Orange breathed in, a small serene smile spreading across her face as she leaned forward to balance her elbows on her thighs as she looked over the edge of the ship, taking in the sight of the city below. Beside her, Zirconia leaned back, hands bracing herself against the ridge of metal that kept her from sliding backwards into White's Headship, the two of them having perched side by side on the open left eye, appreciating the morning light on their skin and the outside air that was a welcome change from the palace.

Wisps of white clouds drifted overhead, catching alight in pink hues as they seemed to dance amongst stars and spire points. Given how the city had purposely been built around the Diamond's palace, making White Diamond's ship stand out like a revered masterpiece, meant that the two had the greatest view of the city, as well as the start of reconstruction and the mending blackened decay of what had been destroyed. Up so high, Orange was sure that they had the best viewing point in the city, looking down on everything as the ship, and it's owner, did.

She wasn't exactly sure how long she and Zirconia had been together, it felt like weeks, or maybe it had only been a few long days, She couldn't be entirely sure. She had found early on that this world's Pearl hadn't been messing with her when she said that time moved differently here, like time itself would speed up or slow down of its own accord, deciding its own pace as it willed. This meant that days and nights often had little meaning, work, sleep, play, it all occurred uninhibited by the cycle's sporadic changes. And as the days went by, Orange could feel herself growing both stronger, and yet, much more easily tired, like when her body in the real world yearned for nutrients, and yet she felt no hunger here. It was simply another thing Orange chalked up as an oddity about this place.

"This has been such a good day." Zirconia sighed, the lines of her body showing her own fatigue from their endless games and exploration. Days of Tag and Camouflage and exploring every tower that was still standing, Orange having watched in fascination as Zirconia showed her how she could control rooms and build new things through her willpower alone. Unfortunately, she had yet to master the skill as well as her twin, creating doors with little more than a pearl's width worth of room behind them. As such, she had left the creativity to Zirconia, happy enough to let her show off everything she could do.

"Hasn't it?" Orange chuckled, "I haven't had so much fun in what feels like forever." Her small smile began to turn melancholic as she added, "I forgot what playing was like."

"And you want to go back to studying and taking orders?" Zirconia remarked snidely, giggling as she cocked her head, a wide grin on her face as she looked at her, "You should just stay here with me. We could play all day."

Orange shook her head, "As tempting as that is, I do have to go back some time soon."

"Yeah..." Zirconia sighed softly, lips pursing as she rolled her eyes, "no doubt the dust heads are getting impatient."

"How long do you think it's been?" Orange questioned thoughtfully, "For them?"

"I'unno," Zirconia mumbled as she shrugged, "Days? A week, maybe two? I sort of...stopped keeping count?"

Orange's head whipped around, leg pulling up onto the lip of the eye as she turned to gawk at her twin, "Zirconia!"

"What!?" Her twin responded defensively at the rising anger in her voice, before eventually settling down, her eyes lowering in shame, "Sorry, I was having fun. I...I just don't want you to go so soon."

"That's, well, sweet." Orange's glare softened, her sympathy keeping her from feeling further anger for her actions, "But I can't stay in my gem forever. Besides," Orange added a little more insistently, "the others are waiting on us."

"And they can wait some more." Zirconia argued, a whine to her voice, as she looked back to Orange, pleading, "Just another day? Just one more."

Orange smiled, but shook her head, "I should get back" she countered, tacking on before she could attempt to argue another point, "today. Probably soon."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Orange nodded her head, "I'm just about ready to get back to everything, anyway. As much as I love it here, with you, I miss the others. I miss Pearl." Orange paused, adding on for clarification, "My Pearl, I mean."

"Yeah, I guess your right." Zirconia agreed half-heartedly, leaning forward to match Orange's pose, looking out over the city, tilting her head to look at Orange, jutting her chin toward the city as she added, "Besides, I should start helping with the restorations here. The city won't mend itself."

"It's like you said, this world is shaped by my experiences, right?" Orange smiled, "I think I'm going to have fun expanding it for you, once we're official, you know?"

Zirconia returned her smile, "I can't wait to see what springs up."

"I hope," Orange grinned excited, "the next thing I can give you is our own palace. I mean, I know you practically run the place already, but it'll be ours."

"Huh. My own place. That'll be interesting." Zirconia leaned her head back in thought, eyes twinkling with excitement, "Think there will be a hot bath waiting for us?"

"Urg, I hope so." Orange groaned, chortling as she looked at her twin jokingly, "If not, we can always have one built. Who's gonna tell us no?"

"Hahahah!" Zirconia clapped her hands, turning to point at Orange with the largest smile on her face, "Yes! Make it big, would you?"

"We'll see," Orange said, shaking her head affectionately at her twin's antics. Sighing, the young gem clapped her hands on her thighs, "It really is time I go."

"Yeah, I guess so." Zirconia nodded, this time her tone reflecting more acceptance, hesitating as she added a few quiet moments later, "You know, I've been thinking."

"Now that sounds dangerous." Orange teased.

Zirconia's cheeks burned, even as she laughed and turned, playfully punching her twin in the arm, "Shut up!"

Orange laughed, rubbing her arm as she leaned away from her reach, toothy smile on her face as she tilted her head, silently studying her twin. Deep orange-red cheeks, and a slight tug of a smile on the corner of her lips, but the bend of her brows and the almost embarrassed look in her eyes as she purposely looked away from her in a pretend pout made her sober a little, laugh dying as she prodded questioningly, "So, what is it that has you all serious for once?"

"I was thinking..." Zirconia paused, biting her lip as she reached up to scratch behind her ear, cocking her head ever so slightly as she looked at Orange from the corners of her eyes, "I like the idea, ya know, of growing up?"

"What?" Orange blurted, surprised.

"I mean, I don't want to stop having fun, but," Zirconia shrugged, hand falling away to join her other in her lap, "I don't know, changing? Growing, with all this," she motioned to the city with a sweep of her hand, turning to look at Orange as she addressed her, "With you? I think I could really get used to the idea."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."Zirconia nodded, her head lifting a little more confidently, "After all, we're only gotten better as we've grown, right? We've made friends, have gotten smarter, impressed Pearl enough she's actually agreed to be with us," the two shared a laugh, "Plus we've really tapped into our powers, and we're only getting better. It makes me wonder, what doesour future hold?"

"Only good things, I should hope."

"I was worried, before," Zirconia explained, "That we would change, and we'd end up be someone were not, just for the sake of the other Diamonds. But you know what? I think we're doing just fine."

"We are," Orange agreed, reaching out and locking her hand with hers, "And we're going to be so amazing. I can just tell."

Orange and Zirconia shared a wide, toothy grin as they were both engulfed in bright, neon orange light, the city around them fading away from around Orange's vision before everything became too bright to see.

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

Pink sighed loudly, the sound half muffled as her fist pressed her cheek upward, eyes half-lidded as she looked up and out her open balcony. Sitting cross-legged on the floor meant she could only see the sky from her position, something she considered a bonus that the marble wall of the railing blocked out the view of White's ship that normally plagued the otherwise decent view of the city.

Her other hand that wasn't mashing her cheek against her teeth absently ran over the gem resting somewhat lopsidedly in between her folded legs.

If she could ignore the imposing and unsightly palaces that boxed her own in, and the ships that cluttered the sky, she could almost make herself believe she was somewhere else. Too advanced for the simple beings on Earth, but somewhere that wasn't Homeworld. A place she and her daughter and Pearl could be free. A place she hadn't made so many mistakes in, a place she could just leave it all behind and be happy.

She blinked, pulled from her thoughts by movement under her fingers, eyes going wide as her head jerked down just in time to see the gem against her legs begin to glow, filling and overflowing with light. She managed to lean back just in time as it began to rise into the air, scurrying back as the gem rotated once it had reached a considerable amount off the ground.

Pushing up off the floor and clambering to her feet, Pink watched eagerly as the light spread from the gem, solidifying and taking the rough form of a large figure before it began to expand, the familiar spiked outline of hair she knew very well the first thing that affixed itself to the form before it began to spread down to fill out the rest.

Pink breathed out a laugh, the sound bubbling up and exploding out as she charged just as the light dispersed, leaving a slightly disoriented Orange Diamond standing in its wake. Tackling her, arms wrapping around her broad shoulders and behind her head, hugging her to her as Pink cried happy tears to see her daughter had finally reformed.

"Woah!" Orange gasped, hands latching onto her back to keep from stumbling backwards with the force, eyes wide and body tense to suddenly feel like she had woken up only to be attacked by some unknown stranger. At least until she turned her head, though having her head pressed against someone's chest, the familiar sound of her voice mixed with the puffy pink shoulder pad she could see clued the young diamond in immediately as to who had a hold of her. "Mom?"

"Zirconia!" Pink cried, hugging her tighter, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into the top of her head, "Oh, Zirconia."

"Mom, what are you—" Orange began to question, confused, as she pulled away from her crushing hug, eyes adjusting as she got a clear view of her surroundings, eyebrows scrunching up at the pink walls that she saw, "Why're we in your palace?"

"I've been watching over you," Pink explained, cupping her face and staring down into her curious eyes affectionately, "and taking care of your gem."

Orange laughed, reaching up to hold Pink's hands over her cheeks, "Well, thanks! It's so good to see you again!"

"Oh, my darling. There is nothing more wonderful then seeing you again." Pink gushed, tears brimming her eyes and slipping down her cheeks as her head remained tilted down to look at Orange, "I was so worried—"

"Worried?" Orange echoed, confused.

"When the others told me about what happened." Pink explained.

Realization dawned on Orange's face, "Mom—"

"I'm so sorry." Pink whispered, her voice cracking as more tears formed and fell, "I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea that that gem, one of my own, would ever do such a thing to you! If I had known—"

"Hey, it's alright." Orange hushed her, arms moving to pull her back into a comforting hug, "It's alright."

"No, it's not." Pink sniffed, holding the hug for a long moment before beginning to pull away, lookin back down into her eyes, anger beginning to tinge her words as her hands moved from her back and head to her shoulders, "And if the others had just bothered to—"

"Mom." Orange cut her off, a little more serious, as if sensing she was about to rant about the other Diamonds, "Really. A lot happened, and sure, there could be a lot of blame to be shared— by everyone," she made sure to give her a pointed look as she opened her mouth, "But it's over with. That menace of a gem was caught, and she's going to be on trial. Plus, look at me, I'm—" Orange stopped, lips stretching into a surprised, thin line across her face as she motioned to her chest, gesturing to her body as she glanced down, only to stop as she got a look at herself since her reform. "We've changed?" She mumbled under her breath.

Pink gave a watery laugh, stepping back as she looked down at her, "Yes, and taller too. I have to wonder if you do that on purpose every time."

"What?" Orange's head shot up to look at her, yelling a knee-jerk response of "No!", before her eyes settled on Pink, realization hitting her that her eye level had changed. Not by a lot, but it was noticeable to the younger gem, who's hand shot up to her hair in frustrated surprise. "I'm different!"

"Zirconia-" Pink said, the confused, bordering on fear expression on her daughter's face giving her pause, her mouth opening for a moment before she closed it and swallowed, "dear," she began again, "it's alright. That can be normal. Plenty of gems change when they are poof and reform."

"Yeah, but—" Orange sputtered, hands roughly searching her body, fingers slipping into her hair and flipping locks into her face as if she would be able to see a difference from them, moving to touch her neck, her chest, her stomach, hands stopping their exploration as she looked up at Pink, eyes wide as she asked franticly, "What do I look like? Do I have different hair? What?"

Pink offered her a small, comforting smile, nodding her head to indicate behind the younger gem, "You could always ask them.

Turning around, Orange eyed the small stone beings, heads and half bodies poking out of displaced tiles in the wall and floor, black eyes questioning what the commotion was as they eyed her back.

"Pebbles!" Orange gasped, laughing in surprise at the sight of the small beings. Moving towards them, they seemed to come to life, lifting from every crack as she kneeled on the floor to meet them, the tiny creatures crawling up her thighs and tunic to sit on her shoulders, making seats in her hair and hanging from ends like rope as her eyes bounced around to look at them all. "It's been so long."

Pink stood by, a small smile on her face as she watched the small gray pebbles crawl over her, the much larger gem holding still as they made a temporary home in her mass of hair, a chorus of tiny voices filling the air with her name in enthusiasm.

"Orange! Orange!" they cried happily, said Diamond giggling as they maneuvered around her, pebbles hanging from the long tuffs of hair against her cheeks, from her belt, and using her wide shoulders as benches to park themselves on.

"Do you guys think you could help me out with a mirror?" Orange questioned.

Immediately, Pebbles began to scramble, the young Diamond standing by and watching as the floor lifted and contorting, slipping into compartments they had made, only for the wall before her to begin to shift, panels rising from the wall and shifting, flipping, until the rough shape of a diamond came together, a patchwork of reflective panels showing her reflection as she stepped up to it. Leaning forward slightly to get a better view of the minor distorted reflection the imperfect mirror gave. Orange scrutinized herself as the remaining pebbles slid off her, leaving her body free to move as she stared in interest.

Her hands reached up, touching hair that was just as long and unruly as ever, perhaps even worse. Further down, her hand touched her face, fingers skimming her jaw, seeing it had lost more of its roundness, being almost squarish and her eyes, though squinting due to the patchwork mirror, had also sharpened in shape. Hand falling away from her face, her eyes moved down, immediately catching on the sight of her feet. Boots! She had boots now instead of the simple flats she had always been comfortable wearing, the heels of which, while no means long, seemed to be making up some of the height she had gained, pushing her up just that little bit further to make her height gain more noticeable. As she had already noticed, her arms were covered, a thick band of material that reached from elbow to palm, the same color as her new boots. Her belt, which had thankfully remained, was remarkably similar to her old one, only having undergone a color change to a deep orange-red hue. Her tunic didn't seem too different, or at least nothing that really stuck out to her, perhaps a bit more fitted, and her collar creeping higher up her neck than she was used to, but all in all, had remained the same.

"I don't think this was exactly the change we had in mind." Orange mumbled, her hands reaching back up to roam over her face, retracing the new angles there.

"What was that?" Pink questioned as she came to stand behind her, peering over her shoulder at the reflection of the two of them.

Orange felt her neck flushing with warmth at having been overheard, turning around to look at the older gem, "Nothing," Orange responded a bit too quickly, wincing as she added, "just surprised, is all."

"You look fine." Pink assured, hands moving to rest on her shoulders with a light squeeze, before her right hand moved down to touch her gem, eyes lingering on how it showed no signs of the distress it had when she had first arrived on Homeworld, "Everything is fine."

"Oh!" Orange jumped as the doors to the room opened, pulling herself out of Pink's grasp as she turned to look at the entryway as the doors parted to reveal a just as startled Pearl staring back at her.

"You're back—" Pearl blurted, her eyes going wide as she realized she had said, hands slapping over her mouth to keep herself from saying more. Clearing her throat, Pearl lowered her hands to clasp in front of her, bowing her head, "I mean, welcome back, Orange Diamond."

Orange awkwardly looked away, the weight and added dexterity needed to keep balance on her heels a new feeling, restricting her from fidgeting on her feet too much as her lips pressed together, muttering a half-hearted "Thanks." As Pearl entered the room.

"My diamond," Pearl said, moving closer to them and addressing her own diamond, "Now that Orange Diamond has reformed, should I contact Yellow Diamond for you, as she requested?

"No." Pink said firmly, "She can wait."

"Mom?"

"You just got back." Pink said imploringly, "You should be relaxing after everything that happened. Yellow can wait a little longer."

"But it's Yellow," Orange argued, "It must be important."

"You're important." Pink countered, voice raised, surprising both of them before it lowered, adding much more softly, "Just slow down."

"How can I?" Orange questioned, hand moving up to push hair out of her face and tangling in it in frustration, "Oh, how long have I even been gone? There must be so much to do!"

"You know, if this is too much, this place, the expectations, you could always come with me. You won't get a colony for a long time, and trust me, sitting around Homeworld won't be fun, while everyone else is off doing their own thing." Pink said, moving forward to place a hand on Orange's shoulder, the other reaching up to coax her hand out from tangling her hair further, "You could come with me, after your coronation, stay on my Moon Base." Pink smiled, eyes crinkling at the sides as she continued, "We could see Earth again, there's still so much to show you."

Orange closed her eyes, breathing in deeply as she calmed herself, hand squeezing Pink's as she shook her head lightly, "you know, that is tempting" she admitted, "but..."

"But?" Pink parroted, her smile dropping slightly as she pressed her for more.

"I can't just leave." Orange stated, explaining, "I have a court to start, and Yellow promised me I could start doing actual work."

"Did she?" Pink questioned lightly.

"I don't want to leave here," Orange concluded, looking up at her mother to return her smalls mile, "It's my home."

"Zirconia..." Pink whispered, new tears forming in her eyes that never fell, her eyes falling closed as she bowed her head, her head resting against the top of Orange's as she sighed. "Of course you wouldn't want to go." She said, tilting her head back to place a kiss against her forehead before straightening up to look at her daughter affectionally, "You've always loved it here more than I ever did."

"I know." Orange replied, grabbing her hand in an act of comfort, "It's almost hard to believe that I never wanted to come here in the first place."

"It was never your choice to come here." Pink acknowledged.

"But now I do have that choice." Orange nodded, "And leaving is the last thing I want to do."

Pink's eyes warmed, knowingly, "You have someone to stay for, after all."

Orange blushed, "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

Pink nodded, letting her go to stand up, rubbing the tears from her eyes and returning Orange's smile with her own. After a moment of silence, Pink's eyes taking in the happy, blushing gem in front of her, and spoke, "She visited, you know."

"Pearl?" Orange breathed, eyes widening in surprise, "My- um, White's Pearl?"

"Yes. Pearl." Pink giggled at her barely concealed excitement, "She stopped by to see you."

"I can't believe she did." Orange grinned despite herself, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, "She risked so much to do that, that silly gem."

"She cares," Pink said, "I could see it when she came to see you."

Orange smiled goofily. "I wish I could see her now."

"My Diamond?" Pearl interrupted them, "Forgive me for interrupting again, but should I inform Yellow Diamond that Orange Diamond has reformed? she was quite insistent, and—"

"Yellow can wait." Pink said, giving Orange a look as she attempted to persuade her, "Why don't you go see her first, and then Yellow, before everything gets out of hand?"

"I will see her later," Orange countered, almost exasperatedly, "she's probably busy anyway. I should deal with Yellow first."

"I just want you to take it easy, my love. You almost died."

"Trust me, I know." Orange nodded, "But I can't rest now, not when there's work to be done."

"You don't have to work yourself like this just for them."

"Mom." Orange said, tone taking on a serious noted as she addressed her, "We're Diamonds, it's hard work doing what you guys do. And yes, i'm tired, and starved, honestly," she admitted, "But the empire, all these gems, they need me to be ready to take care of them, and that's my job as a Diamond. If I can't even tough this out, what hope do I have later?"

"Oh, Zirconia..." Pink sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation.

"Hey Pearl?" Orange smiled at her appreciatively, cocking her head to call over her shoulder, surprising the smaller gem to be addressed by her. "Could you bring up a line to Yellow Diamond for me?"

"Uh, of course, my clarity." Pearl bowed her head before summoning the Diamond shaped communication device from her gem.

"Zirconia?" Pink questioned, confused by her request, "You're not going to see her?"

"I figure this would be faster." Orange answered, "No need to go all the way to see Yellow. Besides," Orange stretched her arms over her head, lips trembling as she attempted to suppress a yawn, "Being tired and hungry, Im hoping this will be easier on everyone."

"I'll have Pearl get something," Pink fretted, "you can talk to Yellow after. You shouldn't wait."

"Don't." Orange cut her off, "I can wait, if Yellow is waiting for me, than it's probably regarding the trial." Orange argued, "Besides, this is important, and our work can't just be ignored when we feel like it." She chuckled, shaking her head as she looked up at Pink, "But you don't need to hear that from me, you've been working non-stop on your colony for so long, I think you're the expert at this point."

An uneasy smile formed across Pink's lips, her stomach tying in a knot at the idolizing look she was being given.

Turning to Pearl, Orange watched as she activated the device in her hands, the screen enlarged until it had formed two overlapping diamond shapes, the display flashed pink for a long moment before it connected. Instead of being greeted by Yellow's Pearl, Pink's Pearl was surprised by the harsh, annoyed expression of Yellow diamond's face, the side of which was directed at the screen as she answered, her attention on something else as she barked out her question, "Pink? What is it-"

"Yellow!" Orange interrupted her, stepping up to the display as Pearl backed away, flustered, to stand beside Pink behind the smaller diamond.

Yellow's head snapped to face the screen, eyes wide as she looked over the younger diamond, her voice uncharacteristically small as she spoke "Orange?"

"If I didn't know better," Orange jested lightly, "I'd think you were surprised to see me."

"Hmp." Yellow grunted, face relaxing as she rolled her eyes, "It's about time you reformed. Though, seeing you now," she said, eyes flicking up and down at her, "I see you were merely taking your time to figure out a new look."

"Oh, don't be so rude Yellow." Orange snickered as Yellow gave her a look of mild annoyance, "And here i was thinking you'd be happy to see me."

Pink watched, astounded, as Orange so easily interacted with Yellow, making jabs at her that weren't met in return with angry words.

"But on that," Orange continued, "What news about the trial?"

"Organized." Yellow answered, moving the screen from beside her to facing in front, leaning back in her chair to intertwine her fingers together, elbows resting on either side of her as her hands came together to form a pyramid shape in front of her. "Everything has been prepared, we were simply waiting for you. I suppose now that you are finally back, i can call everyone into attendance and we can begin as soon as the next cycle begins."

"Yellow!" Pink yelled, stepping up behind Orange to glare at the older diamond over Orange's head, "She's just gotten back, thats too soon!"

"Its alright," Orange hushed her, turning around to wave her off before looking back to Yellow, "The sooner the better." Orange agreed, "I want this trial out of our way."

"And so it shall be. White will at least be pleased the coronation will remain on schedule as originally planned." Yellow huffed, her relief unmistakable.

"Who will be representing the Peridot?" Orange questioned, crossing her arms as she concentrated on the topic at hand. "One of yours, Yellow?"

"She will be representing herself." The older Diamond answered, "I see no need to waste time with a defense."

Orange's eyebrows scrunched together, "Shouldn't this trial be fair?"

"Orange," Yellow groaned, "Surely you aren't suggesting that this traitor is pardonable, in any way."

"I didn't say that." Orange responded defensively, crossing her arms over her chest, "Am I to assume that you have chosen the prosecutor then?"

"Correct." Yellow gave a single nod of her head, "You will be escorted to the justice building tomorrow for the trial. You do remember how they go, don't you?"

"Don't worry, Yellow," Orange offered her a reassuring nod, lips forming a half smile, "I remember how all the other trials went."

"And you believe you are well enough?" Yellow prodded, eyebrows raising as she looked her over once more for signs she was still unwell.

"Im fine, just tired, probably from a lack of minerals." Orange shrugged, lips thinning as she considered this for a moment, "Speaking of which, what am I to do for supplements?" She questioned the older diamond, "Given what's happened, has any solutions been found?"

"We have had more trusted, competent, scientists look over your problem," Yellow answered, eyes straying from the screen as her hands fell, moving to interact with something out of her view, "and they have come to a solution for you issues. There is already a batch waiting for you," Yellow looked back, "I will have White's pearl informed to expect the delivery as soon as you return to her."

"That's great!" Orange responded in surprise, "What was the issue?"

"A technical matter." Yellow said, bypassing a long winded explanation, "I will have the information sent to you. Now, that you are back, you should return to White's palace and rest. I expect you at your best tomorrow."

"I will be." Orange promised, "Goodbye, yellow."

The last thing they saw was Yellow reaching forward before the screen shut off, Yellow closing the connection on her end.

Sighing, Orange turned, moving out of the way as Pearl stepped passed to collect Pink's communication device, looking up at Pink, who still had her lips pursed, clearly still perturbed by being ignored, relaxing as she approached her. "I guess ill be going to see Pearl after all."

"You could stay here," Pink suggested, almost pleadingly, "Pearl can bring it here to you, you don't have to go right now if you don't feel up to it."

"Actually, I sort of want to go back to my own room. And," she stretched her arms over her head, "I think I'd like to stretch my legs a bit."

Pink nodded, lips slanting even as she accepted her decision, "If you're certain."

Orange moved forward to give her a quick hug, pulling away to smile up at her, "I'll see you later, mom." She said in assurance, "I'll be just right across the way, after all.'

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

Orange stood beside her desk, leaning against it heavily as she closed her eyes and sighed. Her welcome back had been appreciated, a few of the guards in White's palace bold enough to voice their gladness to see her back, not to mention the over energetic Carnelians. Their crushing hugs and overly dramatic tears a surprise to her, a very emotional welcome back from them that left her feeling both cherished, and exhausted. Being back in her room, alone, she finally felt like she had a little space to breathe normally. Opening her eyes, the young diamond picked up the sole screen case that had been made in her own color, activating it only to find multiple messages awaiting her.

It seemed, even though she had been gone, the Diamonds had continued on as if she hadn't, sending her minor things for her to read up on. The latest message was from Yellow, no doubt about the new tablets that would be arriving soon, as well as any other notes she may have decided the younger diamond needed to see.

Flipping through the messages, eyes skimming through subject lines, Orange wearily wondered when she was suppose to go over it all. How much was it even important and not just busy work, because apparently, everything had been taken care of while she was gone. In a way, it irritated her how easily this had all been fixed while she was away. It, again, made her question how all this had even happened. Why?

A ping at her door had her head turning, curious what the Carnelian's could want, watching as the doors opened only to find Pearl standing there instead.

Pearl looked back at her, mouth slight parted as their eyes locked, much more restrained than her as she all but dropped her pad in her loosened grip.

Pearl, ever the more socially aware of the two, closed her mouth as she bowed her head, "May I enter, my Diamond?"

"Come in." Orange responded after what felt like too long of a wait to have been proper, or at the very least, awkward.

Pearl stepped in, both of them ignoring the Carnelians flanking her as the doors closed, leaving the two of them alone. Moving slowly down the steps, a single hand holding a canister against her chest, her eyes never strayed from the younger gem staring right back at her.

Breaking out of her frozen trance, Orange dropped the pad, uncaring as it hit the desk and bounced off to the floor, too caught up in rocketing herself across the room, closing the distance between her and Pearl.

Pearl only had a moment to react before Orange had her swept up in her arms, Orange's lips pressing into hers insistently, somehow managing to save the canister as it was smashed almost painfully between their bodies as her free hand held on, the other having crept up to grab a handful of the diamond's crazy mane, returning her kiss just as enthusiastically.

Breaking away, reluctantly, Pearl did not immediately pull her hand back, allowing it to fall slowly through her hair, fingers skimming through thick locks and to scalp before finding her jaw, palm covering new territory, curious and fascinated.

Orange's eyes remained half-lidded, locked with her, breathing in deep as she accepted her touch, before they finally began to separate.

"Look at you," Pearl whispered, eyes moving up and down the taller gem, taking in every detail she could so close up.

Orange looked down at herself, subconscious about how she appeared now that she was in front of Pearl, especially as she was now very aware that Pearl was eyeing her figure.

"I Uhh...I was in my gem, for a while, as you know," Orange began, hand moving up to fidget with the high collar of her tunic, chin tucked down as she moved from glancing down at herself and back to a Pearl, "And when I came back I just, sorta, uh, had a change. Is it okay? What do you think?"

"You've made yourself taller again." Pearl noted, a small smile on her face as she listened to her, more mesmerized and eased by the sound of her voice than the actual words she was saying.

"I don't actually think about that, it just happens..." Orange informed, her cheeks going orange-red as she looked down at Pearl, realization dawning on her heavily. "I'm a lot taller than you now." She stated, feeling even more nervous as Pearl rose an eyebrow at her words, "Is this awkward for you? I'm sorry, that's a stupid question, I-"

"Orange," Pearl shushed her, thumb brushing over her lips to quiet her, "you're rambling."

"I-" Orange stopped herself before she could continue, teeth clacking together as she closed her mouth, grimacing, "sorry."

"Why are you so nervous?" Pearl questioned, head tilting as she observed her anxious partner.

"I, erm, it's silly, but," Orange's hand moved to rub the back of her neck, looking away from Pearl as she admitted, "I guess I was concerned that my sudden change might be weird to you. That you wouldn't..." her eyes flicked back to Pearl's meeting them as she finished, "Like me like this?"

Pearl gave her a reassuring smile, "I have seen you change your whole life, why would this one change be weird?"

Orange's hand fell away from her neck, joining the other as she crossed her arms, "When you say it that way, now I know I'm being ridiculous."

"You are." Pearl agreed, "But it's cute that you're so nervous." She giggled, earning an even darker blush from the young diamond, "And it's sweet you care so deeply about what I think."

"Of course I care. Your opinions matter a lot to me."

"You know how to make a pearl feel special." She joked lightly, aware she was edging on a fine line of flirtation, but the smile and warm cheeks she got for her comment was worth it. "And I appreciate that you care, But," Pearl cut in, motioning to the container in her arms, "for now, why don't you sit down and have some of these. You must feel tired, being without them for so long."

"As If eating tablets is what I want to do right now. Oh Pearl, I've missed you." Orange laughed as she took her hand twirling her around with her, "And being able to do this!"

Pearl held the canister close to her chest, laughing as she was twirled around, only to stop as they neared too close to the desk.

"Orange," Pearl attempted to talk through her giggles, elated and spurred on by Orange's own happiness, "Really. Please sit down."

"I do believe I was promised a dance." Orange countered.

"Supplements first." Pearl said, shaking her head lightly, "You've just come back. We'll have time to dance later."

"Yes, I suppose so." Orange sighed contently.

Refusing to let go of Pearl's hand, Orange guided her to the low set table in the center of her room, reluctantly letting go as she sat down pushing a few decorative figures back to make for a less cluttered feeling place as Pearl placed the cylindrical canister on to the table in front of her.

"This is new." Orange noted, eyeing the container with interest.

Pearl nodded, "I have been informed it is what the supplements will be delivered in from now on, checked and sealed before they leave the facility, as a precaution against tampering."

"Because of what happened."

"Precautions and security have been updated. The other Diamonds don't want a repeat of what happened."

"Hmm..."

"Here," Pearl said, placing her hand against the symbol that was emblazoned on the side, the little symbol flashing briefly before she twisted the top off, a volley of smoke puffing from the opening as soon as she lifted it. Turning the cap upside-down, Orange was confused as she tipped the canister over, pouring tablets into it before righting it to sit both back on the table in front of her.

Leaning forward, Orange eyed the canister, seeing that now that Pearl had removed her hand from the container's symbol, a translucent seal of some sort had covered the opening. "Coded seals?" she questioned, cocking her head to look up at Pearl who was still standing over her.

"To keep everything sterile, and tamper proof." Pearl explained as she moved around her to take a seat beside her on the floor, as to not impede her left side when she reached for the cap, now acting as a makeshift bowl, tipping it and peering into it curiously. "I was given a briefing, by one of the gem's who delivered them."

"They really have improved, haven't they?" Orange mused, picking up a few of her new tablets, holding them up in her open palm, "And new colors," she grinned, "What's next? Shapes?"

Pearl shook her head, a small smile on her lips.

"Well, here goes." Orange hummed, tipping her hand back to pop a few of the tablets into her mouth, taking a cautious chew before freezing.

Pearl noticed immediately, her expression morphing into concern, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Orange looked down at the remaining tablets in her hand in amazement, "What is this? It's...it tastes...I don't even know!"

Breathing a sigh of relief, Pearl relaxed against the side of the table, "From what I remember being told, It is a synthesized formula to replicate a Terran flavor that the organics seem to be fond of. The scientist who made these say they can change it back if you find the taste repulsive."

"Absolutely not!" Orange laughed, eyes wide and bright as she stared at the cap of supplements, "Incredible. I had no idea there had been such advancements."

"I believe they will be trying harder, now that attention is on them." Pearl thought out loud.

"I hope so." Orange grinned, "This is amazing. And just what I needed after earlier."

"Earlier?" Pearl questioned, mildly intrigued, "What have you done already?"

"I talked with Yellow," Orange shrugged, throwing the remains tablets in her hand into her mouth, "and then I came here. Not a lot, I know, but we discussed that Peridot and her arraignment. We're having the trial tomorrow."

Pearl's brow furrowed, "So soon?"

"Please don't start that." Orange groaned, "You sound like my mother."

The small smile Pearl had worn fell, her body becoming rigid as she jerked back, staring at Orange as the taller gem froze, realizing a moment later what she had said. Turning her upper half to face her, Orange was instantly apologetic.

"Uh, Sorry. I didn't mean...." She blurted out only to bite her lip as she cut herself off, hesitantly reaching out to cup the side of her face, leaning her head against hers, "I didn't think. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Pearl breathed out, eyes closing as she nodded, a tiny smile sliding back onto her face as she reached up to hold the much larger hand warming her cheek, "You've just come back. I was so worried."

"Don't worry." Orange replied, relived to see her still sitting there beside her, "I'll always come back to you."

"Orange..."

"That's one promise you can always count on. Always."

Pearl pulled away from her hand the moment she felt tears begin to slide down her face, quickly wiping them from her cheeks and breathing in deeply as she forced herself to calm down, nodding as she leaned froward, relaxing into the young diamond's side, her sturdy frame holding her up, supporting her. Her arm came behind her, cradling her against her side.

"I'll hold you to that, Orange." Pearl whispered, feeling her arm tighten around her.

A long, quiet moment passed between them, only interrupted by the small clinks and pings of the hard tablets being jostled inside the metal cup as Orange continued to consume them, seemingly content with her current position.

"This trial," Pearl questioned, breaking from her thoughts to speak, "you're just sitting in?"

"Yeah. I asked to be present before," Orange made a motion with her fingers coming together and moving out, mimicking an explosion, "you know. Yellow agreed, and, so far, she's kept her word."

"I'm glad you will see justice."

Orange nodded her head in agreement, "I want to know why, more than anything."

Tilting her head, Pearl gave her a questioning look, "Why?"

"Why she did it." Orange stated, giving a half-hearted shrug, "What could be her reasoning for trying to kill me? Why would she want to? She seemed so proud to have been apart of the team that helped make me, so why try to kill me?"

"It doesn't matter why." Pearl responded harshly, pulling away from Orange's side, her arm falling away as Pearl sat up straight, her eyes staring hard at a little figurine in front of her, "She did, and I hope she pays for it."

"Pearl?" Orange said, surprised by the fury in her voice, and the vindictiveness of her words.

Pearl turned at the sound of her name, her eyebrows tugged down in indignation, "She tried to kill you. I won't forgive that."

"You don't have to." Orange said softly, reaching out to grab her hand, her thumb running over the top of it as she let her have a moment of comfort, reassuring her, "I wouldn't ask you to. I...okay, just hear me out?"

Breathing out heavily, Pearl gave a short nod, "Go on."

In a measured tone,Orange explained her reasoning, "Yes, I'm angry about what she did, but I want this to be done right, fair. I want her side to be heard, so that the right calls can be made. If she's shunted from the gate, what chance do we have to hear the truth." Orange was quiet for a long moment, lips thinning as her hand tightened around Pearl's as she tensed, "But It's not going to be a fair trial."

"what do you mean?"

"Yellow says she's going to be representing herself. The prosecuting Zircon is going to outsmart her for sure." Orange reasoned, "There's no way she'll stand a chance."

"If she'll even tell the truth." Pearl reminded her, her other hand rising to cover the one that held hers, "She's not trustworthy."

"Well, she won't be if she's shut down by a much more competent Zircon. Yellow and Blue will side with the prosecutor before she even gets a say, and we'll never know."

"Is this really about a fair trial?" Pearl questioned, Orange's eyebrows scrunching together in confusion of her question, "Or is this about your need to know why she did what she did?"

"I..." Orange looked away, biting her lower lip, "Maybe both. I just-" her head whipped back to look at Pearl, "Why? What did I ever do?"

"This really bothers you." Pearl stated quietly, holding her hand a bit tighter between hers in a comforting squeeze.

"Yes." the young diamond breathed out, frowning, "I hate that it does, and I know, I know, that I should just let it go." She swooshed her free hand in the air, "Let it go and let Yellow and Blue decide what happens, but I just can't."

Pearl remained quiet for a long moment, eyes on the table as she processed Orange's words, the situation, before she looked back at her, "I understand."

"You do?" Orange questioned, surprised.

"Yes." Pearl nodded, "I understand needing to know why awful things happen to us." a small smile curved her lips as she looked up at the younger gem affectionately, "How could I try to dissuade you from that?"

"Pearl?" Orange said, voice low, almost unsure as she asked, "Would you help me with this?"

"What do you need me to do?"

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

Peridot flinched as the barricade over her new cell flashed away, turning away with her arms up, "Hah! Who is it!? What do you want!?" She screeched, glaring through the gap in her raised arms as a figure stepped into her heavily lit holding cell. Her arms relaxed as she realized the slim figure was in fact that of a White Zircon, her long bluish nose pointed to a screen in front of her as she moved in, eyes only flicking to her for a moment before moving back to her screen.

"Hmm. She never said anything about you being deranged." The zircon remarked, her contempt clear in her voice, tilting her head n a small shrug as she added, "Though, given the charges..."

"Those charges are nonsense!" Peridot yelled, using the wall to push herself up from the corner, glaring at the gem. "I am innocent!"

"Clearly." Zircon deadpanned.

"What are you even supposed to be?" the tall green gem growled, "My defense?"

"I am." Zircon confirmed, waving her hand and pushing the screens to the side as she turned to address her, hands folding behind her back.

"I don't need a defense." Peridot grunted, "What I did was best for the-"

"Be silent." Zircon demanded, narrowing her eyes at the green gem, "Say anything more and you'll only incriminate yourself further."

"Hrrm." peridot grunted, arms folding over her chest petulantly.

"I do not condone what you've done," Zircon said, ignoring her pouting client, "but my job is not to decide your guilt, but to prove there is not enough evidence against you."

"You will find I am innocent of these ridiculous charges." Peridot retorted angrily.

Zircon pinched the bridge of her nose, her monocle jostled by her fingers roughly digging into her skin, "Then you are even more defective than I was lead to believe."

"Excuse me?" Peridot turned, arms dropping to her sides, hands clenching into fist as she turned to the tall gem.

"You believe you could attempt to kill one of our leaders, and then be called innocent?" Zircon questioned, hand falling away from her face as her eyes narrowed and her eyebrows scrunched together, staring at her client incredulously, "You'll be lucky if I manage to get you out of being harvested!"

"I don't need you! I'll defend myself-"

"Absurd." Zircon waved her off with a flick of her hand, turning back to her screens as they rearranged themselves before her, "Surely you're not suggesting that you could possibly handle this situation without the aid of an expert."

"You?" Peridot sneered, "You're probably just some nobody that they picked to represent me. Well no thanks. I don't need the counsel of some dingy crag of a lawyer like you."

Zircon turned her head, screens moving in to form on her opposite side as she glared coldly at her client, "You're nothing but a glorified caretaker, I was made by our most grand leader. I do the job I was made for, which is a lot more than can be said about you, isn't it?"

"Hmp." Peridot crossed her arms,"I did what was for the best of all of us."

"The best?" Zircon snorted, "Another Diamond is a sign that our great empire is growing. We'll be even stronger, and you attempted to murder one of them."

"You don't have any idea what it really is. That's no diamond of mine."

"No, because you no longer have a diamond." Zircon retorted snidely, "Haven't you heard? You've been stripped of rank, job, and court."

Peridot's shoulder rose up, head sinking low as she scowled, "It's because they don't understand. But they will. They have to, once they know the truth."

"You keep saying that," zircon ground out through clenched teeth, "but in reality, with the rest of us, your little more than a hold up in our system. A broken cog that's waiting to be removed. Perhaps you should look at where you are, and what you're being charged with."

"I..."

"You're just one Peridot. One amongst thousands. One that attacked a future leader when you were tasked to aid her. You not only failed at your job, you went against your very programming and attempted to kill her. You're lucky to even have this trial."

"I-I-I have rights! Rights to a trial, to a competent defense-"

"Your rights ended the moment you went through in your inane attempt to murder one of our leaders."

"That thing isn't-"

"Silence!" Zircon ordered, her head falling back dramatically as she lifted her arm to place the back her hand against her forehead, "My sensitive disposition cannot stand to hear this seditiousness, especially for our grand new ruler, for one single moment more."

"That thing isn't what you think it is."

"That thing, will be one of our great Authority in a matter of days." Zircon counter condescendingly, her arms lowering as her hands slid down to adjust the cravat around her neck, "Can you believe it? Coming to us in such a time of crisis with our lustrous Pink diamond faces such grand rebellion? It's like a new savior has risen!"

Peridot snorted, "You can't honestly believe that drivel."

"No." Zircon shrugged, "But it's what the rest of Homeworld will see when this is all brushed under the rug and she is ascended. As if one Peridot could hope to stop a diamond." she scoffed.

"I almost did-"

"Hardly." Zircon said, cutting her off as she rolled her eyes, "I hear from your guards that even in her delusional state, she could have crushed you between her hands if she hadn't wanted to give you true justice."

Peridot bared her teeth, a growl of anger slipping rumbled from the back of her throat, "Those guards are liars-"

"Enough." Zircon interrupted once more, sighing in frustration as she turned back to her screens, "I have been given mere hours to put together a decent defense. We must prepare."

[Updated and corrected 6/10/21]