Summary:
In which someone's curiosity gets the better of her.
Blue, now 14, tapped the screen, searching for another planet to conquer, while Pearl dried and brushed her long hair. Blue's eyes scanned the screen until they paused upon a planet of interest—not for conquest but curiosity. It was Area 51, also known as Earth, the planet where Pink Diamond's first colony became her last and where Blue's human half originated. Yellow had made no secret of her desire to erase Earth from the star maps with her Cluster. Yet, from the looks of things, the Cluster hadn't emerged.
"Pearl," Blue said, zooming into the planet. "Did my organic side really come from Earth?" She looked at her hands—so different and fleshy compared to everyone else on Homeworld. She slept while others worked.
"Yes, my Diamond," Pearl replied. "Your organic side gave you flesh. Your appearance mirrors your creator's."
Blue had seen stained glass depictions of the first Blue Diamond. She looked identical to her mother, except she was small and had human flesh. Unlike her mother, Blue didn't mourn and weep constantly, though she wished she could have met her mother—or even Pink Diamond—just once. What would they think of her? What had her mother thought of humans to have a child with one?
"Do all humans eat and sleep as I do?" she asked.
"Yes, your organic needs are mirrored to the humans of Earth," Pearl replied.
Blue twirled around in shock. "Even the menstruation cycle?"
"Like all human females, yes," Pearl answered.
Blue's jaw dropped at the revelation before turning back to the screen. She wondered: would Yellow let her visit Earth? Just to see how humans lived for 24 hours? Did they sing as she, Yellow, and their Pearls sometimes did? Did they dance? What was their culture like?
"Do you think… Yellow would let me visit Earth, just this once?" she asked meekly.
Pearl paused, remembering how her creator often visited Earth—sometimes in secret, other times persuading Yellow for permission. "I don't know. You could ask," she cautioned.
Blue nodded. "I understand," she said, continuing to study Earth and the information about it. A Peridot had compiled a list of natives, including a Steven, a Connie, a Lars, and others. Blue chuckled, recalling when this same Peridot called Yellow a clod. Blue had overheard it while sneaking into Yellow's control room and ran away laughing at Yellow's stunned face. The Amethysts had laughed for days when she told them about it, turning the memory into an inside joke.
"How long until my mealtime?" she asked.
Pearl answered just as she finished brushing and drying Blue's hair. Blue smiled and got up. "Good, I still have time to talk to Yellow. She can't have gone to her colony yet," she said, hurrying out of her room.
To her pleasant surprise, Yellow's ship was still on Homeworld. Spotting her across the paths, Blue called out and hopped onto the other Diamond.
"What is it, Blue? Can't find a colony?" Yellow teased.
Blue giggled. "No, I have one in mind already. It's Area 9, a few light years from the Milky Way."
"Oh? Not a bad idea," Yellow said, sitting down.
"But I do have a request," Blue said gently, folding her hands. "As you know, I'm half-organic, and I was wondering… If permitted, may I visit Earth?"
Yellow's eyes immediately narrowed. "Absolutely not."
"Please, Yellow, just this once—"
"No, Blue. That planet is to die from my Cluster. You have no need to go, and no need to get caught up when it emerges," Yellow said firmly.
Blue sniffled. "But please, Yellow. I promise it will only be for 24 hours. Haven't I always kept my promises?"
Yellow sighed deeply. Stars, Blue looked just like her creator. "Fine. If you bring at least two Amethysts and return in 24 hours. You may bring back one souvenir, but that's it. Understand?"
Blue beamed, nodding. "Yes! Thank you, Yellow!" she squealed, kissing Yellow's cheek before rushing back to her room.
Yellow sighed, wondering if she'd made a mistake by giving in again.
Her Pearl smiled after hearing the good news. She knew Yellow would cave in—she always did when it involved Blue Diamond, and now her offspring too. The subjects who tended to Blue, aside from Pearl, began packing for the trip. They gathered all the necessities for the human-Diamond hybrid, who was bubbling with excitement. The Amethysts chosen to accompany them were just as eager.
"I'm surprised Yellow didn't make the face," one of the Amethysts remarked, mimicking the stern expression she was referring to. The imitation drew laughter from Blue, Pearl, and the other Amethysts, their mirth spilling into tears.
When they were in space, Blue stared out the window, anticipation glowing on her face.
"Ooh, I can't wait to see what the human side of my galaxy is like," she said, prompting a snicker from a nearby gem.
"If I may, my Diamond," a Tanzanite interjected, "the location we're heading to is currently experiencing cold temperatures. With you being half-organic, it would not be wise to remain dressed as you are."
Blue looked down at her dark blue silk dress, which resembled one her mother had once worn. "Oh? What should I wear?" she asked.
An Amethyst stepped forward, holding a thick piece of cloth. "This is called a poncho. It's one of the many winter garments humans use to stay warm," Tanzanite explained as Blue put it on. The poncho was warm and long, reaching from her neck to nearly past her knees. It completely hid her Diamond, which was a bonus, as she'd been informed humans do not have gems. Now she could blend in completely.
In addition to the poncho, Blue had to wear something called shoes, which were slightly uncomfortable since she had never worn such things before. However, they were easy to slip on, so she didn't mind too much.
Finally, they arrived on Earth, which, to her relief, was still intact. They landed near the Kindergarten, where the Amethysts had originated. True to Tanzanite's words, the weather was cold, though not unbearably so for Blue. Kneeling near one of the Kindergarten holes, she examined the soil. It was perfect—this colony could have been perfect had the rebellion never occurred. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if it might be possible to revive the colony and relocate the organics to the zoo for preservation. No, that wouldn't do—Yellow would never allow it. Besides, it would feel strange to invade a planet her father came from. She quickly dismissed the idea, though the question lingered in her mind: Why did a Rose Quartz rebel?
As they moved out of the Kindergarten, Blue gasped at the sight before her. Tall yellow flowers swayed in the cold breeze, though they looked unwell. Were they supposed to look like that? She darted forward in excitement, only for her concerned subjects to chase after her.
"My Diamond!" one of them called, lifting her into their arms. Blue blinked in surprise, then sheepishly smiled.
"Sorry, I got excited," she admitted, settling into the Amethyst's hold. "What are these things?" she asked, tugging at one of the flowers.
"It's a sunflower, my Diamond," Tanzanite explained, adjusting her glasses. "Though it appears to be wilting due to the weather change."
Blue pouted, then an idea struck her. She bubbled the sunflower, declaring that she would preserve it and take it to the human zoo.
Their exploration continued. They boarded a train, the scenery during the ride breathtaking, though one of the Amethysts became motion sick, cutting the journey short. Blue didn't mind—it meant more time to explore.
On foot, they crossed a bridge overlooking a large lake. Blue raised a hand, manipulating the water into funny shapes, which made everyone laugh before she released it.
"Think you could lift the entire ocean?" an Amethyst teased.
Blue giggled. "I wouldn't do that—the humans need it," she replied, playfully swatting the gem's arm. More jokes and laughter followed as they continued onward.
Eventually, it was mealtime. Pearl had packed food for Blue, and they found a clearing to sit and eat. The Amethysts joined in, their curiosity piqued by the human food, though Tanzanite declined, repulsed by the idea, while Pearl abstained out of duty. Afterward, they resumed exploring. Some experiences were unpleasant, and not all humans were kind, but Blue remained undeterred. The fascinating and beautiful things she encountered outweighed the bad.
As night fell, Earth's moon shone big and bright in the sky.
"We should return soon, my Diamond," Pearl advised.
"Oh, but can we explore that place first?" Blue pleaded, pointing to a large building where humans were entering. Iridescent lights shone through its windows, and unfamiliar noises—possibly music—drifted out. Her imploring look was enough to convince the others to relent, and they approached the building.
A muscular human stood guard at the entrance but, intimidated by the two Amethysts, allowed them inside without question.
Blue giggled at this and hurried in, accidentally losing track of her subjects. Inside, she was captivated by the sight and sound of humans dancing and singing to music. Swaying her hips, she moved closer to the stage where performers played to the crowd.
She stopped, entranced by the rhythm, and began to dance, lifting her long dress slightly to avoid tripping. Spinning around, she glanced up—only to lock eyes with one of the performers. He had curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a pink jacket. He looked stunned for some reason.
Suddenly, her chest felt heavy, and her stomach churned, even though she'd eaten well earlier. She froze as he stepped closer…and then, out of nowhere, the human stumbled and fell off the stage.
The crowd gasped, Blue included. Humans rushed to help him, surrounding the fallen performer. Blue felt an urge to join them, but Pearl appeared beside her.
"My Diamond, it's nearing your bedtime," Pearl gently reminded.
Blue bit her lip, her shoulders sagging. "Understood," she said softly, reluctantly following the others. As they exited, she glanced back once, seeing the humans huddled around the fallen man. Their tearful faces mirrored her own confusion.
She quickly wiped her eyes. It seemed her powers affected organics too.
Between Moments: Lost in the Night
Steven POV:
The music blasted from the speakers, the thumping vibrations coursing through his body. Sadie was killing it, as usual, and the loud cheers from the crowd were proof enough. Yet, amidst the energy of the concert, Steven felt something odd—a pull. A thumping, bubbling sensation spread through his entire body, becoming harder to ignore.
At first, he thought it was just the excitement of the concert, or maybe the booming speakers making him feel giddy. Laughing aloud, he played along with the band, blending into the vibrant chaos. Nobody would notice anyway. Scanning the crowd, he took in the sea of smiling faces. But where was this strange feeling coming from? Could it be something he drank? Maybe someone spiked it. He nearly missed a note but played it off cool—both figuratively and literally.
It'll go away, probably, he thought.
Except it didn't.
As he continued to play his bass, the sensation intensified, and his eyes instinctively flicked toward the front door of the venue. The lights near the entrance were dim, most of the illumination focused on the stage, flashing in changing laser patterns. The door opened, but he couldn't quite see who entered. Steven scanned the crowd, trying to spot the newcomer. Garnet? No, it couldn't be her. She wasn't much of a party person unless it was for something special like his birthday. Besides, she was busy with the others searching for those corrupted Lapis Lazulis…weren't there two?
Then he saw it—or rather, her.
Something caught his eye, and even as he kept playing, his body tensed. He couldn't look away. Among all the people, the changing lights, and likely countless other blue eyes, these stood out—glowing, almost ethereal. His chest tightened, and his stomach churned, though the pounding music masked the sensation.
Long hair framed her face, with parted bangs that crowned her stunned, confused expression. "Whoa," he breathed, his movements on autopilot as his fingers continued playing the bass. She seemed familiar somehow. Did Connie know her? Why did—
His thoughts were cut short when he tripped. Before he could react, Steven face-planted on the stage floor. The music screeched to a halt. Groaning, he pushed himself up and looked toward the crowd, trying to spot her again. But her face was gone, swallowed by the mass of people.
No—wait!
He scrambled to his feet, but the crowd was too dense, a hundred voices pressing against him. Someone asked, "Are you okay?" Yes, he was fine. "Did you break a leg?" No, obviously not, or he wouldn't be standing. "What happened up there?" He didn't know how to answer. The fall itself was easy to explain, but what had caused it? He had no idea.
"Excuse me," Steven mumbled, pushing past them. He considered shapeshifting into a smaller version of himself to squeeze through but managed without it, almost tripping again in his rush.
When he finally burst through the doors into the cool autumn air, she was gone.
No sign she had ever been there.
The night was quiet, the faint scent of fallen leaves hanging in the breeze. Those glowing blue eyes, that white-looking hair—gone. Lost to the crowd, and now, lost to the night.