against her cheek, eyebrows turning up in distress, "You have to go back. If White finds out you're missing-"

"My guards sent a message to her too." Orange interrupted, thought the information hardly seemed to calm the older diamond as she had hoped it would. "I gave a heads up," she paused, and meekly added, "sort of."

Blue diamond quickly went from panic back to anger, eyebrows turned down, her lips a firm line across her face, her agitation amplified by Orange's rather careless response.

Orange, however, only screwed up her eyebrows in confusion, "Whats wrong?"

"Orange Diamond, Do not act innocent with me." Blue admonished, her voice raised as she pointed a finger at Orange in a chiding manner, "You know you're not allowed to be out without an escort."

"But I have an escort!" Orange yelled back, outraged as she waved a hand in the direction of the guards across the room, "Two escorts! I don't understand-"

"Yes you do." Blue cut her off, emphasizing each order. Taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes, and then lowered herself closer to the floor to better be on the same level as the younger gem who was currently biting her lower lip, her expression caught between tearful and anger, her hands clenched into fist at her side.

"Orange..." Blue spoke quietly, hand reaching out to cup the side of the gem's body, thumb pressing against the side of her head in comfort, "I know you wanted to see me, and that's sweet and I appreciate how much you love to visit me, but you can't say you don't know whats wrong. You came over here without asking, White of all people. Do you have any idea how much trouble you could be in?"

"Why?" Orange asked, voice wavering as she wobbled between the need to cry to anger and back, frustration turning up her eyebrows so harshly there were lines on her forehead. "I'm going to be apart of the Authority soon, why do I have to ask just to go somewhere? It's just your Palace, I came straight here from White's, I shouldn't need permission-"

"But you do." Blue interrupted, her voice firm as she explained, "Yes, your ceremony is coming up soon, but your still under White's care. What if something were to have happened on your way here? Who would have known what happened? There's a reason we are the ones to take you somewhere."

"I'm not small and helpless Blue." Orange scowled at her, pushing the thumb away from her head and stepping back from her touch, "I can walk by myself. And White would have said yes anyway, she always says yes-"

"Until she doesn't." Blue sat up a little straighter, her expression trying to urge Orange to understand, "What if that time had been this time, and you ignored her word? Orange, it's so frustrating sometimes, Why can't you listen and understand-"

"Why can't you?" Orange snapped as she stamped her foot in frustration.

Blue's shoulders shook, the fury on her face at Orange's tone enough to cause unease in the three other gems in the room, but Orange was hardly scared, continuing to stare back in her own anger. The older diamond's voice was hard, threatening and reprimanded all at once, "Orange Diamond! Do no-!"

"No!" Orange's fists tightened at her sides, teeth bared as she barked the word out, startling the other diamond silent at the ferocity of her voice. "You don't know what its like being trapped all day in the same building, always having to ask to do something, always being followed or having to schedule to do something, and even then, it's never a guarantee it will happen." Orange's voice wavered, lowering as the fight began to leave her, shoulders lowered and fists loosening at her sides until they dangled, her head tilted down as her tone changed, "I'm tired of it. I just wanted to see you for a few minutes, why am I getting in trouble for that?"

Blue's eyes widened, and then lowered as she reached out once more for the younger gem, "Oh Orange...Don't cry."

"Im not crying!" The diamond snapped, despite the wetness on her cheeks, one hand coming up to rub harshly at the tracks on her face, eyes still narrowed at blue, "I'm not."

Blue sniffed, tears falling down her cheeks to match the younger gem's. "No, it must just be me. I'm sorry."

Orange did not fight this time as Blue picked her up, cradling her in her hands and holding her close to her chest. Blue lowered her voice, a whisper over the top of Orange's head as she held her and cried more, "I'm sorry. I understand, Orange. I really do."

Across the room, the Carnelians sniffed, tears streaming down their faces, confusion and pain that wasn't their own morphed their features, even as they tried to remain at attention.

Eventually, when the tears stopped, Orange's face was flushed, and eyes red lines from tears and forcefully trying to wipe them away before they could fall. Calmer than before, Orange knelt in blue's hands, her head resting against the side of her chest as the bigger gem ran a finger over her hair, chin touching her chest as she looked down at the tiny gem she kept pressed against her.

Orange cleared her throat, her voice gravelly as she spoke, low so that it was only Blue who could hear her, "I have to go back now, don't I?"

"Yes."

Orange tilted her head back, meeting Blue's eyes as her own chin pushed against her chest, "Can't I stay a little longer?"

"A minute more." Blue relented, "The longer you're away, the angrier White will be."

"She might not even be upset." Orange argued, "White is always nice to me. I don't get why you guys are always so scared of her."

Blue's eyes looked away, focusing on her Pearl, who stood off to the side of them as she acting as if she could not hear their conversation, though Blue knew better, she appreciated her discretion all the same. Blue hesitated, knowing the younger diamond was watching her reaction, and waiting for her answer, which blue simply responded with, "It's complicated."

"How?" Orange pressed, "She can be mean, but she can be really nice too. But isn't that the same for everyone?"

"White is different." Blue explained, turning her attention back to the younger diamond, "It's one thing if, say, Yellow was angry. She can do little more than sulk or be snippy with us or her gems. But if White is angry, we all feel it. We all have to abide by her will. She knows best, for us, for our Empire."

Orange pursed her lips, disturbed by the notion that everyone had to be on edge simply for one gem's emotional state at any given time. "That doesn't seem right."

"It is, Orange." Blue insisted, her expression serious, "Don't ever question that."

"But-"

"No." Blue cut her off, a small shake of her head, "That is how it has always been, long before you were made, and the way it will be long after you are apart of our Authority. Know that even as your own Diamond, for us, everyone, White's word is final."

Orange huffed, but remained silent as she processed Blue's words, though even with her explanation, the young diamond had the nagging thought at the back of her mind that it still wasn't quite right, nor had her questions truly been answered. Pulling away from the comfort of Blue's hold, Orange sat back in her palm, making it easier for the older diamond to see her as she ran a hand through her hair, raising an eyebrow inquisitively, "I still don't really understand why. Is this another one of those things i'm supposed to understand when I'm much older?"

"Eventually, Orange, you will understand." Blue agreed, "But I hope that doesn't come for a long time."

"But what about you?" Orange prodded, "Why are you scared of White?"

"That," Blue emphasized with a tilt of her head, her voice strained as she brushed off the topic, "is a longer story than I am not prepared for and you must be returning."

"Okay." The younger gem relented, offering Blue a smile as she added, "I'll miss you, Blue."

Blue giggled, returning the smile with one of her own, "You will see me again soon enough. I will escort you to the the atrium, and then you must go."

"Okay." Orange agreed again, remaining seated in the larger Diamond's hand as she walked across the room, getting to her knees to hang over the side of her palm to motion for the Carnelians to follow them as they neared.

The two red gems fell in line behind Blue's Pearl, the three of them making an effort to keep up with Blue Diamond's much longer strides as she exited the room and crossed through the anteroom for the atrium's doors.

"Hey, Blue?" Orange said as they neared the open entryway, cocking her head back to look up at Blue upside down.

Blue tilted her head down, glancing at the young diamond in question, "Yes?"

"Do you think, when everyone is back on Homeworld, we will have time to spend together again? A day in the bath like we used to?"

Blue hummed as if she was took a moment to consider her questioned, "Perhaps."

Orange nodded, looking forward again as she accepted the noncommittal response, "I think it would be nice, so we can be a happy family together, even if just for one day."

Blue's eyes softened on the gem in her hand, her tone warm as she asked, "Is that how you see us?"

Orange craned her neck again to look back up at the diamond, shrugging, "Doesn't everyone?"

"I have never considered us as such, no."

"Oh."

"But I like the notion." Blue added, earning a large smile for it, "It is very endearing."

As Blue stopped walking, Orange glanced at the atrium entrance, the long hall back to the palace entrance in sight. "I guess this is my stop."

"Yes." Blue nodded, bending over as she allowed Orange to safely move from her palm to the floor before straightening back up to her full height, "I will see you again soon. Behave for Yellow, when she returns, will you?"

Orange laughed, "I always do." Giving the older diamond a small wave as 5PX and 7PX joined her side, "Goodbye!"

"You two," Blue narrowed her eyes at the Carnelians, making them both flinch at her attention on them.

Both saluted her, though it was 7PX that spoke up for both of them, "Erm, yes, my Diamond?"

"See her back to White's palace immediately." She ordered, "If one hair is out of place on her head-"

"Blue." Orange whined, effectively cutting of Blue Diamond's warning, "Don't threaten my gems."

"I'm just-"

"Not to worry, my diamond." An airy voice cut in, the Pearl from earlier stepped in from the atrium's open entrance, bowing for the larger diamond as both turned their attention to her. "I will be escorting her back as well. My diamond's orders."

Blue's jaw tensed, her eyes focusing on the gem. No one had seen her waiting, nor her approach, but Blue knew better than to question the reasoning behind such orders. "Very well. Go on, Orange." She motioned for the younger Diamond to go, the irritated look she was giving the Pearl a reminder of how she had treated the same pearl earlier. "Remember-"

"Straight to the palace, I know." Orange interrupted, turning a too big smile to her, waving to her as she began to turn to leave, "Bye Blue!"

"My Diamond?" Pearl bowed, motioning for Orange to lead the way to the palace entrance.

Orange stopped beside the gem, eyes narrowed at her, "My guards will escort me." She sneered, pointing a finger dangerously close to the gem in her chest, "You stay away from me."

"Orange." Blue chided.

The young diamond glanced up at Blue from the corners of her eyes and then back at the pearl, huffing out a breath before turning back to the entryway. "Fine..."

The Carnelians followed behind her, creating a barrier between Orange and the pearl as they neared the Palace entrance.

The guards at the door acknowledged them, closing the doors and resuming their stance as they left, all the while maintaining a leisurely pace back over the bridge.

As they rounded the corner of a communication tower, Orange stopped walking, confusing the guards until she turned around, the serious look on her face warning them before she stepped towards the pearl, who was much more surprised when Orange stopped her.

Secluded and in the privacy of the path, no one could see as she pushed her against the wall, towering over the gem and making it almost impossible for her to escape past her if she even tried. Unsure, but loyal to her, the Carnelians flanked the diamond, stepping in on either side of them, further trapping the pearl, who looked between the three.

The smile, the ever present smile, slipped as she look up at the tall gem glaring down at her. "My Diamond?"

"You're going to tell me why White has you following me." Orange ordered, hand balling into a fist between them as it was engulfed in dancing light, "And you're going to tell me now."

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

Pearl looked forward, seeing, but unseeing. The feel of White Diamond prodding at the back of her mind, like a weight a bit too heavy for its placement, offsetting everything.

Still, Pearl walked on.

After thousands of years in service to her diamond, Pearl had long since learned how to balance the presence of such a domineering will with her own, all while retaining most of her mind instead of the steady descent into madness that was not so atypically of a subject under her control for extended periods of time.

With White Diamond so close to her, Pearl had to force herself to compartmentalize her mind, weed out and suppress everything she had bogging her down recently, least her diamond pick up on it and rifle through everything she had endeavored to keep to herself.

Passive, subservient, no reason to give her pause as to think she, her own Pearl, was doing anything wrong.

Not a stray thought, a feeling, a want, could pass through her, without possibly being picked up by White. She had thousands of years of practice smothering everything, learning better than most just how to tune it out to the right degree, that it wasn't any real surprise that she was always White's shell of choice.

She was her Pearl, after all. It was only right she be best. She was touched by White Diamond's clarifying light, changed, and made perfect since coming into her service.

Almost perfect.

If she had been perfect, she would not have to suppress everything, to worry and hide. But she wasn't, and it was no longer just her own well being on the line. Now, now it all mattered. She had given into her own selfishness, risking one of the best things she had ever seen touch homeworld with their presence. She had gone through this for too long to fail now. She could not fail herDiamond.

The room she had entered was bright, crowded and lined with pearls from all four courts. Most new and freshly made, some even with the sole purpose of being here, though most just happened to be ready at the right time. Others had been offered up by high class gems, perfect pearls that they had given up in offering for their new Diamond, an honor and a sentence.

While it was customary a pearl be made from their own Diamond's essence, with the circumstances revolving Orange and her creation, the diamonds had kept her away from any and all extraction processes, unsure of the results and it's effects, positive or adverse. And while there were plans for Orange to experience it before being inducted, any fluid collected would not leave enough time to create a pearl before her ceremony. As such, it had been decided a fill in would do, at least until Orange could have her own made.

A laughable notion really. The Diamonds should have realized, or perhaps she simply knew better, but Orange would do no such thing as to replace the pearl she would get when she became apart of the Authority. Orange would eventually grow attached, it had been obvious given how she was with her first, Pearl could not fathom how the Diamonds believed this would be the outcome afterwards. But who was she to make any comments on the Diamond's decisions? By the time it was all said and done, none of them would be able to make the decision for her anyway, nor would White take the Pearl without reason, least she be seen as to have made an error in her selection.

Pearl walked down the lines of pearls, her face neutral as she inspected each and every one as she moved along. Their heads remained bowed, hands held in front of them in respect as she passed, looking herself and yet sharing at the same time as White idled, rarely urging her to move on from a particular subject.

'Cheap.' Pearl heard the thought as she turned away from a lavender colored pearl.

White used her as she went through the process of choosing only the best and most suited of Pearls for Orange Diamond. Another hand-me-down as her last one had been would no longer be acceptable, despite their quality. As such, the search and collection had been going on near since White's decision had been made. Yellow and Blue diamond had sent numerous pearls for this sole purpose, all picked for their perfection. And while there had been none sent by Pink Diamond, a result of her lack of creating any of her own in recent times, the other Diamonds had taken it upon themselves to make a few in her name.

Mixed in with the lot, she was not alarmed to see faces not so dissimilar to her own, color variants from soft lace to deep fascia, like she had once been. There were more mixed pearls than not, having many assortments of combinations from an effort of collaboration amongst the diamonds. The room was a sea of color, a kaleidoscopic work of art, and yet only one would be chosen for Orange. If her Diamond didn't find the one here, she would call for another group to be put together and brought in, and extension to her day she did not look forward to.

Though she had no say in who would actually be picked, Pearl had her own thoughts on certain batches and groups that had gone under inspection, and had, thankfully, been turned away. White had generously given a section of pearls from her own collection, ones that went unused and remained bubbled for centuries, and for good reason, as far as Pearl was concerned. They were Fancy pearls, more decoration and pomp than brains and useful skills. Not suited for the needs of Orange Diamond, unlike Orange's previous Pearl. She had been Fancy, but quite skilled in information gathering, at least until she had been assigned to Orange Diamond, and her loyalties had noticeably shifted, not that White Diamond seemed to be terribly upset by it. She supposed having an unsuspecting Pearl that could potentially shatter you loyal to the youngest Diamond was hardly a bad thing.

But no matter how skilled she was, she did not stand a chance again a Diamond, and an angry and over emotional one at that. Unfortunate, but it had also been the turning point in Pearl's own life. It had been her end that had brought Orange Diamond to her. Pearl, in a way, was thankful for her death. Not that she would ever vocalize that to the youngest Diamond.

Dull. Too oblong. Off-color. Wrong.

None of these were meeting her diamond's specific standards for Orange's Pearl and were being dismissed as quickly as they could be brought in. As it was, Pearl was beginning to feel drained, tired and overworked, and bearing the burden of White Diamond's willing pressing in on her harder than a Bismuth's hammer made her anticipate the end of the day more, when she would be set free.

As free as she could be, at least. Free enough that she could enjoy a few hours with her friend without worry.

To her surprise, through White's will, Pearl felt her body stop, and turn, eyes focusing on a gem they had passed. She wasn't sure why she had been passed up and was now being looked over, but Pearl did not fight it, or react to the visceral shutter that wanted to rack through her body when she felt that all too delighted feeling pass through her, the cold twinge that was White's own feelings becoming her own, ever so briefly.

Her.

The word passed through her, not like a thought, or even really a feeling, but a demand. A need to do, and act, as if her very survival depended on making that thing become true.

Pearl, face unmoving, caught the gem glancing at her, the color draining from her face as she realized she had been caught, the way ice cold fear washing over you turns you, her head bowing at being caught staring back, and refusing to meet her eyes once more.

Reckless, perhaps a little bold, considering not one Pearl had dared to look up at White Diamond's Pearl during her tour. She could have come from Orange's own diamond essence, if she had ever seen the inside of an extraction chamber. As it was, she was obviously a gem from mixed courts based on her color, a mixture of Pink and Yellow, creating a new peachy hue to her gem, though Pearl could not be so sure in the overly bright lights of the room washing out every other color but white.

She will do.

Pearl would have felt sad for her fellow Pearl, had she been capable in that moment. Clueless to the reality that would await her servitude to a diamond, though she knew it was her own bias that said she had lucked out in her assigned diamond.

After reviewing the pearl chosen, not that she would find out until the ceremony drew closer, and dismissing the others to await new orders and new masters, Pearl breathed out in relief as she felt White Diamond lift from her mind, most of her control going with her, leaving only the feel of her external feelers at the back of her head. Still there, but not present. Relief could not quite describe the released tension of her psyche snapping back into place, the sapped energy that had been leeched from her and the phantom ache her gem felt from her limbs, a side effect of White's powers Pearl could live without, not that she had a choice in the matter.

Moving out of the building, Pearl became aware of the time, the sky a whole new shade of color as late day arrived and night threatened to take over the cycle.She tilted her head back, stretching the stiffness from her shoulders and neck as she inspected the skyline. Her eyebrows scrunched together as her eyes landed on the giant blue handship perched above Blue Diamond's palace, motionless. She was aware the diamond had arrived, but why she was still present brought about her confusion. She should have left by now.

A delayed ping took her attention away from the handship, bringing the compact screen up to display the multiple messages that had sat, awaiting her, having gone unnoticed for the duration she shared a body with her Diamond.

Pearl blinked, seeing but not quite believing what she saw.

"Orange...what have you done?"

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