The thundering sound of the ground shaking, rocked by large feet on the bridge as they marched across with no heed for anything around them, propelled on by a sole task.

"Pearl!" Yellow barked, annoyance coloring her voice as she was already behind schedule as the little gem scampered behind her, unable to keep up with her Diamond despite breaking the unwritten rules of Pearl etiquette by running in the presence of her Diamond. Nonetheless the two were making a quick enough pace toward White's palace, the unexpected change of plans last minute by aforementioned Diamond for her to pick up Orange where she would be her temporary guardian. Yellow had been less than thrilled but tactfully agreed, for who was she to tell White Diamond no?

However, as loyal to her duty as she was, Yellow would have greatly appreciated more time. It was one thing to be behind schedule, but even worse when she had to face White herself to pick up their youngest, the one they all had to set an example for with everything they did.

"I will leave you behind, Pearl!" Yellow yelled over her shoulder, glaring at the gem she couldn't even see but knew was close by, as she heard the frazzled response of her little attendant.

"I'm coming, my Diamond! Forgive me!"

Yellow only rolled her eyes and continued on, the blank, lifeless eyes of White's headship staring down at her as she crossed over the connecting bridge.

Yellow Diamond was never late.

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

Orange walked behind Pearl, unsettled as she was being escorted to White Diamond, who wished to see her before Yellow arrived, which she had found odd. She had expected to either be sent to Yellow under an escort detail or to be picked up by her from the palace entrance. White had never been figured into her plans, and the sudden change had thrown her off her initial happy mood.

"Are you alright?"

"What?" Orange turned her head to look down at Pearl, who walked beside her, her words processing a moment later as she nodded her head, "Yeah, yes," she paused clear her throat and gather her thoughts, "I'm fine."

"You are very quiet," Pearl observed, "more than is normal."

"Sorry, I'm just..." Orange paused, looking back to the long stretch of hall before them as she searched for an adequate response, ultimately settling on, "just thinking."

"About Yellow Diamond?" Pearl hazard a guess, "Are you worried? Excited?"

A small smile spread across her lips, temporally overshadowing her nervous thoughts, "Yes. I'm excited about that, actually. I always feel respected when I'm with Yellow, and I'm going to experience an extraction chamber, finally."

"I thought you didn't want to rush things?"

"This is one thing I don't mind rushing." Orange's smile widened, "If anything, I've waited forever. I've really wanted to see what all the fuss is about." Orange explained, "And besides, this is more than just a new experience for me. This is going to be more proof that I'm really being seen as a Diamond, like everyone else. Like an equal."

"I'm happy for you, Orange." Pearl said as she looked up to her companion with a small quirk of her lips, as close to a smile she could offer, breaking through the stern expression she had long become accustomed to using outside the privacy of Orange's room. She had begun to attempt to shake the facade she had made for herself, at least when it was still just the two of them, to be more than the Diamond's Pearl she had become in White Diamond's service. Orange deserved more than being treated like a passing stranger she had little connection to, at least when it was just them in the halls. It was hard to stop, but Pearl was trying.

"I was going to escort you to her palace until my Diamond decided Yellow Diamond was to come see her." Pearl continued, explaining the current situation they had found themselves in.

"She wants to see us both," Orange turned her eyes down to Pearl once more, "Do you have any idea what she wants?"

"You know I don't."

"Yeah," The younger gem sighed, "but on the off chance, I had to ask."

"I would have told you, if I was allowed." Pearl responded evenly, before tilting her head in question, "Are you still nervous?"

"To see White?" Orange questioned back, folding her arms in a look of defiance, before she sighed, the pretense of courageousness slipping away before it had even truly risen, "Yeah. I guess after last time, I'm now worried every time she calls on me, it'll be because I'm in trouble."

"You have been in your room, with the exception of this morning." Pearl rebutted, "What could you have done?"

"I don't know. Anything?" Orange shrugged, hugging her arms a little tighter to her body, "I don't want to mess this up. Any of this."

"You're doing fine." Pearl said in an attempt to comfort, deciding to turn the topic to lighter means, "Did you eat like you were supposed to this morning?"

"Yes- no.. A little?" Orange grimaced, "I didn't really have an appetite. It's the nerves, I think, with Yellow and now White."

"Has your opinion of White changed?"

"What?" Orange reeled back, cocking her head to give Pearl a bewildered look, "absolutely not. This is nothing...just..." She paused, head dropping into open palms, "Oh Stars, why do I feel like this? I'm having a crisis."

"Breathe." Pearl asserted, stepping closer to her.

"Right. Breathe." Orange lowered her hands to her hips, standing with her head slightly bent as she did just so, "Just breathe, it's all fine. Good, good, it's so good. Nothings wrong. It's all in your head, this is nothing. Good, good. Breathe."

Pearl waited, saying nothing as she watched somewhat helpless as the young Diamond talked her way through a drawn out series of breaths, waiting until she said nothing more to ask, "Better?"

"No," Orange breathed out a laugh, the smile on her face as she looked to Pearl betrayed by her own eyes, "but I doubt White will wait while I give myself a pep talk in her hall, so let's just get this over with."

Pearl nodded in agreement, leading the short remainder of the way towards White's command room where, with a confirming nod of approval from the Diamond, released the lock on the door to allow them entrance. As was appropriate, she waited for Orange to walk in first before moving in after, quickening her pace to overtake Orange's slowed pace, announcing her even as White had already turned her attention to them the moment the doors had opened, "Orange Diamond, my clarity."

Orange, unsure just what to do after their last face to face, remained at her feet, resisting the temptation to fidget. "Hello, White."

White Diamond smiled, leaning down to offer her hand to the smallest Diamond, pleased as the younger stepped on without a word, cradled by fingers to keep her safe as she was lifted up to White's normal height.

"Hello my little gemling." White beamed, "You look so chipper today."

"Yellow's home." Orange responded weakly, chin tilted down as she avoided White's eyes. "It's a very good day."

"Oh, won't you look at me, my little one? Are you angry with me?" White tutted, "You know I didn't want to punish you, but it's for your own good. I just want the best for you, Orange."

"I know..." Orange frowned, risking a look up at White, "I just...I wasn't expecting to see you?"

White's eyebrows rose, "Oh?"

"I...I didn't know if you were still mad at me," Orange finally answered, unable to keep from twisting her hands together as she looked away again, unable to keep eye contact, "or if I had done something to upset you again...."

"Have you?" The grand Diamond pressed, questioning the little gem in her hand as one finger of the other titled her head back to face her, so that she may see the truth of her words on her face.

"No." Orange refuted, "I've been in my room, like you said."

"Good. You continue to behave, and everything will be alright."

"I'm going to be good, I promise." Orange said, a small smiling forming as White's smile remained, warming and familiar, more of a comfort than she had received the last time she had been here, "No more running off."

"I'm glad to hear that." White acknowledged, the finger under her chin moving up to pet at the long tuffs of hair on her head affectionately, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, my little gemling. I think it's no secret I have grown quite attached to you."

Orange reached up, placing her entire hand around White's large finger, "I'm not going anywhere."

Both turned as motion caught their attention, catching the tail end of Pearl as she was engulfed in an opaque White bubble, merging through the wall and out of sight. White perking up as her eyes turned to the gem in her hand, "It seems our beloved General has arrived at last."

Orange gasped, excited, and turned around as White looked back up as the doors opened, White's pearl now standing on the floor with Yellow's own pearl behind her as she announced the other matriarch just as she entered.

"Yellow Diamond has arrived."

"Ahh, there you are, Yellow." White's tone delighted, "Excellent."

"White Diamond." Yellow bowed in respect. As she stood up, her eyes turned to the little gem in her hand, who's smile turned to beaming at the sight of her, head nodding ever so slightly in polite acknowledgment, "Orange."

"Hello, Yellow." Orange said with a toothy grin, a smile to twin White's own, "Welcome back home."

Yellow glanced at her, but did little to respond as she turned to look at White once more. "I'm unsure why-"

"Now, Don't be rude, Yellow." White interrupted her fellow Diamond with little remorse as she openly chastised her, "Orange is welcoming you. Where are your manners?"

"Uh, Yes," Yellow floundered for a moment, eyes turning to Orange who's smile had lessened, from her own cause or from having White make a deal out of her dismissal, she couldn't really say. Instead Yellow gave a firmer nod to the youngest Diamond, even as her jaw clenched at having been reprimanded so in front of her, "Thank you, Orange."

"Better." White said, satisfied, as she turned her attention to the gem in her hand, "Now, I have more things to do, so it's time for you to go with Yellow."

"Alright." Orange accepted without a fuss, waiting as White and Yellow outstretch both of their hands and she transferred over, only to turn back around as realization hit her, "Oh, wait, there was something I wanted to talk with you about."

"It will have to wait until later." White dismissed with a small wave of her hand, "Go on."

"Hmm...Okay." Orange settled, grasping onto Yellow's fingers for support as she waved her farewell to the oldest Diamond, "I'll be back later, then. Goodbye White! I'm glad things are better now."

"Remember," The older Diamond said as she gave her as she gave her a pointed look with a tilt of her head, "behave."

"I will. Goodbye!"

Yellow was prompt to leave, taking her own dismissal with Orange's, turning and leaving as the doors to White's command room were shut behind her, her own Pearl walking quickly behind her in order to stay with them.

"Talk with White?" Yellow inquired when they were not far from the doors, turning to look down at the gem in her hand who was taking in the scenery from the advantage her height provided, "About?"

"Just something to do with my court." Orange responded offhandedly, not turning from her appreciation of the view White's headship offered.

Yellow pursed her lips, "Are you already making demands, Orange?"

Tilting her head back, the younger Diamond looked at her senior above her, "...No."

Yellow's eyes narrowed as she pressed further, "Are you bothering White?"

"Of course not." Orange scoffed.

"Then what?"

"Since when are you so nosey, Yellow?" Orange snarled, frowning as she turned around fully to look up at the older Diamond carrying her, "I thought it was my business between me and White?"

"I- yes, well..." Yellow could feel her cheeks flush before she could fully tamp it down, covering it with a scowl that she quickly adverted from Orange to the hall in front of them, "I simply don't want you to upset White in this...delicate time."

"No." Orange agreed as she turned back around, "I think I've learned my lesson already."

"It seems you took to it much quicker than Pink ever did."

Cocked her head to narrow her eyes at Yellow, an action that did not go unnoticed by the older Diamond, Orange responded coolly, "Probably because I'm not Pink."

"No," Yellow granted, "you certainly aren't."

"Were you expecting me to be?"

"Perhaps we shouldn't have this conversation right now, Orange." Yellow deflected, looking away from the younger gem and back to their surroundings as they defended further into the upper palace.

Looking forward, Orange noted the presence others and pursed her lips, annoyed to have been pushed aside again. "Alright."

The walk through the remainder of the place was quiet between them, Orange's attention turning from the opulent rooms to look below them at the sparse guards and Yellow's Pearl. Orange felt sorry for Pearl, seeing her attempt to keep some decorum about her as she chased after the two Diamonds, a feat given Yellow's uncaring strides. She had her destination, and she would get there with, or without, her Pearl.

Leaving the palace behind, Orange admired the view of the Diamond's Square, something she could not see from her room at the back of the palace. The lights and sounds of the city called to her, bringing about her feelings of longing to thoroughly explore it all, and the unobstructed view of the sky directly above them. Something she could only see during the short distance to the spire she trained in.

Without breaking from her view of the skyline, Orange tilted her head to indicate she was once more speaking to her fellow Diamond, "Can I ask something else?"

"What now?" Yellow responded irritably.

"Why did White ask you to come to her, if she was only going to make you pick me up?" Orange inquired, "Couldn't one of the pearls have done that?"

"I....It was obviously for your own safety." Yellow huffed, lips thinning into a deep frown, "You have to be escorted by another Diamond or-"

"Or by a proper guard and or an appointed attendant." Orange rolled her eyes as she recited the very rules that had been drilled into her since she had began to read, "I know the rules, Yellow."

"As well as any petulant little gem, I see."

"I've heard the rules for the last half a century." Orange countered, "How could I not know?"

"A half a century," Yellow mocked, "as if that is any time at all. When you reach my age-"

"When I'm your age," Orange interrupted, "I'll be making rules for others to follow."

"Not with that attitude you won't."

"What attitude?" Orange questioned, eyebrows scrunching up as she stared up her.

"That attitude like you know it all already." Yellow tutted, "You still have a lot to learn."

"All I ever do is learn. When do I get to put it all into some kind of action?"

"When we decide you are prepared enough." Yellow answered. "You may not like it, but you will have to live with it. Do you honestly believe your anywhere near ready for a colony?"

"Of course I'm not!" Orange said, frustration straining her voice, "That's not what I'm asking for at all."

"Then what is it you want?"

"I want...I want to start doing more interacting with gems, more work than just the hypothetical assignments you guys come up with. I want something real."

Yellow laughed, "Is that all?"

Orange could not stop herself from spinning around to glare at Yellow. "What do you mean, is that all? Don't make fun of me, Yellow!"

"I'm not." Yellow placated, "If that is what you want, then I'm sure we can come up with something for you. Delegate some work for you to do."

Orange's mouth dropped open, momentarily stunned, "Really?"

"After your ceremony."

"Of course." Orange said, head raising as she recited words she had heard one too many times, "As Diamonds, we have our priorities."

"Yes." Yellow agreed, glancing down at the small Diamond in her hand, "That's very sensible of you."

"Ive had a lot of lessons, remember? White likes to keep me busy."

"Perhaps being here has done you better than we could have ever hoped."

"I think so too." Orange agreed, the fondness in her voice clear to the older Diamond. "I like being here, on Homeworld. Not to be rude, but I think I've learned more here than I ever really did going back and forth between everyone's colonies."

"I take no insult from that. I am pleased as long as you are learning."

"Speaking of learning, how much farther until we get to your extraction chamber? I'm excited."

"Not far. You have talked most of the way, you didn't even notice."

"What!" Orange gasped, "I wasn't talking that much, Yellow."

"Oh?" Yellow rose an eyebrow, jutting her chin in the direction behind the smaller gem, "Then look and see."

Orange turned, following Yellow's line of sight to a large building, the same hue as her and adorned heavily by gem statues and thin, stylistic pillars.

"Woah." Orange breathed out, "It's so decorated."

"It's a sacred place, for only a Diamond," Yellow explained, "Ornamental is to be expected."

"You definitely didn't design it."

Yellow's eyes cut down and narrowed at the younger gem as she questioned, "What does that mean?!"

"Huh?" Orange blinked, turning to look up at the angry expression on Yellow's face, offering a small, apologetic smile, "Oh, nothing Yellow. It's just...doesn't look to be your taste is all."

"Hmp...." Yellow grunted, looking up as she entered the building, ignoring the two guards at the door, her pace slowing enough that her Pearl had finally caught up and was now able to keep step ahead of her, as not even Yellow would walk so quickly inside.

"Yellow?" Orange asked after a long moment of silence.

"Yes?" Yellow responded in an exasperated tone.

"What, ah...what do you do in an extraction chamber, exactly?"

Looking down, Yellow's eyebrows raised, "Scared?"

"What?" Orange's nose scrunched up, looking appalled by Yellow's accusation, "Absolutely not. I simply want to be prepared."

"Clearly." Yellow scoffed.

Orange waited a few steps, still staring up at the older Diamond, before speaking again, "Yellow?"

"Orange?"

"Well?"

"You do nothing." She answered, "The fine thing about a Diamond's extraction chamber, is it is a place to relax, while the process happens."

"So...we don't do anything but sit?"

Yellow gave a small nod of her head, "Or swim, in Blue's case."

Orange inclined her head, asking curiously, "What are the others like?"

Yellow frowned, lip jutting out in disgust, "Suffocating bubbles and too much light."

"What does that mean?"

Tilting her chin down, Yellow met Orange's curious stare, "That you're lucky you're coming with me. Blue wished to take you, but we worried..."

"Because I can't swim?" Orange supplied, fully aware of the cautions the others took with her known limitations.

"Because you sink like a boulder to the sea floor if someone isn't holding you." Yellow said plainly, "It's odd, but I have long since stopped questioning the oddities of why. But that is beside the point. Even if it was agreed upon that Blue was the one to take you, she won't be here for a few more days, and that is time that can not be wasted, otherwise I would have let her."

Orange's shoulder's slumped, unable to keep the hurt expression off her face, "You didn't want to take me?"

"I..." Yellow paused at the tiny, dejected look being pointed at her, and then rephrased, "I am very busy, it wasn't my highest priority at the time. But it isn't a big deal. It isn't out of my way, and it doesn't hurt to get ahead. You will have a schedule of your own after, if all goes well."

"What could happen?"

"You pass out. You lose your form. You...well, we don't know." Yellow shrugged, "We have always approached things like this with caution. Too much, too little, it's a guessing game."

Orange tilted her head, surprised by Yellow's openness to answer her. "Are you scared I could die?"

"What!" Yellow shouted, stopping her stride to look down, anger and fear reflected in her eyes, "Orange Diamond, never say that again!"

"You are." Orange blinked, the expression on the older Diamond's face all she needed to refute her claims.

"I'm not." Yellow grunted, turning her head away as she breathed heavy for a moment and then stood straight, shoulders leveling as she return to Orange's stare,"I just...if Blue heard you say such things, we would all be feeing it for the next century, and I don't want you to make a habit of talking about such things so openly. I'm not scared." Yellow said once more, continuing their course to her extraction chamber, "It will take more than a simple extraction chamber to do anything to you. Everyone is simply treating you like fragile glass, and it gets on my nerves to have to do the same."

"I'm a gem, like any of you." Orange said, "I'll be fine."

"Yes. You will." Yellow asserted, before adding a little more lightheartedly, "Or I won't hear the end of it, 'til the end of time."

Orange smiled at her attempt to move the subject of her death along, a part of her heartened to know that Yellow really would be bothered if something happened to her. "You could always just find a far, far off system to conquer."

"Hah! Subspace frequency reaches much farther than you think." Yellow responded, before adding under her breath, "As does an angry Diamond."

"Which one?" Orange questioned.

"Take your pick."

"Mmm," Orange hummed, head tilted back on her shoulders as she contemplated Yellow's hypothetical predicament, "I think Pink would be your worst case."

Yellow rose an eyebrow, glancing down at the youngest Diamond, "Why is that?"

"She's more persistent than the others." Orange shrugged, "White calls both of us single-minded. I think the time it takes her to track you down, would be well spent figuring out how to best torment you for the rest of time."

"hmph. single-minded indeed." The elder Diamond sneered, rolling her eyes at the very real possibility Orange had described. Then, she glanced down at Orange, eyes narrowing slightly, "Speaking of White, we will be taking about your stunt later."

"Oh, come on Yellow!" Orange whined, "Haven't I been punished enough?"

"I'd hardly consider endangering yourself worthy of just a simple stay in your room." Yellow chastised, "White is always lenient with you, I can only reason that it is because you are so young. I would not have ever believed her to be soft until you and Pink came along."

"Come on, Yellow." Orange grunted, "You just said everyone is treating me like I'm so breakable and it annoys you. It was just across the square to see Blue, with my own, trusted, hand-picked by White Diamond, guards."

"You can't be so careless with your own life, Orange. You are very important. Our society balances on us, as Diamonds. We are more than just figureheads for the masses to gawk over."

Orange pursed her lips, "I don't want to live in a bubble of safety my whole life."

"It's not always about what you want." Yellow scolded, "We are trying, Orange. We are all trying to keep you as happy as we can, do you have any idea how hard it is on us?"

Breathing out a heavy sigh, Orange lowered her head, eyes narrowed and refusing to look back up at Yellow, even as she continued to stare down at her, waiting for her response. "I know..."

"Don't sulk."

"I'm not sulking." Orange responded, about to cross her arms before stopping mid way as she realized how that would look, instead turning head to look at Yellow with a pointed stare, "Diamonds don't sulk."

"You must be the exception."

"Yellow!" Orange shouted, cheeks flushing from embarrassment.

"Shush, look." Yellow interrupted her from saying anything more, staring at he spot behind Orange's turned form, "We're here."

Twirling around, Orange's eyes widened as the golden doors of the chamber opened for them, Yellow stepping through the door were Pearl remained. "Ohhh. This is big."

"It's moderate, in comparison to Blue's." Yellow said as she placed Orange down onto the floor, where she waited a moment for the littlest Diamond to move toward one of the seats before walking to the opposite side to find a place to settle of her own, "She might very well have lost you to all her flair."

"I like flair." Orange challenged, "Not everything has to be spartan."

"And not everything should have frills and be over indulgent in ornate embellishments."

"True." Orange allowed, "But why can't a few unneeded designs be practical?"

Yellow sat down, eyeing Orange as she watched the smaller gem move to the bench opposite her, staring up at the tall bench as she assessed how she herself would get up, "And how would they be practical?"

"They make you happy." Orange reasoned, crouching down before jumping up, hands out to catch the ledge of the bench where she easily pulled herself up, before turning to look across the room at Yellow, "What other reason do you need?"

"...Perhaps you are spending too much time on Homeworld."

"White doesn't believe in sparing with her things." Orange argues.

"White Diamond has that luxury."

"Alright, Alright." Orange said as she shrugged, exasperated, "Let's agree to disagree."

"Agreed."

Looking at Yellow, relaxed on her own bench, decided to do much the same as she sat down in the middle of her own, "So will this take long?"

"No, but prepare to settle in for a time. It isn't that quick."

"Okay." Orange acknowledged as she laid back, putting her hands behind her to cradle the back of her head, protecting it from the hard stone beneath her, and stretched out, the warmth of the room a comfort from the normal chilly air outside.

"What are you doing, Orange?"

Orange cocked her head to the side, looking out of the corners of her eyes to meet Yellow's, who was now leaning an elbow on her leg, cheek resting on a loose fist as a single eyebrow raised in question. Glancing down at herself, only really able to see the top of her gem from her position, and then back to Yellow. "You said this was supposed to be relaxing, so I'm relaxing."

Yellow chuckled, "And they were so worried."

Closing her eyes, Orange turned her head back up toward the ceiling as she said, "You guys shouldn't be."

"Excuse me?"

"You know...I know I'm young, and small, especially compared to someone like you, but I can do a lot of the things you probably want to ask me to do but are too afraid it might hurt me. I'm not going to shatter in your hand, and I can't learn to do something if you don't ask it of me."

"Very...astute."

Turning her head again, Orange once more looked at Yellow, "If you guys keep treating me like that, I'm going to be a million years old, and have no idea what a colony is beyond the walls of a moon base. I have no interest in being a Diamond collecting dust."

"That is...." Yellow paused, leaning back to stare at Orange, unaware of her churning thoughts as she remained reclined with her eyes closed, so at ease in the new situation she had found herself in not even a half an hour ago. Cocking her head, Yellow spoke quietly, almost to herself, "When did you become so mature?"

But Orange had heard, as she responded as she turned her head, "Probably somewhere between learning I have cool explod-y powers and finding out that Pink has been fighting a rebellion."

Yellow laughed, a hardy sound that came from deep in her chest and shook her from the inside out, the corners of her eyes wrinkling and lips pulled back into a grin big enough Orange could see her teeth. "You know...when you were first made, I could never imagine I'd be siting here, with you of all gems, and actually enjoying it."

Orange smiled wide as she admitted, "I never thought you'd be enjoying my company."

Yellow's grin evened some as she considered her next words, "I was hard on you...but it was always for a reason."

"I know." Orange nodded, "I think I've grown pretty well under you, Yellow. You, and Blue, White, and Pink. I...I really feel like I have a place to find my footing, you know? I'm not scared I'm going to mess up, being apart of the Authority? I know what to do, and even if i think I don't yet, I'm not scared. I have you guys as an example for almost everything."

"I suggest you keep your bases on White and I. Pink isn't..."

"Pink does well, in her own right." Orange defended, "It's just...different, you know? Her own way."

Yellow laughed scornfully, leaning back once more as she waved off Orange's defense of her mother, "If that is what you want to call it, it is certainly kinder than what I have to say."

"You know...when I was small, I really wanted to be you, Yellow."

Yellow perked up, confused by the change in topic. "What?"

"I looked up to you, a lot." Orange said, sitting up and leaning her weight onto her elbows as she looked over to her fellow gem, "When I was with Pink, I would show off the things I learned, and I'd shapeshift my form sometimes, mainly my hair really, because the rest was a bit of a strain at the time, I think? I would run around Pink's command room, giving orders to invisible gems, and try to be like you. I think it always upset Pink, because she thought it meant I favored you over her."

"That ridiculous." Yellow scoffed.

"Which part?"

"All of it, really....but Pink, mostly." Yellow shook her head, "To think, you, favoring me over her? She truly is shortsighted sometimes."

"I don't know if I favor any of you, over the other." Orange said after a moment of thought, "I love you all."

"I think the sauna is making you a little loose lipped, Orange."

"You think?" The younger gem questioned question, brow furrowed as she truly questioned if she had said too much, before turning to look at Yellow, feeling slightly vulnerable about what she said next, "Does...does it bother you? When I tell you how I feel?"

"No." Yellow answered quietly, "But I do believe there are certain things we should keep to ourselves. Protect it, like armor, so it can't be hurt."

"Oh..."

Yellow gave Orange a meaningful look, "You're young, and I know you don't really understand what I mean, but you might one day. I hope you keep that in mind."

Nodding slowly as she processed her words, Orange smiled at the older gem, "Okay, Yellow. I will."

"Good." She huffed, eyes moving to the floor as she watched the air be sucked into the small openings of the four sided Diamond emblem on the floor. Her hands smacked the tops of her thighs, catching Orange's attention as she stood up, "And just in time."

"We're done?" Orange questioned, sitting up fully.

"Done." Yellow confirmed, "Now-"

"It's time to get back to work." The young Diamond finished for her, waiting as Yellow moved over towards her and offered her hand for her to climb onto.

"Correct. How are you feeling?"

Orange thought for a moment, mentally assessing her body and gem, "...Relaxed. I'd like to do this again."

"Hmm. Good." Yellow said as they existed the chamber, Pearl coming to join them the instant they had walked out, "Next time you might very well be on your own."

Orange's eye lit with excitement. "My own chamber?"

"Yes." Yellow nodded as she explained, "Given it will be a long time before you have a colony of your own, your extractions will be used by the four of us to create gems, most of which will eventually become the bases for your court."

"My own gems." Orange squealed , "I can't wait!"

"Settle down." Yellow chided lightly.

Blushing, Orange sat a little straighter in Yellow palm, smiling apologetically as she giggled, "Oh, right, sorry....Do I get to make requests for gems that I want?"

"Perhaps. Basic Quartz and Agates are generally made before anything else." Yellow cut her eyes downward as she questioned, "You had something in mind?"

"I don't know yet." She shrugged, "This is all just...so new. There are so many new options to me, its weird. I have become used to being told what is expected instead."

"Collaborations between Diamonds also occur, mixing our essence together creates entirely new gems that we generally cannot make on our own." Yellow supplied, "If you ever decide, you should discuss it with one of us. After all, it will be up to you to begin collaborations with your peers."

"I'll take the time to think on it." Orange said after a moments pause, "I don't want to make a rash decision."

"Good. But for now, it's time to return you to White, so I may get back to work."

The walk back to the other side of the Diamond's Square and towards White palace was quiet, comfortable, Orange feeling relaxed after the extraction chamber and their discussions. Orange could not help herself but smile as they neared the palace, a very welcome face standing at the other end of the bridge, hands behind her back, and staring at them as they approached. Even her blank, stern expression was welcome, even if it wasn't the expression she preferred to see on her soft features.

"What is she doing out here." Yellow mumbled, making Orange tilt her head up towards her.

"Pearl?" She questioned, intrigued but Yellow's furrowed brow, "She escorts me everywhere. She's my appointed guardian."

"Hmp." Yellow pursed her lips before bowing at the waist, hand leaning down to let Orange off, "You can walk the rest of the way from here."

"What?" Orange questioned, surprised, "But don't you want to see White again? Or-"

"No, no. I'm not here for a social visit, and I don't want to be near-" she paused, looking up to narrow her eyes over Orange's head, "I have work to do. You go, I'll see you later. I have a report to make about our day."

"A good one?"

"Happily, Yes. Now go." Yellow shooed.

"Okay!" Orange offered her a large toothy smile as she waved, "I'm off to see White! I'll tell her you said hello!" And then she turned to jog towards Pearl.

"Wait, Orange!"

"Bye Yellow!" Orange tossed over her shoulder, laughing at the look on the older diamond's face when she made to take a step towards her but stopped.

Across the bridge, Orange was met by Pearl, eyes moving from her to the much larger figure of Yellow diamond over her shoulder, no doubt still looking at her as she joined her new escort.

"Orange Diamond." Pearl saluted her.

"Hello, Pearl." Orange smiled, knowing Yellow couldn't see with her back to her.

"Please, follow me." Pearl spoke, turning around with her hands clasped behind her back, as she began the walk back to the palace entrance where Orange obediently followed.

Grinning, Orange waited until the were in the safety of the palace halls were not many could see them before she tilted her head, quietly speaking, "You look lovely out there, in the daylight."

Pearl blushed, "Orange, Please."

"Sorry. I just had to say that." Orange straightened up, "I'll control myself."

"Good...and thank you." Pearl said, her blush deepening.

"I'm always ready to complement my-" the grin dimmed as Orange paused, "mmm, what are we? What do you call two people who are courting?"

"I don't know."

"Mates? Pairs? Consorts? Courtées?" Orange called off, "Its weird, isn't it? I don't know how to refer to us. I don't want to call you, well, my Pearl, that sounds possessive, and you're not an object....Unless that's something you like?"

"I don't mind it, it's...sort of sweet, coming from you, but I prefer something else." Pearl answered, "I suppose we will have to pick something."

Placing a finger on her chin, Orange hummed in thought, "Hmm, what do you think about-"

"Later." Pearl cut her off, head ducking down as she spoke quietly, "Remember where we are, my Diamond."

"Er...right." Orange felt her cheeks warm as she passed by two guards stationed in the hall, both only responding to her presence with a salute. Waiting until they were out of sight, Orange responded quietly," Sorry, I got carried away. But- Oh! That's right, I have training today. I don't have time right now. I have to eat really quick and get to Iris."

Pearl turned her head, confused,"I believe I heard you wished to see White diamond?"

"Oh, I was just saying that to fluster Yellow, because she was being rude." Orange laughed, "I don't have time to see her right now. I have to keep my promise to Iris. I can't be late."

Pearl offered a small smile at this, "You're trying very hard to keep your promises."

"I don't want to be a diamond that can't keep her promises. Especially to the ones she loves most."

"Orange." Pearl cautioned.

"I won't apologize for that one." Orange said, "I do, and I want you to know it."

"I do know." Pearl affirmed, "But I prefer if the whole palace guard didn't as well."

"One day, they will, and it won't matter."

"What?" Pearl blinked, surprised and confused by Orange's words.

"That's what I want to do, when I'm in power." Orange clarified, "I want to change that. What we have isn't wrong, and I plan to change how everyone see that."

"That doesn't sound like an easy goal."

"I don't want an easy goal. I may not know everything, and I am still figuring a lot of it out, but I know that I want to be a good ruler. I want to do right by Homeworld and it's gems. And I want to be able to say, Pearl, my dear Pearl, I-"

"My Diamond!" The shout cut Orange off as the two turned, attention drawn to the familiar large red guards approaching them.

"My Diamond, you're back! How did it go?"

"Hello Five, Seven." Orange smiled as the two Quartz soldiers met them in the hall, "It went well."

"We knew it would." Five grinned.

"How could it not?" Seven added with a nod to her counterpart.

"Right?" five chuckled, "It's so silly to hear others worrying about our Diamond. Do they even know her?"

"Alright you two." Orange cut in before they could continue on, "I have to get to my room, consume as many tablets as possible in two minutes, and then we have to go. Iris and the Topazes are waiting."

It was now that Pearl spoke, pulling everyone's attention to her as she looked up at Orange. "I have already had new supplements brought to your room. They were just delivered this morning."

"Oh, good." Orange grinned, rubbing her hands together as if in anticipation, "The fresh ones always taste better."

"Taste better?" Five echoed, eyebrows scrunched together at the words, "My Diamond, forgive me, but you must be crazy."

Seven nodded her agreement, "You're implying they tasted good to begin with."

"Quiet, before I make you eat them with me in solidarity."

Five gasped, eyes wide in mock horror, "You wouldn't be so cruel to us!"

"Maybe that's my next phase as an upcoming leader." Orange joked, "Make my subjects suffer as I do."

"I will be by to check on you later, my Diamond." Pearl said, breaking the joking mood as she reminded everyone once more she was still there.

"Oh, of course Pearl." Orange turned to her, unabashed about the larger smile she always managed to pull from her, "Thank you."

"If that is all." Pearl bowed before walking past them, no doubt going to return to White Diamond for more work.

"Man, she is scary." Five breathed as soon as she was out of earshot.

"Right?" Seven agreed.

"Hey!" Orange smacked them both in the arms as she stepped between them, giving them both a look, "Don't say that."

"Oh, uh-"

"My Diamond, forgive us-"

"Besides," Orange huffed, "you haven't seen scary until you've made her really angry. Come on," Orange said as she moved to began the short walk to her room, "time is ticking."

"Wait a minute!" Five yelled as she and Seven Immediately made a dash to keep up with her. "You have to tell us that story!"

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

Her arrival to the spire was quick, Orange throwing the rules of Diamond decorum out the window the moment she was near the spire, the Carnelians surprised when she turned to look at them over her shoulder with a large grin on her face as she gave them all of three seconds to prepare as she said "Race ya'", and took off the rest of the way to the tower.

Despite the initial burst of panic as their charge fled from the safety of their presence, Five and Seven gave chase, the burst of laugher from Orange as they caught up fueling their own, the three of them laughing and gasping as they reached the stone steps of the spire base moments later. Doubled over, Seven and Five grinned, Orange between them with her hands on her hips as she breathed deeply, "Well that was fun. Thanks for the warm up."

"Warm up?" Five grunted, "We totally beat you."

"Did you?" Orange rose an eyebrow, her grin wide as she ascended the stairs to the interior, both Carnelians turning to look at each other.

Seven furrowed her eyebrows, "We did beat her, didn't we?"

Five pursed her lips, nodding her head, "Absolutely."

Up the flight of stairs, Orange entered the top room of the spire, where she was quickly assaulted by two large arms wrapping around her and lifting her off the floor, "My Diamond!"

"It's been forever since we've seen you!" Yelled the familiar voice of J behind them as she came to stand beside G and the grand gem held tightly in her arms.

"Hah! It's only been a week, don't be so dramatic." Orange said, doing her best to pat the giant topaz on the arm until she finally released her to stand on her own two feet.

"Yeah," G agreed, hands grabbing onto Orange's shoulders as she shook her lightly, "but do you know how many sessions that is?"

J nodded, leaning in as she cut her eyes behind them to the lone figure of Iris Agate, who stood with her hands behind her back, waiting for their reunion to end, "You've left us alone with her."

"She can hear you." Iris said, her eyebrow raising as the two gems winced at their words.

"Oh, uh-!"

"You two are always with Isris, what's the fuss?" Orange questioned, wrapping her arms around G and J's shoulders, pulling them in close at her sides, "Come on, we've got work to do, we can gossip about Iris later."

Iris blinked, eye narrowing as she stepped closer to meet them half way as Orange dragged the two soldiers with her. "Excuse me?"

"I'm joking Iris!" Orange laughed at the look her Agate gave her, "We would never talk about you right in front of you."

"Funny." Iris deadpanned.

"I thought so too."

Head raised, Iris questioned, "Permission to be speak freely?"

Grin lowering at the seriousness of Iris's tone, Orange nodded, "Of course, Iris."

"I'm surprised you showed up today. I would have though you would postpone today because of Yellow diamond's arrival."

Relaxing, Orange shrugged as she released the two Topaz soldiers from her hold, "She's busy, and I have obligations of my own. I'm glad she's back on Homeworld, but I promised I'd be here."

"A promise to a gem under you doesn't mean much." Isis commented.

Orange's nodded her head in acknowledgment to this, "I didn't say the promise was to you."

"I-" iris paused, eye wide as she realized her assumption, "oh."

"Have you prepared for today, Iris?" Orange smiled, amused at having caught her off guard, "Or were you counting on me not showing and slacked off?"

"Of course I've prepared!" Iris barked, her raised voice making G and J take a step back at the look on her face.

"Shall we start then?" The Diamond questioned, already beginning to stretch out her arms over her head, "Same drills?"

"If you know, then don't waste time." The Agate sneered.

"Yes ma'am." Orange jokingly saluted her, turning to glance at J and G before she took off to begin their routinely sprint around the open spire, "Let's go."

J frowned, watching as the Diamond took off without them, cocking her head to the side as she addressed her partner gem, "I don't think I like this new, upbeat diamond."

G nodded, "She's going to get us killed."

"Move!" Iris yelled from behind them, startling the two gems into a full on run towards Orange.

"Yes ma'am!"

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

As laps had ended, a little behind schedule, which Iris had excused due to Orange's punishment and subsequent period of lazing around her room, was deemed acceptable and had moved on to actual sparing.

As it was, G and Orange were already on their third round, a tie after G had managed to pin the larger gem to the ground after Orange had throughly pinned her the first time with an unbreakable arm lock. The advantages of having superior diamond strength compared to that of her soldiers. Although, that advantage had been too much when their spar had knocked down one of the pillars, already cracked and repaired numerous times before, now lay in a broken heap on the floor, only a small part of the pillar managed to remain standing, like a broken landmark to the once pristine spire before it had seen the likes of Orange Diamond and her gems.

"You're looking a little tired, my Diamond." G grinned as the two circled one another, arms up in defense in case of a rush attack.

"Hah!" Orange breathed out heavily, the strain lines and sweat dripping down her face telling the undeniable truth despite her bravado, "I'm just getting warmed up."

"You sure?" G chuckled, "I think this is gonna be over soon."

"You're all talk."

"I think you are!" G yelled as she charged the larger gem, and as she expected, waited until she raised her arms to block her to feint to the right, the Diamond's weaker hand, before she moved for her real blow. Crouching down, G aimed for her mid section, a grin on her face as she was sure she would take her by surprise. However, she was the one taken by surprise as her fist only met air as the Diamond sidestepped her punch altogether, only to have her extended arm latched onto as a kick was delivered to her unguarded side, sending her sprawling to the ground as the Diamond backed up, away from her opponent.

"I told you last time that wouldn't work on me twice." Orange mocked, waiting as G stood up to raise her arms in defense once more.

"Fair enough," G grunted, touching her side where she had taken the hit, the scuffs on her form the only real damage that had been done beyond the pain she felt beneath her touch. Looking back to her Diamond, G narrowed her eyes, "Then I'll just have to come up with something new."

"Maybe you can do it on the sidelines, while I'm taking J down too." Orange taunted, though keeping her eyes on the large topaz before her. She knew just how tricky she could be, a lesson she had learned the hard way many times over.

"You'll have to beat me first!" G yelled as she charged again, a full on tackle as she made hard contact with her chest, pushing against Orange's grasp of her arms, attempting to pin her and push her to the ground. Thinking quickly, Orange pushed her arms out and up, breaking the hold around her before pushing her knee up into the gem's stomach and finally pushing her back.

Unfortunately, she had not calculated that G would come charging back at her instead of taking defense again, surprised as she was punched in the face and then gut, knocking her several steps back.

"Ohh," J called over the room, "that had to hurt."

Clutching her face, Orange was surprised as her vision swam, head pounding as as she stumbled back, unable to quite catch her footing as her legs refused to bare her weight for more than a moment.

The three gems watched in paralyzed horror as their diamond tipped backwards on wobbly legs, knees buckling as they hit the broken edge of the pillar and tumbled over the ledge of the spire as her body went limp.

It wasn't until a yell and a blur of purple and white ran past them that they came to their senses, heads turning as they watched Iris summon her whip from her gem, the twin lengths of cord intertwined together snapping against the ground before it was being propelled over the edge as she skirted to the ledge on her knees. She gritted her teeth as she attempted to hold on to the weight on the other end of her whip, the jagged ends wrapped around and digging into her diamond's arm, suspending her in the air above a very, very, long drop down.

In her concentration, She was startled as a set of large arms wrapped around her, another grabbing onto the length of her whip, alleviating much of the obscene amount of weight that had been straining her arms.

"We're got her, Iris!" J yelled over her shoulder as she kept a firm grip on the end of the whip that hung over the edge, "Don't let go."

"On three, we pull her up, before she slips." Iris ordered, gaining nods from both Topazes. "Ready?"

"Just hurry!" G grunted, linking her hand harder around her wrist to keep her hold on Iris as she felt the tug of her being pulled forward.

"One...two...THREE!"

"Arrrg!" The unanimous sound of the three gems as they pulled the diamond up against gravity, the dead weight of her surprising, but not impossible to handle as the three worked together to pull her up, inch by inch, until she was at the towers edge. As she came up, J reached down, wrapping her hand around the arm that had been tangled in the Agate's whip, lifting her up and pulling her over the safety of the edge, breathing heavily as she did.

"My Diamond!"

The three crowed her, Iris' weapon vanishing in a shimmer of light, leaving behind little light distortions in her Diamond's form that went ignored as they moved to stand around her.

"My Diamond, are you alright?" J Questioned, kneeling beside Iris as they attempted to get a reaction from her.

"She isn't moving!" G panicked as she knelt on her other side, cupping her cheek with her hand and shaking her head, eyes wide as she received no response to her action, "Why isn't she moving?"

"She's not responding." J yelled, turning to look at the Agate beside her for help.

"I can see that." Iris grunted, leaning over her diamond to inspect her gem, searching for any sort of flaw she could find.

"But she hasn't poofed," G commented, watching for a moment as Iris touched her gem, though no cracks could be seen, before looking between the two as she continued, "so she alright, right? She's just doing the sleep thing, or-"

"Does she look alright to you?!" J shouted, pushing G in the shoulder.

"No!" G cried, leaning back and grasping her shoulder, "But what can we do!?"

"I don't know, but shut up! Freaking out isn't helping!"

G said quietly, staring down at the still unmoving gem as panic filled her at the very lifeless looking form of her friend, "Maybe we should get someone."

"Who?" J questioned, her tone exasperated.

"I don't know! Maybe-"

"Urrgg..." the sound cut through their panicked words, silencing them as the three watched as Orange's eyelids fluttered, limbs twitching before they finally opened. Peeking out from behind half closed eyelids, Orange scrunched up her eyebrows at the sight of the three gems pressed so close around her.

"My Diamond, are you alright?" Iris questioned, hand on her shoulder to keep her from attempting to sit up.

"What happened?" Orange questioned, grimacing as she moved her head only to feel the pulse of pain jolt through her head.

"I don't know!" G cried, actual tears falling down her face as Orange turned to look at her, "You went over the edge! I didn't punch you that hard, I don't think."

"Well something happened!" J snarled at her.

"Be quiet!" Iris snapped at the both of them before turning to look down at her, "My Diamond, how are you feeling?"

"In pain." Orange answered truthfully.

"Where?"

"My head. My chest. G said I went over the edge?"

"I caught you, and we pulled you up." Iris explained, releasing her hold on the Diamond's shoulder as she was motioned to move, both J and G moving to assist, hands supporting her back as Orange slowly sat up.

"Was my gem...?" Orange's hand moved to her gem, though her touch did little to quell the ache she felt there.

"It wasn't damaged." Iris confirmed, "We don't know what happened."

"Should we get someone to help?" G questioned.

Shaking her head, Orange closed her eyes for a moment and tasked herself with focusing on something else besides the constant ache in her head, "No. I'll have my guards escort me back to my room."

It was then Orange opened her eyes, her sight slightly blurred, cleared quickly as she gazed at the fizzing lines on her arm. Reaching over with the other, Orange touched them gently.

"From my whip," Iris explained, eye falling to the lines of light to her Diamond's damaged form. "I take full responsibility for my actions, and any punishment you see fit I will-"

"Don't be ridiculous, Iris." Orange grunted, straining herself as she forced her body to get up off the ground, the three gems around her with their hands out to catch her as she wobbly found her way to her feet, turning her eyes to meet the Agate's as she did, "You saved my life. You'll receive no punishment for that."

"But I did damage to my superior." Iris challenged.

"A few marks on my arm, that I can heal myself. I think it's a low price to pay for not having my gem in shards on the streets below, don't you?"

Iris swallowed whatever further protest she had, nodding her head in acceptance, "Very well."

"Now," Orange grunted as she turned, "I think we should call it a day."

"Let us walk you down." G insisted as she and J took positions on either side of her, "Just in case."

Nodding her head approval, the three began their way back to the Carnelians on the lower floor.

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

Sitting in her chair at her desk, Orange stared down at the lines on her arm, eyes focused as she covered the skin with her other hand, concentrating a much harder task than she thought it should be with the pulsing in her head, her attempt to ignore it growing more useless the longer the day wore on. A moment or two of more intense concentration, the young gem was pleased when her hand lit up with the bright neon orange hue of her powers, warmth caressing her skin as it mended together. Pulling her hand away, and allowing the power to fade, Orange lifted her arm, inspecting the pristine new skin and feeling better that she could at least still do that. Turning her attention to the pads before her, Orange grabbed the top of the stack, knowing if she was going to spend her free time in her room, it would be best put to use doing her work. Though the ache of her body requested that it be in a much more comfortable place then the stone coldness of her chair.

Standing up, Orange was surprised by the wave of nausea and dizziness that hit her, leaning forwards and catching herself on the edge of the desk as her vision swam, her grip tight as she closed her eyes until the feeling passed.

"What is wrong with me?" Orange whispered, hand moving up to touch the flat surface of her gem.

After another moment to breathe, sure that her moment of dizziness had passed, Orange trudged to her bed, pad case gripped tightly in her hand until she made herself at home in the thick blankets and wall of pillows that was her bed. Propped up, the young Diamond began her work, focused on at least completing one lesson that White Diamond had assigned to her.

Between attempting to search her brain for correct answers, and to ignore the feeling of her body attempting to reject her decision to not succumb to sleep, she had barely noticed the ping of her door, or when Pearl stepped through the entryway until she was already walking towards her, the soft clack of her feet on the marble floor finally rousing her attention away from the overly bright display.

"Pearl." Orange breathed, a small smile settling in her face at the sight of her alone.

"Orange." Pearl spoke quietly, sitting in the edge of the bed as she hesitated to reach up and touch her face, eyes seeing whatever Orange could not. "Your guards told me about what happened."

Huffing, Orange sat back further into the pillows, abandoning the still lit display to the other side of the bed as her full attention was turned to her companion. "It's nothing, really."

"You've been neglecting yourself again," Pearl argued, "look at you."

"It's just been a busy day." Orange countered weakly.

"You should lie down."

"I have more to do." Orange said as she reached out to pick up the pad, flashing it to Pearl as proof, "I have to finish this first."

"You've been working on it long enough." The smaller gem frowned, reaching out and taking the display from her hand and closing it, "You haven't even consumed your tablets."

"I tried a few." The Diamond said, grimacing the thought of them, "I don't really have an appetite for them today."

"Orange."

"Alright." Orange's shoulders slumped, head rolling to the side as she decided it best not to argue, "I guess, can you bring the tray here?" She motioned to the tray that still sat on her desk were it had been when she had arrived after her training session, "I'm feeling light on my feet."

Pearl nodded, standing up as she leaned over to press a hand gently to the young Diamond's shoulder, "Please lay down. I'll get this."

"Thank you." Orange breathed, settling further down under the blanket and into the pillows, eyes following Pearl as she crossed the room, placing the pad she had taken onto the desk and returning to her with the tray in hand.

Setting the tray on her lap, Pearl moved around the bed to sit on her other side, pushing pillows out of her way as she made a spot where she could sit closely beside the larger gem. Pushing stray locks out of her way, Pearl's eyes examined her face in the low light of the room, shadows accentuating stress lines and the deep color that was under her eyes. "You look awful, Orange."

"Ouch...that's a hurtful thing to say to your..." she paused, eyebrows pinching as she thought for a moment, "partner?"

A small smile settled on Pearl's face, eyes crinkling at the sides at open, curious look on the Diamond's face as she watched her for a reaction to the word, "Still trying to find a name for us?"

"Yes," Orange said as she moved to sit up more, grabbing the tray on her lap to keep it from falling, "I'm bound to land on one we both like eventually."

"Do we really need a label?"

Orange pursed her lips, thinking for a moment on Pearl's question, "I don't know." She eventually said, "All of this is just so...new. I guess I just want something to refer to us as." Orange admitted, turning to look at Pearl beside her as she asked, "Do you not?"

"Honestly? I don't find it important." She answered, "I'm with you, and that's all that matters to me. We're together, and thats simple."

"I suppose." Orange agreed, "Can I keep trying, at least?"

"So long as it involves you remaining in bed," Pearl acquiesced, "I'd love to hear more attempts."

Nodding, Orange breathed as another pulse of pain shot through her head, making her noticeably tense until it passed. Sighing, she laid back into the pillows, head propped up as she cocked her head to look at Pearl, the worry on her face hurting her to be the cause. "...do I really look that bad?"

"Yes." Pearl said, reaching forward to touch her cheek, the color of her skin looking better in contrast to the deep gray of her gloved hand, but she knew it still wasn't correct. "You're so pale in the face, except here." She commented, thumb running over the flushed color on the tops of her cheeks, almost red as if she had been crying, "You're very off color."

"I'm not doing this on purpose, Pearl," Orange said as she covered her hand with her own, "I promise."

"I know." The smaller gem breathed, watching as Orange's eyes fluttered closed as she tensed up again, keeping her hand against her cheek, thumb sweeping gently over her as a comfort until she relaxed as the pain subsided. "But you have to do better." She pleaded softly, Orange's eyes turning to her as she spoke, "You can't court me properly if you don't even have the energy to stand, can you?"

"Well," Orange forced a grin, straining her muscles until she was sitting up, pulling the tray closer to her as she picked up a few tablets from the silver tray, "that's all the motivation I need."

Pearl's eyes widened as the younger gem began to shovel tablets into her mouth until one of her cheeks began to puff out, chewing a large amount at once. Reaching out, she grabbed her hand before she could put more into her mouth. "Orange, Slow down, your-"

"Urg!" Orange pulled away from her grasp, leaning to her side, the tray falling from her lap and scattering tablets across the floor as she violently upheaved, half chewed and digested tablets pooling on the floor beside her bed as she continued to gag.

"Orange!" Getting to her knees, Pearl pushed herself against her side as she pulled her hair back away from her face and shoulders, attempting to help though she wasn't quite sure just what to do as she continued to dry heave, body shaking against her as tears dropped from her eyes. In the next moment, Pearl found herself attempting to hold on, but failing, as the much heavier gem went limp, slumping over the side of the bed and rolling off into the sick and scattered tablets on the floor.

Jumping from the bed, Ignoring the crunch of the supplements beneath her feet, Pearl attempted to roll the unconscious gem over, giving up and settling to turn her head so it wasn't face down and running to the door.

Smacking the lock, Pearl leaned out as she barked orders, "You two, come help me!"

Without waiting for them, Pearl turned, running back to Orange as the Carnelians rushed in at her orders and followed right behind her.

"Both of you, grab her arms and help me put her back up on the bed."

"Ye ma'am!" Five and Seven sounded in unison as they did as instructed, Working together to heave the Diamond onto the bed, Pearl climbing onto the bed to assess her gem.

Relief momentarily crossed her face when she found no flaws in its facets, but quickly turned serious again as she moved to cup her face. Smacking her hand against her other cheek, Pearl attempted to rouse her. "Orange, can you hear me?"

Eyelashes fluttered as her eyebrows scrunched up, pulling her head away from the hand that had been slapping her as she groggily tried to grasp the situation as she looked between the scared faces of Pearl and the Carnelians.

"Oh, thank the stars! She's awake!" Five rejoiced as she stood up to give Orange room.

Wetting her lips and cringing at the taste in her mouth, she turned her attention to Pearl, who remained at her side, hand still on her face despite the Carnelians, "What happened?"

"You passed out, after throwing those tablets up." Pearl explained.

"I..." Orange groaned as another wave of nausea hit her, "I don't feel very well, Pearl."

[Updated and corrected 6/9/21]