Sorry this is a little bit late, I ended up adding more to the chapter, and it ended up way longer than I originally intended it to be. So have one of the longest chapters of the DB3.

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She knew wandering the halls of the still deteriorating palace all alone would have been odd, perhaps even daunting, given how it had become like a live maze that kept changing its directions on a whim, unexpectedly forcing her to change the way she knew to go at any turn. Somehow, she didn't think having Pearl beside her would make it somehow worse. Or, at least, this look-alike Pearl, because she didn't need it confirmed to her to know the thing beside her wasn't her Pearl, only a mere illusion, dreamed up or simply being projected by her subconscious, she wasn't entirely sure.

Whatever she was, or wasn't, Orange at least appreciated that she seemed to know where she was going. It made her wonder how long this had been going on that she knew the way so well, or was it something she just knew because she wasn't real?

"So," Orange said, drawing out the word as she crossed her arms over her chest, glancing over at Pearl and briefly finding it odd to have her at eye level again after so long of practically towering over her, "Maybe you can clarify for me, are we in my gem, or is this all just one big, incredibly lucid dream I'm having?"

Pearl's lips curled in reaction to her question, the corners her round eyes crinkling though she made no noise in response to her question.

Orange pursed her lips, somewhat perturbed by her continued silence, "What, can't you talk now?"

"Of course I can," She responded, cocking her head to look at her from the corners of her eyes before adding with a soft giggle, "Orange."

"Then...maybe help me out?" Orange asked, confused.

Pearl looked back ahead, Orange's own eyes following her as she led her around a long fissure in the marble floor, apparently confident that the ground there was still stable enough to walk across, though that didn't stop Orange attempting to cross as lightly as possible, as if walking on her toes would somehow diminish her weight as she tiptoed across after her.

"I'm afraid I've been ordered not to answer that particular question." Pearl said as she was reached the other side, turning around to wait patiently for the young diamond.

Orange's head shot up, eyes snapping from the floor to her, first in concern, and then confusion when she remember that this wasn't the real Pearl.

"What? By who?" She questioned, her eyes quickly flitting down to watch her feet as she clung to the wall until she was once again beside Pearl on the other side.

Pearl's smile returned as she answered simply, "My diamond, of course."

Orange's eyes went wide, mouth dropping open in surprise, "White gave you orders to- Wait." She paused, her hands raising to wave in the air as she dismissed her own thought, "No, no, that doesn't make sense..."

Pearl remained silent, watching her with an almost unnerving amount of patience as she paced in front of her as she mumbled to herself.

"How could White order her to-? No, that's just stupid, Orange, she can't do that, how would she? That doesn't make sense." She frowned, stopping to cross her arms again, this time in exasperation, "Then again, this whole place doesn't make sense." She sighed, and then, deciding to put the topic aside for now, turned to look at her companion once more, "Okay, how about this then, why exactly am I a child?"

"I can not answer that either."

Orange groaned, head rolling against her shoulder as her arms flopped to her sides, shoulders sagging as she questioned, "Orders?"

Pearl responded by shrugging, "I am unaware why."

"Oh." The young diamond blinked, straightening up as she felt her her cheeks begin to flush in embarrassment, "At least I'm not the only clueless one then."

"Although," Orange begin soon after they started walking again, Pearl glancing at her out of the corners of her eyes as she put her hands on her hips, her lips pursed in deep thought, "If this was my gem, and you were here, that would mean that you're a part of me, in some weird way. And if that's the case, then you'd know what I know, and I don't know what's going on. But if this is Zirconia's doing, then you should know what she knows, and then I would know, but if I don't know and....I'm talking in circles."

Pearl giggled, attracting Orange's attention as they both turned their heads to look at one another, the young diamond raising her eyebrows in question before Pearl said, "I believe this is one of those times you should just...go with it."

"If I didn't come up to just your chin, regardless of my hair, I'd might be so inclined," Orange grunted, "However, I don't really intend to just," She raised her hands to gesture with her fingers quotation, "let this go."

Pearl giggled, cutting her off as she gave her another questioning look for the unexpected sound, "Your words do not fit how you look. It's cute."

Warmth crept up her neck and burned her cheeks, turning her head as her brows pinched together in an attempt to keep the taller gem from seeing her face. "It's not cute." She huffed, "I'm not this way by choice."

"Maybe not," Pearl shrugged, "but I don't mind."

"Don't mind? I feel like I'm barely taller than a ruby!" Orange growled, eyebrows turning down in a flash of anger, gesturing towards Pearl as as he added, "How can you like seeing me like this?"

Pearl grinned, something that Orange rarely saw the real Pearl do, and it only made the expression seem even more foreign on this version of her, especially when she responded in a fond manner, "Because you're still my Orange."

Orange stared, cheeks still tinted before she managed to look away, crossing her arms back over her chest as she grit her teeth from retorting with something she might regret later. Instead, she huffed, looking ahead and refusing to look back at the gem beside her as she grunted out, "Let just get to where we're going, alright?"

"But look at the view." Pearl nodded her head towards a large windowed wall panel ahead of them, slowing her pace as they neared, ignoring Orange's air of annoyance as she did, "It would be a shame to just rush past it."

"Look, no offense," Orange frowned deeply as she slowed down beside her, given she couldn't go on without her, eventually indulging her own curiosity as she followed her eyes towards the window to glance out, intending to usher her on as quickly as she could, "But I'm not here for...the..." Orange's mouth hung open as she turned her body fully to look out at the scenery out the window, Pearl stepping up beside her as she breathlessly asked, "What is that?"

Blackened rubble, originally hidden from her by the unfazed lines of the city that had tricked her into thinking everything was better, now stood out, inescapable from her view as it practically cut a line behind pristine marble towers as what she could only describe as death. Towers crumpled over, monoliths, communication towers, statues and whole buildings leveled, as if something incredibly powerful had come over it, smashing it all under its will, robbing everything of remark and prominence, leaving shells to be razed to the ground.

Pearl's own eyes followed hers, still smiling despite what they were now looking at. "The dead lands."

Orange's head snapped to look at Pearl, eyebrows scrunched up and lip pulled back in equal measures of disgust and disbelief, "Are you— did you guys seriously name it that?"

Pearl cocked her head, her eyes closing as she nodded, that same happy smile unwavering as she confirmed, "It seemed appropriate. We have assumed everything passed the inner city has been destroyed. There hasn't been any activity since it came."

"When did it happen?"

"I am...uncertain." Pearl said, head tilting as if confused by her own lack of knowledge, "By the time it had been noticed, it was already encroaching on the city. My Diamond knows more than I on the matter."

"Then we shouldn't keep her waiting." Orange stated, staring hard at the black smoke the still seeped from the rubble, like the last bits of breath escaping the dying landscape.

Orange turned when Pearl did, following her down the hall and passed two other turns, and down yet another long hallway until she finally came to stand in front of two large doors, their purpose unknown to her as she could not remember seeing those doors in the palace before, and they seemed too grand to have been hidden away in some abandoned section of the building.

Pearl nodded to the door, "You'll have to go in alone. I am needed elsewhere."

Orange watched with mild trepidation as Pearl simply turned and walked off, leaving her alone at the door without a second though. Turning back, Orange looked up, worried about what she would find on the other side, or rather, who. Surely White wasn't actually here. She hadn't seen White in her gem since, well, since she had first been poofed and had been lost in her own mind, unsure of how to reform. Had she been gone longer than she thought? Was White here to take her home, believing her lost once more?

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open, her eyes focused on the crack between the doors, attempting to identify what would be inside before she actually had to enter. Her eyes began to widen, lips parting in surprise. Through the widening gap she could see inside, on a throne a bit too large for her, leg folded under her as the other swung to tap her heel against the base, her own face, just as young and round as hers was now, smirked back at her as their eyes met.

"Hah Hah!" Zirconia laughed, leaning forward and opening her arms wide as she stood up from the throne, smile too wide and toothy as she welcomed her counterpart into the room, "You found me! You found me!"

"Zirconia! You're Pearl's- Wait! You've been here the whole time?!" Orange gasped, running forward to meet her twin in a hug, only to push her away a few moments later, though keeping her hands on her upper arms, eyes wide and watering as she looked at her still grinning face, "Do you know how scared I was? i thought...I thought-"

"I left you? As if!" Zirconia laughed once more, pulling her back into a hug and swinging her around with her, hoping from one foot to the other as she brought Orange along to twirl with her, stopping when she had made them both properly dizzy from her joyful little dance. Stepping back she pointed at her twin, giggling as she exclaimed, "But oh man, the look on your face though! I was really tempted to come get you sooner, especially when I realized you were going down that broken hall, but it was so funny!" She paused, grin lowering as she realized Orange wasn't laughing along with her, tears still heavy on her lower lashes as she listened to her talk. Leaning forward, Zirconia grabbed her shoulders in comfort, hushing her as she added more calmly, "But, hey, no, it's all okay now."

"How is this okay?" Orange cried, pushing her hands off her shoulders as she gestured wildly to herself and then her twin, "I'm a child! You're a child! What's even going on?"

"Be chill, self." Zirconia responded, hands up in a show of peace, "It can all be fixed."

"Fixed?" Orange echoed, eyebrows lowering as she quickly realized what had been going on, leaning forward to push her angrily, "So this is your doing!"

Zirconia grinned, hands up as she shrugged in amusement, "Maybe"

"Zirconia!"

"Calm down, geez." Her counterpart grunted, smile slipping as she waved her off, "Five and Seven would have found this funny."

"Five and Seven aren't punny runts!" Orange pointed out angrily.

"We're not that short, come on." Zirconia argued, "Besides, you have to tell me, what did you think of the game so far?"

"This...Game?" Orange's expression morphed from one of anger to shock, mouth hung open as she struggled to form a proper sentence, "This is a game?"

"Of course!" Zirconia laughed, grin returning as she gestured around them, "This is kinda where I live, ya know? I can change my appearance, ergo, I can change yours."

Orange crossed her arms, glaring at her counterpart in annoyance, "Hmp. Change me back."

"Aww, come on, not yet, not yet." Zirconia begged, "There's things I want to show you first!"

"In this place?" Orange questioned, glare softening as she glanced around, as if she could see the fissures and cracks of the building around them, "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Don't worry, I know all the bad places." Zirconia promised, moving forward to wrap her arm around her counterpart's shoulders and turn her around, leading her out of the room, "Weren't expecting the palace though, were you?"

"It was..." Orange paused, struggling with how to describe her initial surprise for the world she had awoken in, at least once she had gotten past her confusion of it all, "I didn't realize there was so much to this place, honestly. Last time it was just the room."

"Well, there has to be a lot. It is a reflection of us." Zirconia nodded in understanding, waving her hand from side to side as she added, "Sort of."

"Why did you make me search for you anyway?" Orange asked, pulling away from her hold and cocking her head to look at her twin, "Was this some kind of test?"

"No." Zirconia snorted a short laugh, rolling her eyes as she turned to look at her counterpart and push her in the shoulder playfully, "I thought you could use a bit of fun."

"Fun?" Orange parroted, eyebrows scrunching up in disbelief.

"Yeah." Zirconia nodded enthusiastically as she explained, "You've been stuck in one place for a while now. I know you missed the outside. So I-"

"You made an adventure for me." Orange finished, eyes softening at the excited grin forming on her twin's face, her own lips raising in a smile herself.

"For us!" Zirconia laughed, twirling mid step with her hands out as she gestured all round them, "I made us a whole city to explore!" She exclaimed, stopping to gestured from herself to Orange, "And as kids too! Do you remember how much easier it was as a kid? No real expectations, no constantly grumpy diamonds, it was all just...so simple."

Orange's smile fell, her tone subdued as she responded, "And now it's not."

"I have to say, if this is growing up, I don't much care for it."

"That's..." Orange bit her lip, shrugging, "we all have to grow up, sometime."

"Well, we can do that another time then," Zirconia declared, wrapping her arm around her and pulling her along down the hall, "Come on, we have plenty of time to explore."

"But-" Orange attempted to stop her, only succeeding in slowing down her pace as she questioned, "shouldn't I be hurrying back?"

Zirconia's eyebrows scrunched up, lips slanted at the side as she gave her twin a confused look over her shoulder, "What for?"

"Well...I have to sit for that trial, for that Peridot?" Orange reminded, "And the induction, not to mention Blue and the others must be so worried. And then there's Pearl-"

"Pearl will wait."

"Well...Yeah, but that doesn't mean we should make her."

"We're fine." Zirconia promised, stopping and turning to face her counterpart, reaching out to grab her hands in her own, "We have time, just for us."

Orange glanced down at their hands and then back to her, "Is this one of those thing you just know, since your sort of...disembodied and what not?"

"I can sense it, yeah." Zirconia shrugged half-heartedly, already taking a step back and encouraging Orange to move with her, "And trust me, we're in good hands. But right now, it's time to just relax."

Orange bit her lip, taking a moment to consider it before letting a small smile form on her lips as she allowed her twin to guide her forward with a pleased grin, "Blue did say I should rest."

"Then it's a vacation." Zirconia declared happily, now leading her on at a full on sprint down the hall, hand in hand, "You won't miss anything important, I promise!"

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"Rose- I mean, My Diamond? Are you alright?" Pearl questioned softly, eyes not moving from Pink as she leaned forward, attempting to catch her Diamond's eye as she remained hunched over on the floor, eyes clouded with tears as she held the smaller Diamond's gem in-between her hands, refusing to let her go. When she received no answer, Pearl tried again, "My diamond?"

"Yes." Pink sniffed, head lifting as she cleared her throat. Cocking her head to glance at Pearl and immediately looking away at the concern and worry that was pointed at her, her eyes returned to the gem that had remained unchanged since she had restored its shine, "At least, I will be."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Pearl pressed, smiling at her owner in a small show of comfort, attempting to find something she could do to help her, or be of use.

"No." Pink sighed, "There's nothing to do but wait."

"I'm sure she won't be long." Pearl offered, hesitantly reaching forward, but finding her resolve to place her hand against her upper arm, earning her an ever so small smile for her bravery, "It has been some time since she was last poofed, she must have improved so much more then we know."

The grief stricken look that crossed Pink's face told Pearl she must have said the wrong thing as she looked back towards the small diamond, thumbs curling to press softly against the angled facets on its crown, "What if there were more times that I simply wasn't told about?"

Pearl bit her lip, chuckling as she responded in a forced light-hearted tone, "Well, I'm sure if-"

"Look at her, Pearl." Her Diamond cut her off, raising the orange gem up in front of her, "How could they let this happen?"

"I, uh-"

"After her last visit, I thought my little gem was all grown." Pink sniffed, rubbing at her eye forcefully with the butt of her palm, "That she didn't really need me anymore. But look at her! She was- she almost-"

"My diamond, it's alright." Pearl shushed her, attempting to calm her down, "She's okay."

"Is she?" Pink challenged, voice raising as she retorted, "Who's to say what's happened while they waited for her to heal herself? She doesn't know how to heal!" She shouted, hand flinging out in frustration, "And- and all because they think they knew better."

Pearl nodded in hesitant agreement, "That does tend to be how the others Diamonds are."

"How am I supposed to just leave her here?" Pink questioned, voice lowering as her body slumped down, shoulders sagging under the weight of her own guilt, "How am I supposed to trust that something worse won't happen the moment I'm back on Earth?"

"My diamond?"

"If I wasn't away all the time, if I just told her the truth about...is it even worth it?"

"Of course it is!" Pearl surprised both of them by raising her voice, eyes wider than normal as her tone became tinged slightly in panic, "The Earth, the Rebels? They need you."

"Zirconia needs me." Pink stated, ending Pearl's short lived outburst, "Maybe...maybe we should just stop."

Pearl's thin eyebrows rose, disbelief crossing her face as she stared at her in surprise, "How can you say that? After everything we've fought for?"

Pink bit her lip, unwilling to lift her head and face Pearl as she shook her head, eyes settling back on her daughter's gem. "I...I'd like some time alone, Pearl."

Pearl straightened, hesitating, waiting for Pink to change her mind or even turn to look at her. Eyes flicking to the door and back to her, Pearl bit her lip in confliction, "If...if you are certain."

Pink made no reply to her, simply listening as her small feet clacked against the hard floor as she moved away to carry out her order, relaxing as she heard the door hiss open and shut a moment later, leaving her alone in the room. Even the Pebbles remained in their places behind the walls, seeming to sense her desire to be alone all their own, having only come out when she had entered, the little rocks excited to see her and then Orange's gem, whom they recognized before they eventually slunk back into hiding as she remained despondent, offering only quiet 'hello's' and tiny forced smiles until they seemed to realize there was something wrong.

It couldn't have been but minutes, or at least it felt like minutes before Pink heard her door opening once again. Her shoulders tensed, having to actively push down her frustration as she called out, turning her head towards the door, "Pearl, I thought I said- oh."

Her voice faded, eyes wide as she met the rounded eyes of another pearl, both equally surprised to be looking at each other. Pink remained frozen, staring at the pale, round face of an all too familiar Pearl. Round face and eyes, hair wrapped neatly up into two small twists on either side of her head, her open body suit showing her ovular gem and that flowing skirt that had always gotten in her way if she wasn't paying attention to where it was. She may have been the wrong color, but Pink would never forget her face.

"Pearl?" Pink called, her voice seeming to break the smaller gem out of her own frozen trance. "It's...it's been a long time."

"uhh, Yes." Pearl nodded, lips pressing together tightly as she lowered her eyes, looking away as she seemed to be looking for her quickest escape route, "I wasn't...I should go," she rushed out, bowing her head in respect, "Please, forgive the intrusion."

"Wait!" Pink shouted, startling them both, "Wait," she repeated much softer, reaching out a hand to motion for her to stop before she could turn away from her and have the door automatically close behind her, "Please, don't go."

Straightening up, Pearl's hand folded behind her back, face relaxing as she remained standing at the door, "Is there something you need, Pink Diamond?"

"I just..." Pink breathed, searching for something, anything to say, before her eyes glanced down and her mouth seemed to catch up with her brain, "You- you came to see Orange, right?"

"I...um" Pearl tensed, eyes lowering again as she seemed to struggle to find something to say, "...I wanted to see if she had returned. For White Diamond, of course."

"Don't worry, I know," Pink chuckled softly, relaxing at the familiar nervousness that her first pearl seemed to be struggling with, elaborating when she saw her eyebrows pulling together in confusion, "About you two?"

Pearl's eyes widened past what was normal, her body tensing as she stood ramrod straight, momentarily unable to look away from Pink until she was shaking her head, "I don't- i, um," she bowed her head, "I have work to do for my diamond. I have detoured long enough. Excuse me."

"No, wait." Pink begged, "It's alright, your secret is safe with me." She promised, watching as Pearl froze again, the fight she must have been having with herself crossing her face for a moment for Pink to see, and she was briefly reminded about Orange's own worry about what would happen if the other Diamonds found out. She was even more impressed that Orange had gone through with it anyway, a wave of pride moving through her as she watched Pearl linger at the door, seemingly unsure if she should stay or go, prompting Pink to add, "Please, come in."

Pink watched as Pearl moved into the room, her off-putting grey and white coloring a horrible contrast to the bright pink gem she used to be. Hesitantly, Pearl settled across from her, her light grey eyes settling on the gem still in-between her hands.

Glancing down, Pink smiled, "She's always taken her time, hasn't she?" she questioned conversationally, "She always was the one to do her own thing."

"If you say so, your Clarity."

Looking up, the Diamond studied her for a moment, finding that she didn't maintain much eye contact with her, instead more interested in looking at Orange's gem as opposed to her, keeping her distance from her former owner as much as she could, which hurt, not that Pink could blame her. Thinking of how she could begin to mend that bridge between them, she thought quickly, finding the most obvious solution as she looked down.

"Do you...do you want to see her?" she questioned, holding out her daughter's gem before Pearl could even respond, "Here, she'd probably come back even sooner if she knew you were here."

Pearl made no noise of agreement or denial, simply leaning forward on her folded legs to reach out and take the gem from her hands, her touch soft, almost revering as she took the gem from her to hold over her lap protectively.

Pink studied her with her distracted for the moment, noting how much calmer she appeared to be, no overly large smiles or laughs, her cheerful demeanor had been traded in for something much more serious than Pink could remember of her old friend. It had been thousands of years since she had been punished and taken by White Diamond and made as her own subordinate, perhaps Pink should have expected that change, but it didn't make it any easier to come to terms with. Eyes traveling down, she was intrigued by how much larger the diamond appeared in Pearl's hands, her nimble fingers curling around the beveled corners as her thumbs slid ever so lightly over the flat face of her crown.

"I bet Zirconia will be happy to know you came to see her." Pink offered quietly, perhaps a little afraid she would spook Pearl once more if she spoke too loudly, and she was too unwilling to disturb the soft moment in front of her, "She seems so happy when she talks about you."

Pearl looked up from the gem in her hands, surprise clear on her face as he looked at her former owner, "She...talks about me?"

Pink nodded, "Zirconia is-"

"Orange."

"Huh?" Pink blinked, mouth partially open in surprise at her sudden interruption.

"Her name," Pearl clarified, glancing to the gem in her hands, and then back at Pink as she reasserted much more confidently, "It's Orange Diamond."

Pink straightened up, lip curving down in a brief moment of anger at the name, shaking her head negatively as she responded, "She's my child, She'll always be Zirconia, not what White and the others insist on her being called in front of everyone else."

"But it is her name," Pearl argued.

"It's not her name. Not her real name." Pink countered, "I don't care what the others say."

"Then what about Orange?"

"What?"

"Orange Diamond is who she wants to be, and that should be respected enough call her that. Not make her choose between you and who she is." Pearl frowned, eyes narrowing at Pink as anger briefly shown on her face, "I would think, out of everyone, you wouldn't be so cruel as to purposely hurt her every chance you got."

"I- I'm not!" Pink shouted, tears forming in her eyes as she shook her head, "That's not fair, Pearl! I would never-"

"I have been gone long enough." Pearl cut her off, carefully standing up as she leaned over, placing the gem in her hands back in Pink's, leveling her with a stare of a much more cold emotion than Pink had ever seen in her first pearl's eyes, "Please, watch over her. I must go, my Diamond needs me."

"You...you've changed so much." Pink breathed, her fingers reflexively tightening around Orange's gem as tears began to slide down her cheeks, "You used to be so-"

"What I used to be doesn't matter any more." Pearl interrupted her once again.

"Pearl, I—I'm sorry, for what happened." Pink openly sobbed, reaching forward futilely as Pearl moved out of her reach, heading towards the door as she called to her, "I never meant for any of that to happen. I-"

"Sorry doesn't fix everything you've done." Pearl stated coldly, stopping as the doors swooshed open in front of her, turning her upper body to look at her over her shoulder as she gave her a brief look, staring back at her, unmoved by the tears streaming down her face as she turned back around, stepping through the doorway, "Good bye, Pink Diamond."

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

"Come on, slow poke!"

Orange laughed, voice loud and carrying down the long hall as she ran as fast as she could, hand outstretched toward her twin as she trailed just slightly out of reach of her, fingertips brushing against the ends of her hair flying behind her, "You had a head start!"

"Nuh uh! You're just slower than me!" Zirconia teased

"Nuhhhh-" Orange sounded out, ready to playfully argue until she gasped, leaning forward just enough to press her hand against her twin's back, immediately swiveling on the ball of her foot the moment she had hit her and sprint back down the way they had come, yelling over her shoulder, "TAG! You're it!"

Zirconia lurched forward as she attempted to turn around, pressing her hands against the floor to catch herself before she fell forward, pushing off and turning to take off after Orange, "No! Come back!"

Zirconia followed on swift feet, the soft soles of her shoes slipping underneath her on the polished floor with her quick pace, forcing her to lean forward to keep her balance as she watched Orange take a sharp turn down a hall. Using the slick floor to her advantage, Zirconia allowed her feet to slide across the ground as she hit the wall with her hand, pulling her body to turn at a quick 90 degree angle before she was taking off again, hand outstretch towards her counterpart as she closed the distance between them.

"To slow! Too slow!" Orange taunted through a laugh, turning to look over her shoulder only for her eyes to widen at the wicked grin of her twin just behind her, hand nearly close enough to latch on to her shoulder.

Unexpectedly, for the both of them, a light began to grow just behind her head, stretching out to to form a semi dome over her shoulder and crawling down over her back, little licks of flames sputtered out of the dome, shattering as soon as Zirconia touched it before she could pull away, sending her stumbling back with the mini explosion.

Shaking out her hand with a hiss, Zirconia didn't waste time taking off again after her, cupping her mouth with her uninjured hand to shout "Hey, no fair! No powers!"

"Says who?" Orange challenged, eyes still wide with surprise at her powers unexpected manifestation, though she still grinned happily, amazed by her luck with the timing.

"Hah!" Zirconia eyes brightened as she raised her other hand, the faint glow of power lighting up on her palms and spreading out to her fingers as she cackled, "I can do that too!"

Orange nearly bit her tongue as she yelped, eyes spotting the growing pane of transparent orange, sprouting up from the ground in her path, reacting just in time to leap over it, shoes sliding over the tile as she landed, stumbling before she caught herself enough to transition back into a sprint, "Gah! Too close!"

"Gonna get'cha!" Zirconia's voice echoed behind her, much too close for Orange's comfort.

"Nope, nope, nope!" Orange yipped out, taking a turn at a random hall, shoulder slamming into the wall as she took the turn too sharply, though she paid no mind to the ache it left behind as she pushed on, "Can't catch me!"

"Wait!" Zirconia yelled as she watched her turn out of her view, "Be careful, that floor is-!

"Woah!" Orange gasped, arms flailing in circles as her feet stopped, her body still lurching forward with her momentum, unable to quite catch her balance before she was tipping forward. Her arms spread out wide to catch anything she possibly could with her hands as she began to fall into the chasm before her, only to be jerked to a stop, yelping as her hair and the back of her tunic tugged up, forcing her arms upward as she was suspended over the broken floor, the black void under her feet making her breath out come in short, sharp gasps as she looked down at it in fear. A moment later she was being pulled up roughly, bring her attention from the blackness under her to whatever was tugging harshly on her hair, causing a pain in the back of her head, surprised but thankful as she looked up into the wide, fearful eyes of Zirconia as she held onto her with one hand, the other planted firmly on the floor as she hauled her up with their abnormal strength.

The moment her back hit the cold floor, feet just barely dangling over the hole, the sturdy foundation underneath her enough to make her feel secure enough to remain sprawled out on the floor as she breathed in deeply to calm the racing beat under her skin. She turned as Zirconia collapsed beside her, breathing heavily, head bowed but eyes staring at her from the corners of her eyes, still wide and dilated with fear and adrenaline.

"Stars, that was close." Orange breathed out, "Thanks for the save."

"Yeah," Zirconia nodded, leaning over on her knees and pushing her hair out of her face and over her shoulder, lips thinning as she looked over to the giant hole that spanned across the hall, swallowing a large portion of the floor and parts of the surrounding wall, metal joints and poles of rebar twisted out from broken bits, dangling over the blackness of the dimmed hall, "just gotta be careful. This whole wing is still shifting and settling."

Sitting up, Orange placed her weight on her elbows, looking over at the chasm with her, "This place is so dangerous."

"I know." Zirconia nodded, slapping the tops of her thighs and pulling Orange's attention to her as she watched her counterpart stand up, straightening out her tunic before offering her hand to her, "But it can all be fixed."

"Fixed?" Orange echoed, giving her an incredulous look as she took her hand, turning over onto her own knees and standing up beside her, letting her hand go only to swing it toward the broken mess behind them, "Have you seen it lately? I remember that destroyed world from last time, but this?"

"It's pretty bad," Zirconia agreed, nodding her head, "but we'll just rebuild again. Something better this time." Her smile returned, toothy as she splayed out her hands for effect as she added, "I have lots of ideas, let me tell you!"

The corners of Orange's lip twisted down, eyebrows pinching together as she turned from her and back to the broken floor, eyes concentrating on the dark to try and see anything, but it was like nothing existed underneath were the floor had broken, no level underneath, just awaiting blackness ready to swallow them up, "Have you been here..." she paused, turning to look back at her, "have you been living in here awhile?"

"Depends." Zirconia shrugged, nodding her head behind her in indication for Orange to follow as she turned to start walking back down the hall, her counterpart following beside her as she thought about her question for a silent moment, "I think time is a little different here, but yeah." She gave a nod of her head, "Since the beginning, i'd say."

"The city, the palace, it's all like that because I was dying, right?" Orange questioned, tone somber as she looked ahead of them, turning with Zirconia as she took them back to the hall they had been in, taking a left in the opposite direction they had originally been running.

"We."

"Huh?"

"We were dying." Zirconia corrected, cocking her head to glance at Orange as she clarified, "If you die, I do too."

Orange's shoulders sagged, her head lowering as she spoke, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Zirconia shrugged, hands rising to intertwine behind her head, "You tried, but those dunderheads don't listen so well." She twisted her upper body slightly, turning an amused grin toward her counterpart, "I think it's because they're so high up, they have a hard time hearing. Or maybe it's because they're so old. That must be a lot of dust build up."

Orange snorted, crossing her arms over her chest as she smothered a small smile to respond, "That's rude."

"So what?" Zirconia rolled her eyes, "You gonna tell on me?"

"Hardly." Orange shook her head, "But that's not the point."

Arms falling from around her head, Zirconia stopped to turn and give her twin a look of disbelief, "Are you telling me you're not at least a little angry with them?"

Orange stopped as well, lip twisting as she shrugged her shoulder again, "I, well, I mean..."

"Cause I certainly am," Zirconia interrupted her, motioning to herself with a hand, "and I'm not afraid to admit it."

"Okay, okay," Orange sighed, arms lowering as she held out her hands in a motion to placate her as she gave in, "Maybe...maybe I'm a little mad at them."

Zirconia scoffed, waving a hand in front of her face, "Hello, I'm you. A little?"

"A lot mad, alright." Orange snapped, narrowing her eyes at her in annoyance, "Happy?

"Yes."

Orange rolled her eyes, continue down the hall and forcing Zirconia to move to stay with her, turning her head to look at her when she spoke, "But being mad doesn't change anything."

"Maybe, maybe not." Zirconia conceded, "But denying how you feel doesn't either."

"Its better to just move on." Orange asserted, "What's arguing with the others ever got me but sent to my room?"

"So you'd rather just toe the line with everyone else?"

"Well,...no, thats not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Zirconia pressed.

"Look," Orange rolled her eyes, shoulders dropping as she rounded on her counterpart, "Im not here for you to talk me through how I feel. You wouldn't get it anyway."

"Get how you feel?" Zirconia repeated, eyes narrowing at her in disbelief, "Im you! Who could possibly understand how you feel better than me!?"

"Just..." Orange sighed, hand raising to rub her forehead in frustration before falling away, hand flat as she pointed it at Zirconia, her other going to her hip as she explained, "I don't want to be constantly fighting with the others. I- we, were going to be officially Diamonds soon, leaders! I can't start a fight every time someone doesn't listen to me."

"When do they listen to you?" Zirconia sneered, "You're just some baby gem to them."

"I'm not!" Orange grit her teeth, hands clenching at her sides as her body tense in an aggressive posture toward zirconia before it softened, fading away with her anger as her body lost its fight, " I-...I don't want to argue, alright?"

Zirconia's own stance lowered, matching Orange's subdued and tired look as she nodded, "I don't either. We were supposed to be having fun, not...this."

"Sorry."

Zirconia nodded, "I'm sorry too."

With the new tension between them, Orange reached up to rub the back of her neck, unsure how to proceed, instead looking around the hall as a means to avoid making eye contact with her twin, only pausing as she gave the hall another once over, "This place is so familiar, its weird."

"Good weird, or bad weird?" Zirconia questioned.

"Good, I think. Its just all so...familiar."

"Yeah," Zirconia nodded, "you said that."

Orange gave her a small smile, slowly growing as she added, "I don't mean just the palace, or the city. You even have your own Pearl here."

"Sure." Zirconia grinned, seemingly happy enough to have moved past their little moment, "She keeps me company when I want it."

"Wait," Orange gasped, holding out her hand as her mind came to a realization, "so if you have Pearl, what about the others? Are the other Diamonds here too?"

"They could be, if I wanted." Zirconia nodded, "But I don't want to see them. I've had enough of them for now. Right now, it's just us time."

"So...does everything reflect here from-"

"It can, yeah." Zirconia cut in, "Isn't that a bit of a stupid question?"

"It's not exactly like i'm an expert on...uh, myself, I guess." Orange winced, embarrassed as she looked away from Zirconia's amused expression, "Besides, if I'm being honest, this place doesn't really feel like mine, you know?" Orange questioned, cocking her head to look at Zirconia as she walked past her, gesturing for her to continue walking with her, "When I think of it, I think...well, I think of this as your world."

"Huh, really?" Zirconia's lips pressed together as she thought about it for a moment, turning to look at her as she admitted, "I always thought of it as yours."

"What?" Orange blinked, "Really?"

"I mean, it is molded by everything you experience." Zirconia explained, "You meet a new gem? I might run into them here. You get hurt? The world starts to break. In a sense, you make this world, and I just live in it."

Orange grimaced, "That sounds awful."

"Hey, I don't mind it. It keeps it interesting." Zirconia chuckled, swinging her hand out as she added, "Besides, I can change some stuff."

"Like what?"

"Like..." Zirconia paused, lips pursing as she thought for a moment, "I want a room to change? The world makes it so. I don't like a gem? Bye-bye. Annoy me?" she snapped her fingers, "time out for them."

"Like the Diamonds." Orange breathed out, surprised at her explanation.

"See?" Zirconia smiled as he cocked her head to look at her, "You're getting it!"

"It's not like I know how this all exactly works, alright? I was just...curious."

"If you're aware of it, I'm aware of it." Zirconia simplified for her, "If you've done it, I've done it better."

"Better, Huh?" Orange smirked, raising an eyebrow at Zirconia as she turned, smile morphing into a smirk to match hers.

"Well it's obvious, I'm the better twin."

"The more arrogant twin, maybe." Orange snorted, playfully jabbing her elbow into her side.

"No more so than you." Zirconia giggled, swatting at her arm, "We are one, after all."

"Hmmm." Orange hummed, eyes lowering to the floor and then rising to look at the direction they were going, eyes flicking to different parts of the hall as they passed by, taking in each new detail.

Zirconia slowed down, turning her head to see why her twin had gone silent so suddenly, "What? Why do you look so unhappy now?"

Orange threw up her hand, motioning towards the hall, "Look at this place."

Zirconia's eyes turned, glancing around at the hall, noting quickly the few cracks or "are you still going on about that? I told you, it's going to be fixed, it just needs some time, you know?"

"And what about the next time?" Orange argued, frustration mixing into her tone, "We can't keep doing this."

Zirconia's eyebrows pinched together in confusion, "Huh?"

"This." Orange motioned to ht cracks, the little bits of fallen debris, "Getting hurt? Fighting? We- I, need to be safer. Do better."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Zirconia said, reaching out to placer hand on her shoulder, "you tried."

"Yeah? Well maybe I need to try harder." Orange frowned, shoulders rising around her chin as she folded her arms over her chest, Zirconia's hand sliding off as she did, "do better, be better. I'm more talk than anything, especially when I let things like this," she waved her hand from to indicated the world around them before slipping back under her arm, "happen. I can't keep letting things like this happen."

"It's not like you willingly did this." Zirconia argued.

"Still." Orange pushed, "I have to do something...different. Be different. After all, I'm not the only one effected when things like this happen."

Orange turned her head, the corner of her lip pulled down as tears glistened over her eyes, "It hurts you. And it hurts Pearl. The Diamonds. Mom. Our friends. I feel selfish letting these things happen."

Zirconia grabbed her shoulder, tugging her to stop with her as she turned to face her, head bowed slightly as she looked her in the eyes, "You can't blame yourself for what that Peridot did."

"So what?" Orange questioned, eyebrows pulled together as she weakly struggled to pull away from Zirconia, "I should blame the Diamonds?"

"Maybe." Zirconia agreed, "Or, you could blame Peridot." She proposed, letting go of one of her shoulder to poke her in the chest as she argued her reasoning, "She's the one that did all this. Lay blame where blame is due."

Orange's eyes lowered, unwilling to meet Zirconia's as she considered her words, shoulder slumping under her hand as she sighed, "Yeah, I guess." She nodded, "I just feel... like this is somehow my fault too. I just wish I knew why."

Zirconia raised her eyebrow in question, "Why this happened to us?"

"Why she did it." Orange answered, head rising as she looked at her twin, eyes narrowing as confusion and anger began to surface, overshadowing her subdued mood, "What did I ever do to her?"

"Guess we'll find out later." Zirconia responded, offering a small smile to her as she added in a lighter tone, "But for right now, lets just forget all that. Theres nothing you can do, and its too soon to go back."

Orange simmered for a moment, blowing air out though her nose as she nodded, "I guess you're right. I won't know anything until we have the trial."

"Thats right." Zirconia nodded, patting her shoulders affectionately, "So, lets not let that stupid pebble ruin our amazing vacation."

Orange let out a breathy laugh, a small smile rising on her face, "Yeah, okay."

"Good, cause there one more thing I have to say."

Orange blinked, head tilting in confusion, "Whats that?"

Zirconia grinned, toothy and wide as she slapped her in the chest, watching for just a second as she staggered backwards in surprise, before taking off down he hall as she shouted over her shoulder, "Tag! You're it!"

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

Yellow stood ramrod straight, hands behind her back and shoulders level, doing her best to keep her face clear of any stray emotion or expression as the unwavering stare of White Diamond stared back at her, gracing her with her full attention for their call. Even though they were on the same planet, in the same city, palaces adjacent to one another, Yellow was well aware that she wasn't exactly welcome to speak with White face to face, especially within recent cycles, or maybe it had been longer than that? It was hard to keep up with exactly when things like this began to change, especially with her job. And, if Yellow was honest, she didn't exactly object to the distance the communicators offered, White's very presence could be intolerable, and down right suffocating when she was serious.

"Pink Diamond has returned." Yellow said, fingers pressing into the palms of her hands as she looked to White, "She is currently overseeing Orange Diamond's gem in her own palace."

There was an ever so slight tilt to White's head as she considered the younger matriarch for a moment, questioning, "And has there been any change in her status?"

"It's as you said, Pink was able to heal Orange Diamond." She paused, a split second where she debated with herself before adding, "Whether fully, or merely what was seen as superficial, will remain to be seen until Orange Diamond reforms."

"Excellent." White responded, the slight curl of her lips from her usual smiling demeanor a good sign to Yellow that her news pleased her, the brightly color gem waiting as White Diamond indicated with a small wave of her hand to a screen just barely seen on her own, her eyes flicking down to it as she spoke, "I received your update about the traitor in holding. Have the gems been caught?"

"Not yet. My guards are still interrogating and looking through security footage. However, we should have expected some retaliation given the guards that have been involved."

A single black eyebrow rose at Yellow, those please little curls of her lips flattening as she repeated, "We?"

"I mean, I..." Yellow spluttered, clearing her throat as she attempted to savage the bad news from ruining White's pleasant mood with her, "I have it narrowed down to their specific gem types, based on the witnesses of on-shift guards. The perpetrators will be found soon, that I'm sure."

"Mmm." White hummed, sounding neither pleased, nor convinced, "And the prisoner? What is her status? Have they shattered her?"

Yellow shook her head in the negative, "Her gem sustained damage, that has since been seen to." Yellow paused, bringing up the report on the incident, as well as the evaluation done on the prisoner's physical form, "It seems she was merely beaten, no irreversible damage or reason to suspend her trial. Speaking of," Yellow dismissed the report, looking back to White as she transitioned into the topic she was most anxious about, "as soon Orange Diamond reforms, I would like to begin the trial. I believe it should be a concluded matter before the upcoming ceremony."

"Hmm, yes," White gave a single nod of agreement, "that would be the best course of action, should everything go to plan."

"Blue Diamond and I shall oversee the trial and ensure that-"

"I want Orange to oversee the trial."

"Excuse me?" Yellow blurted out before she could stop herself, blanching as she immediately realized her mistake, head lowering and expression penitent for her outburst, "I mean, erm, if you think that would be for the best?"

"Oh, don't strain yourself Yellow." White scoffed, deciding to answer her question, "This will be a perfect opportunity for us, we must not pass it up so easily."

"An opportunity?" Yellow parroted in confusion, "For what, if I may ask?"

"This trial will give us the best controlled chance to see just how well Orange Diamond does in a real Authority situation. Of course," White amended, "You and Blue should be present, but our little gemling shall be in charge, and the final ruling shall be hers."

"And if...If her decision is inadequate for the crimes?"

"If I didn't know better, Yellow," White said, her expression amused as she raised her eyebrows in what would have been considered jest on any other gem, "I would think you doubt my judgement."

"Of course not!" Yellow exclaimed, taking a step back in shock, before she gathered herself to rectify her mistake, "Forgive me, I simply meant...Orange has never been placed in a situation such as this. If she decides to be-" She paused, reevaluating her direction and word choice, "I do not believe it has escaped any of our awareness how soft hearted Orange Diamond can be. If, when the time comes, if she decides to forgive," she nearly choked on the word, "this traitor of her crimes against her? What then?"

"Then we shall deal with it if it comes to it." White responded simply, "Now, tell me, has the other problems been taken care of as I asked?"

"Yes," Yellow nodded, swallowing her embarrassment to move on as White had, "All records have been collected and gone through, and all gems purged. All necessary positions have been replaced, and I will be in contact with the new head of the Zoo's science department after our meeting to discuss Orange Diamond's new nutritional tablet production."

"Excellent. As efficient as expected, Yellow, good." White praised, though it did little to counterbalance the shame Yellow already felt for her previous blunder.

Yellow bowed her head, however, in acceptance of her words, "Thank you, my Diamond."

"It seems you have it all in hand. I look forward to your report on the rogue gems once you have caught them, as well as Orange Diamond's progress." White said, Yellow aware that this was her dismissal and thus bowed her head once more.

"Of course, my-"

Yellow stopped, lips thinning as she pressed them together, the back of her neck burning in embarrassment that she was proud to say didn't show on her face, instead remaining slack as she stared at the empty space White's face had just occupied. Taking a deep breath, Yellow pushed aside her embarrassment, turning to take a seat in her chair, and, just for a moment, do nothing. Closing her eyes, Yellow propped her elbow against the arm of the chair, hand open to catch her head as it fell heavily against her palm. Breathing deeply, Yellow allowed herself to feel just how tired she was, how drained and frustrated she had become, and a million other things that muddled together that she did her best to ignore, because she simply didn't know how to separate them at this point. Nor did she see a point to even try when there were a thousand other things that needed her attention and would not wait for her to find some sort of emotional clarity during it all.

After a few minutes and feeling like she was already starting to slip behind her set schedule, did Yellow sit up straight, turning to her little console built into the arm of her chair to set up a direct call to one of Pink's Agates that she had sent to oversee Pink's Zoo. She was surprised to find that there were indeed gems that Pink had made that could do their job adequately, even to her standard of gem. It was only a plus that using Pink's own gem meant she would not be getting a furious rant from said Diamond once she found out about the replacements.

"My Diamond." Laguna Agate saluted as she answered the call, arms folded in the diamond figure in respect to her superior. Without prompt, the Agate stepped back and turned, allowing Yellow to see the Peridot that stood at attention beside her. Motioning to her, Agate introduced the gem, "This is the new head of the science department."

"Peridot Facet-3G6P Cut-8JR, My Diamond." The Peridot stated, saluting her as well, Yellow recognizing the yellow diamond emblazoned on her suit that indicated that she was one of her own.

"Report."

The agate stood back as Yellow's attention was solely given to the tall scientist, waiting a moment as she held up a pad, the data displayed backwards and illegible to the Diamond as Peridot 8JR glanced over her compilation of notes and reports, "Every member of the new science team has settled in and begun to go over every bit of data, as you requested, my clarity. A re-cataloguing of the former team's system has already begun, as well as the analysis of the data that you specifically requested."

"And?" Yellow pressed.

"We've gone over the previous readings from former scans, as well as the scans of Orange Diamond that were sent in for analysis. We see the discrepancy. It has been decided that there only needs to be a minor adjustment to increase the nutrient value in a single tablet, so that our radiant, gracious Diamond doesn't have to consume as many as the previous team had calculated being needed." Peridot snorted as she looked up from her screen, an action that was overlooked by her superior as she continued, "After all the progress that has been made with Pink Diamond's organics, and all the improvements we have made, everything should have been updated decades ago. These obsolete tablets should have already been replaced with a much more pleasing nutrient supplement for Orange Diamond."

Yellow raised an eyebrow in question, "Pleasing?"

Peridot motioned with her hand as she attempted to explain her meaning, "Organics have this thing about...tastes. It is no wonder that these tablets were originally rejected by our, then, newly created leader. But now we can make much better things. Thanks to the scans Peridot Facet-4B28 Cut-X9A did take, we were able to identify and proximate what will be needed to be done for Orange Diamond. Future scans will be helpful to keep a correct dosage up to date."

"I see." Yellow responded, eyes narrowing slightly at the gem as she questioned, "And why has it taken so long for this to be noticed?"

"From what I have seen in the records, there were notes from the original team that this was to be adjusted through increments, after marked scans. But... it was Peridot Facet-4B28 Cut-X9A that was placed in charge of it, due to how few gems that had worked on the project remained after- uh, well, ahem." She paused, fist raising to her mouth as she cleared her throat, anxious as she spoke, "We have found she has forged data, and believed all was still well, and everything was being adjusted to standards."

Yellow glared, not precisely at the scientist, though her anger was clear to see and made her voice loud and demanding as she responded, "We can not have this happen again. Rotations, and inspections will be made regularly from now on. No one gem shall have control over this, you will all be held accountable."

Peridot stood straight, nodding her understanding for her orders, "Yes, my diamond."

"If even one mistake is made in Orange Diamond's treatments from here on out..."

"I...I understand." Peridot flinched, "The greatest care will be taken, or course."

"Good."

Hesitantly, just before Yellow could end the call, Peridot raised her hand, voice shaking slightly as she called, "uh, My Diamond,"

Yellow's finger paused over the button on her chair, eyes darting from the console back to the nervous green gem, "Yes, what?"

"We also have the ability to synthesize a liquid nutrient for Orange diamond," Peridot explained, "It would offer an alternative, if she would prefer a change-"

"No." Yellow cut her off, voice hard as she turned her head fully to look at her, even the Agate behind her seemed to squirm under her stare, "No liquids whatsoever."

"Uh, Of course, my Diamond." Peridot gulped, "Then we have the go ahead to begin?"

"Immediately." Yellow consented as she gave the order, "It is the stations top priority. I want them prepared and shipped to Homeworld as soon as they are completed."

[Updated and corrected 6/10/21]