I'm finally starting to feel better. Not completely there, but at least I don't feel like I've been ramming my head into Jasper's fist repeatedly as she cackles like a mad gem. Have another chapter as a small celebration of that.

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Peridot stood, head lowered so her eyes did not meet her superiors, clutching her pad in between the crook of her elbow and her palm, the active display pointed towards her. She knew her form was the picture of solemn, penitent, a gem who had come with bad news. And she knew it showed well by the tension in her superiors, the way their pathetic little pearls quivered in the corner, worried and glancing between the two and her, waiting for the moment that the ball would inevitably drop.

"Its time," The brilliant Yellow Diamond's voice thundered overhead, calling her attention up to her, demanding, "I want a full report."

Peridot bowed in respect, the best she could do with something in her hand, "Of course, my clarity. I am prepared."

The radiant Blue Diamond, standing tall beside her, hands clutched together in front of her, tone weighed down with concern as she asked, "Is she going to be okay?"

Peridot righted the pad in front of her, flicking the screen to reflect the hours of work she had put into this project, catalogued and archived, labeled and refined to perfection, ready to be handed over when she was done. Her proof that she had done her best. With her notes in hand, she began, "I have done through scans, checked her gem, its composition, as well as her organic components. Numerous studies and analyses, and I've-"

Yellow's cheek twitch, teeth clenched as she barked out, "Get on with it!"

Peridot flinched, nodding as she flipped forward, skimming for something that would be satisfying for her ruler, "Ah, uh, ahem!" she paused, breathed deeply, "The days allotted by her grand luminous, radiant-" A peer up caught her diamond's eyes narrowed at her, threatening, and she took her meaning silently, "Ah, yourself, my Diamond, have given me time to put together many different formulas, perfected equations to account for the patient's changes since she was created, as well as any mutations—"

"Mutation?" Blue Diamond interrupted her, eyebrows pushed up in question.

"That is to say, Orange Diamond's gem has... changed." She explained, brining up further information on the pad, "Growth, its reaction to stimuli. It is quite intriguing, and I suspect it has to do with adaption to it's host's form. Her continued use of her gem granted abilities fused with her organic ability to change, grow as she does. Of course, I suspect she won't be able to go too far, after all. Organic are very weak."

"Fascinating, I'm sure." Yellow Diamond said sardonically, butting in before she could continue on, "And I will read it in your report. Tell us, have you cured Orange Diamond?"

"I-" Peridot paused, bowing her head for effect and frowning, regretful as she broke the news, "I'm afraid I must report that, despite my best efforts...I was unable to cure Orange Diamond's issue."

Immediately she was met by gasps from around the room, and then the sniffling from Blue Diamond as she broke into tears. Risking a glance up, Peridot watched as Blue turned into Yellow Diamond's shoulder, tears leaking from her eyes as the warmer colored diamond shushed her.

A moment later she turned, eyes narrowed dangerously at her, "Then you have failed us."

"Forgive me, your clarity," Peridot responded, a spot of nervousness growing in her chest that she was quick to tamp down, least it spread, "I managed to find the correct mixture to aid her, my diamond, but she is just...too far gone." She did her best to appear sorrowful as she looked up at them, "Perhaps if she had been checked sooner. There was always the risk that something would happen, given her weaker, organic nature. I did my very best, but there is not much more I can do."

Everything about Yellow was tense, her eyes, her posture, the very air around the two diamonds radiated with sorrow and a warning to not engage them. After a long, drawn out moment, did she finally ask, "How long?"

"I do not believe she will survive through the week's end."

Blue erupted in wails, sobbing into Yellow's offered shoulder as she turned, her eyes closing, lips a firm line as she bowed her head, holding herself together, refusing to let herself give in to her feelings. Especially not when there were still things to be done, and a young Diamond to see before it was too late.

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Chimes, ringing way too frequently to be pleasant and resonating off the white walls like a broken klaxon going off beside her head. The sound alone made her wince, wishing to slip back into the unconsciousness of sleep just to be rid of it. Blinking her eyes open, however, brought with it a whole new world of ache. A blinding blur of halo white light that made her clench her eyes shut and turn her head away, groaning as the bells continued, pounding a hellish beat between her ears.

Orange awoke, groggy and weak. Blinking open her eyes was a regret all its own as a fierce headache attempted to create a new drum beat behind her eyes. Breathing deeply, she twisted, burying her face into the covers as she waited, the thrumming in her head settling in the darkness behind her eyelids. After a few moments, and she thought she could handle it, Orange struggled to push herself up though the combination of cushion giving under her weight and her shaking arms made it even harder to sit up. Eventually, she succeeded in lifting herself up the rest of the way by grabbing the edge of the bed and pulling herself upward until she was sitting up properly, legs hanging off the side.

Placing a hand over her eyes to shield them from the ceiling lights, Orange squinted, looking around the room. She couldn't remember the lights being so damn bright. What time was it anyway? Looking over at the curtains, still drawn back so she could see outside, the pink wisps in the yellow sky spoke of early day. Which begged the question, why hadn't she been woken up by Peridot yet? Surely she had something for her already.

Grunting, she slid forward, placing her feet more firmly on the floor, intending to stand, only to lift her foot back up at the sound of clinking and the hard crunch of something under her heel. Peering down between her legs, her eyebrows turned up, confused by the sight of glass on the ground and whatever the clear liquid was that had created a puddle on the ground.

"What is...?" Orange's lips turned down, unsure what she had just put her foot in, or why there was broken glass on her floor. Who would have even entered...? "Guards!"

Orange waited, even more confused when no one answered her calls. Leaning forward, minding where her feet landed on the floor, she called again, "Guards?"

And still, no one showed. Where were they? What the blazing stars was going on? The Diamond's would have a meltdown if they heard about her guards being AWOL. And just where was that stupid green gem? Normally she couldn't wait to come disturb her and bring her a new colorful glass of whatever she had created that particular hour.

Either that, or she expected her to be there, though she had had the decency to stop those requests when Orange had first fallen getting out of bed. She didn't think she'd ever get a reprieve from her during this trying week, but she had surprised her then.

Whatever the case was, between the glass, her short term memory being shot, and her guards sudden disappearing act, the young Diamond wanted answers.

Taking a deep breath, Orange forced her body to lift itself up, grabbing ahold of the stand beside her bed to help get onto her feet until she was forced to straighten up least she tip over and kneel in the glass shards. Surprisingly, standing up wasn't as difficult as she had expected, it was the walking that made her feel like a babe just learning to walk. Moving forward, her knees threatened to give, legs wobbling and feet uncertain as they touched down, like she had completely forgotten how to properly coordinate her body properly. She managed to make it halfway across the room before her knees finally buckled and she rocketed forward, banging her chin on the hard tiles and jarring every ache she possibly could have as she skidded across the cold floor.

If she thought it would help any, Orange would have broken down crying then and there. So much hurt, her overly tired limbs, her joints aflame and protesting, her chest throbbing with every breath, and now her damn face. What she wouldn't give to be a young gem again and curl up to her mother's side and cry about how she had hurt herself when she wasn't looking and have her soothe every little ache. But she wasn't a young gem, not that young at least, and her mother wasn't here. No one was here. No one but her.

Groaning loudly, Orange began to pull herself up off the ground, hunched over on her hands and knees, eyes brimming with tears as she took a moment to acknowledge just how much she hurt, and then she pushed it back down to force herself back up on her feet. One leg bent, foot pressed firmly to the floor, and using her thigh as a platform to push the rest of herself up. The room tilted as she stood up straight, and she fought not to close her eyes against it, afraid if she did she'd simply lose her balance and fall once more. A deep breath, followed by another, and she was satisfied when she could concentrate on the doorway and not have it try to do a twin double summersault with her stomach.

"Okay, you can do this." She breathed, beginning to take it step by slow-going step to the door. "Just to the door. Gotta make it to the door, and then I can take a break." She mumbled, psyching herself up for every move closer until she was finally, finally to the doors. Leaning her shoulder against the thick metal, Orange winced as her head hit against it as she attempted to place her warm cheek against the cool metal, appreciating the stark change to the flame that was burning up under her skin. What she wouldn't do for a Snowflake's hug right now.

A minute turned into several and it took Orange starting to slide forward as she began to doze to startle her enough into pushing off of the door, using her hands to keep balance as she settle on her feet, stance wide to keep her balanced as she reached over to release the lock. As the doors slid open, the young Diamond looked left and right, eyebrows furrowing as she could spot neither jasper that had been so happy to serve her at the beginning of the week, or the days that had followed.

Hands on the doorway, Orange stepped out of the room, looking down the hallway, left and right, but there was no sign of them or a replacement pair. Frowning, the young gem decided it would be best to at least head towards the main hall where she could have someone fetch the scientist, or at least someone who knew what was going on. Deciding it best, and easiest on her body, Orange used the wall to guide her down the hall, a lot less effort having to be strained from her body to keep walking in a straight line. If only her body could keep a decent pace, she would eventually make it to a waypoint where another guard was stationed, after all, Yellow hadn't been lying when she said the place was safe. You would have to be mad to attack a Diamond in a place like this.

As luck would have it, Orange didn't have to go too far before she took notice of the stark contrast of two bright yellow-orange Jasper gems coming her way, engrossed in their own conversation to notice her.

Lifting her hand, she waved at them to get their attention, "Hey! You two!"

Heads lifting up, both freezing as they saw her, before seeming to jumpstart back and began jogging over to her, frantic cries of her name on their lips as they came at her. Watching them charge, Orange silently hoped they would stop and not tackle into her and take the last of her resolve that had kept her going so far.

"My diamond!"

"What are you doing up?"

Orange attempted a smile as they talked over one another, stopping in front of her and clearly panicked, which confused her, hands held up as if they were afraid she was going to fall. Then again, she was leaning heavily against the wall, maybe that was a smart idea on their part.

"My Diamond," the Jasper to her right said, eyes wide and bouncing every which way as she looked her up and down, "are you alright? Has something happened?"

"Calm down," The diamond ordered softly, "I'm just trying to get down the hall."

"You shouldn't be up," the left said, hands hovering closely to her, but not daring to touch, "the other Diamonds would harvest our gems if they saw you up right now."

Raising a brow, Orange questioned, "They're here?"

"Yes," Left nodded, "don't you remember?"

"No?"

The two exchanged a look, not too discreetly either as Orange scrunched up her eyebrows as they both turned to look at her.

"She said that might happen," Right spoke in a soft, reassuring voice, "So why don't we get you back to your room?"

"No," Orange shook her head, becoming slightly annoyed at their insistence to return to her room, "I'm not going back there right now."

"My Diamond, please." Left begged, "You should be in bed."

"I said No." Orange's voice rose, eyes narrowed slightly in warning, "Now answer me, you said the other Diamonds are here?"

"Yes, your clarity. The Peridot has a meeting with them. She requested to not be disturbed."

"And that you should be resting. Come on, we'll—"

Orange blinked, the pain in her head pulsing, "Meeting...?" before she bowed over, grabbing her head and gasping at the sharp, stabbing pain.

"My diamond?" Left called, inching forward, eyes wide as she hesitated, unsure what to do as she watched her superior hunched over and groaning.

Opening her eyes as the pain began to subside into a low thrum at the back of her head, Orange squinted her eyes through her fingers, breathing heavy, "I remember." She mumbled, before a surge of rage took over, shooting up and ignoring the flare of pain it brought, startling to the two jaspers back, "Move."

"But my clarity, please!" the jasper on the right pleaded, "Let us escort you back. You really shouldn't—"

"I'm going to the Diamonds, not back to my room." Orange snarled, glaring at her before she could finish her sentence. "You two can help me there."

"You're not well. Please."

"Who do you serve? That Peridot, or your Diamonds?"

The hall was tense and silent as the Jasper stared at her, hesitating, before one of them stepped forward, holding out her arm and hovering while making a motion toward Orange's arm that wasn't supporting her against he wall, "Uhh, here, may I-?"

Orange lifted her arm, waiting until her hand was on her back to wrap it around her shoulders and shifting her weight from the wall to her. She cocked her head to give a nod of gratitude, "Thanks."

Moving away from the wall, the other jasper moved to her other side, read to trade off if needed. Looking ahead of them, Orange motioned for them to begin moving, "Now we need to hurry. I have important business to take care of in that room."

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"Are you certain?" Yellow pressed.

"Yes, my Diamond." Peridot nodded, attempting to keep her exasperation from her voice, "I preformed a check up on her this morning."

"What if you take her back to the Zoo?" Blue questioned, pulling away from Yellow's shoulder, eyes turning to her asks eh looked down at the smaller gem, "Would you be able to do something there? Couldn't you—!"

Everyone tensed, turning stiffly to eye the doors as they opened.

Blue gasped loudly, pulling away from Yellow and taking a step forward as she cried, "Orange! What are you doing here?!" and then she stopped, eyes traveling from Orange to the jasper holding her up, eyes narrowing at them, "You two! Why have you allowed her to-"

"I ordered them." Orange cut her off, eyes zeroing in on the green gem before them.

"Orange?"

Orange lifted her arm, releasing Jasper's shoulder as she stood up on her own and took a threatening step forward towards Peridot, "Did you really think you'd get away with it?"

Peridot's eyes widened, stepping back as ht pad dropped from her hand and clattered on the floor. "I-I don't-?"

"Orange, don't be ridiculous," Blue chided, "You're not yourself. You should be resting, not exerting yourself like this."

Orange ignored her, continuing her advancement, glaring as she neared the green gem.

"W-what are you doing?" Peridot stuttered, backing up and nearly tripping over her own feet, "Get away-!"

"You. Poisoned. Me." Orange grit out through bared teeth.

"What!?" Blue gasped loudly, hand flying up to cover her mouth.

Peridot shook her head rapidly, "That's not true, I-"

"Quiet." Orange hissed, reaching out and grabbing the Peridot by her collar and pulling her forward, her voice menacing as she growled out, "No more lies. I don't need anyone to believe me. I know the truth, and I'll make you pay."

"My diamonds," Peridot cried out, hands smacking at Orange's forearm as she tilted her head to place up at Blue and Yellow, "please-"

"Orange, that's enough-" Yellow yelled, stepping forward, intending to break them up.

Orange tilted her head back, glare shifting from Peridot to Yellow as she responded in a harsh, commanding tone, "Shut up."

"Orange!" Blue gasped, both diamond's eyes bulged at her as they stared down at her, never having been talked to by her like that.

"You wouldn't listen. Neither of you listened." Orange hissed, "I tried to tell you something was wrong as you ordered me to ingest the very thing that was killing me. Why couldn't you listen?"

"Orange..."

"But I don't need you to listen to me now." Orange's eyes looked down at the peridot, a predator bearing down on her prey at last, "Because I'm meant what I said. I'm not going to be nice, and I'm not going to forgive you."

Peridot leaned back, twisted and flailing as she continued smacking against her arm, and for all her efforts the younger gem would not let her go, "You're crazy!"

"I'm a diamond." Orange growled, ignoring the painful strain holding onto the thrashing gem as she fought against her waining strength, but she would not let her get away, "And you're a treasonous pebble, only fit enough to be crushed to dust underneath my heel."

"Help me!"

"Orange, that's enough!" Yellow ordered. "Let us handle this."

Despite her urging to ignore her, Orange's knees buckled against her will, legs folding under her as she finally collapsed from the strain. Blue Diamond immediately moved towards her, calling her name in her panic.

It was then Peridot took the chance to escape her grasp, leaping over her and running for the doors.

"Guards," Yellow barked, pointing her finger in their direction, "Seize her! I want her locked up for trial."

The jaspers at the door immediately jumped into action with shouts of, "Yes, my Diamond!"

Working together, the two blocked her path, hands up as they advanced at her at the same time, one leaping for her to which the slimmer gem twisted back and swerving on her heel to just barely dodging her as she fell to the floor beside her, only to have arms come up behind and under hers, locking her shoulders in place and slightly lifting her off her floor, her feet swinging in the air and kicking against the jasper's shins as she struggled to pull away.

"Stop squirming!" Jasper grunted, ducking her head the best she could to avoid a flailing limb smacking her in the face as well

"Let me go! Let me go! You can't do this!" Peridot cried, digging her heels into the quartz's shins and being rewarded with groans of pain for her effort, "I was doing what was best for our glorious empire, my Diamond! I am a savior! That fake should-"

"That is enough!" Yellow exploded, static energy rising enough to spark to life and curl around her hands in small arcs, "If you say one more word I'll skip the trial and sentence you now!"

"Eep!" All at once Peridot stopped moving, lips clamping tightly together as she stared up at the menacing diamond in fear. Beside them, the other jasper stood up, grumbling under her breath as the two quartzes took the chance to let her down and grab each arm, letting her stand on her own two feet, but with no hope to run.

"Take her away." Yellow demanded of the two, watching keenly as the two soldiers nodded their heads and turned, marching the skinny green gem from the room.

Across the room, Blue knelt on the floor, hunched over as she held the smaller gem protectively in her hands. "Oh Orange," tears formed heavily in her eyes, staring down at the gem spread out on her back in her palms, breathing heavy, and if it didn't just break her heart to see. "Are you alright?"

"Just tired, Blue." Orange looked up at her, the edges of her mouth curling up slightly as she asked, "Did they get her?"

"Yes, yes, of course." Blue nodded, eyes glancing up to Yellow as she came to stand opposite her, face turned down to look at the small gem in her hands. Even though she didn't show it like her, Blue could see the tension, the taunt jaw, the upturned eyebrows as she looked down at their youngest, in pain and suffering, and they could have prevented it. Yellow would not let this go easily. Or ever.

"Good. I heard Yellow say trial? I want to be at her trial.

Yellow and Blue exchanged glances.

"Orange," Blue startled gently, "That may not be a good idea. You're not-"

"We'll put off the trial until she is better." Yellow interrupted, both Orange and Blue turned their eyes to her.

"Yellow?" Blue questioned, eyes wide, concerned.

Yellow's eyes cut to hers, responding, "As a Diamond, she has full right to face someone who would attempt to kill her."

Before Blue could retort, Orange groaned, and then sighed loudly, going limp in Blue's hand, the feeling of her suddenly losing the tension in her palm bringing Blue's eyes to her. With Blue's attention, came Yellow's following right after.

"I'm tired." Orange said, voice low, eyes looking up at Blue as she questioned, "Can I rest now?"

"Of course." Blue responded softly, soothingly, "We'll keep you safe.

"Promise?"

"i promise."

A smile curled on Orange's lips as her eyes closed, laying her head back as she mumbled, "M'Kay..." and then poofed in a little puff of smoke, leaving Blue to cradle the small gem in her hand.

Her fingers closed carefully around it, her palm curving to protect it from being crushed. Tears pooled in her eyes as she clenched them shut, before turning to look at Yellow, anger twisting her features. "I want that gem shattered, Yellow."

"I know." Yellow responded, reaching out to place a hand on her counterpart's shoulder, "But Orange wants a trial."

"There doesn't need to be a trial!" Blue yelled, the tinge of blue power lighting up her skin in anger, but it never went farther than that, "We know what she's done. Orange has retreated to her gem because she almost killed her!"

"Calm down Blue." Yellow order, tone measured, even as her eyebrows scrunched together and lines formed near mouth where her lips thinned, "I'm angry too. I would like nothing more than to shatter that despicable runt with my own hands."

"Then why-"

"Because" Yellow turned to look down at Blue's palm where Orange's gem laid safe, out of her view, "we owe her that much."

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Blue stood, clutching Orange's gem between her fingers, unwilling to allow anyone to take it from her as she held her closed fist over her own gem, weeping softly.

"And the peridot?" White questioned Yellow, who stood before her, answering her questions for the both of them.

"In custody." Yellow answered.

"Why?" White questioned, a single eyebrow raising at the shorter diamond, "It's traitorous, it should have been shattered."

Yellow cleared her throat, adverting her eyes as she responded, "Orange wants a trial."

"And you wish to indulge her."

"It was her wish. It was..." Yellow squared her shoulders, hands gripping together behind her back where White couldn't see, "We should at least know why, and if there are any others like her."

White could see the guilt on her face. This wasn't because it was to bring order, it was because she felt guilty for Orange's current situation. "Is that so? And do you believe there are others?"

"Possibly. We will have to comb Pink's zoo, through interrogations, any collaborators will be found."

"I expect you will be overseeing all this then, Yellow?"

"Yes, White." Yellow bowed her head in acceptance.

"Which leads to Pink. Should she not be leading the search for this traitor's colleagues? It was, after all, her gem." White pressed.

"This shouldn't have happened begin with. If she kept better track of her subjects, then I would not need to intervene to begin with. I would prefer to handle it without bringing Pink into this."

"Very well, Yellow." White relented, eyes turning to look at Blue as she spoke up.

"You can't do that, Yellow."

Yellow Diamond sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of her nose before turning to look at Blue, "Pink is too distracted already. she doesn't need—"

"You can't hide this. We have to call Pink." Blue sniffed, "She should know what's going on."

[Updated and corrected 6/10/21]

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Considering I had planned to be done by now with this event, until i was sent a curve ball, ill be gone for the holidays and won't be back to post the next chapter until after Christmas. So enjoy this little cliffhanger bit, cause when we get back, we get to see Pink enter the picture.Happy Holidays, everyone.