Summary:
Because we always have each other
Yellow Pearl watched as Pink Diamond sat down with a group of organics and two gems … along with a 'fusion', gross. "Alright, the Diamonds said it was a good idea, so we need to make this party the best thing ever." Pink said with a smile. "I'm thinking balloons."
"A party staple and standard of course." The Mewman of the group nodded along as they went down a list. "Some streamers here and there, a giant crystal hammer hanging right over on top, and a couple of cannons that shoot out cake batter!"
"I know Mewman parties are semi violent, but if we're going for a message of peace we should try some more low level stuff." The red organic said. "Maybe like a ballerina ice sculpture?"
"Whatever we decorate this place with, we should have some decent food served on the side." The bushy one commented. "You know, maybe some hot dog stands here and there."
"We kinda have a limited amount as it is, with Star not being able to make food out of thin air." The Amethyst stated. "So I'm probably gonna pull a Pearl and say we should ration it."
"All of this is out of the question." Yellow Pearl decided to put her two cents in, it was her job to make sure Pink actually remembered what to do. "I do not know what 'streamers' are, but they have never been seen and therefore not allowed. And cannons are forbidden within the main halls."
"... So what is allowed, and therefore, in the question?" Pink asked.
"The four Diamonds are to sit on their thrones." She gestured to the giant and glorious spots. "From there, they may accept or reject members of their court."
"...And…" The Mewman asked.
"And we bask in the presence, and be grateful for having their illuminate light shine on all of us." Blue's Pearl continued. "Yellow Diamond and Blue Diamond shall sit next to you, and if we're lucky, White Diamond will be above all of you, blessing us with her glorious judgment.
"Alright …" Pink looked around the room, staring at their throne. "So … when do we dance?"
Yellow Pearl gasped. "What are you on about, you're a Diamond. You shouldn't lower yourself to doing something so meaningless."
"If it's so meaningless, then why is everyone else doing it??" The red hooded one asked.
"It's a meaningless task for a Diamond. For lower gems such us, it's us submitting our eternal loyalty to the grand high authority of Homeworld.
"So let me get this straight?" The Mewman waved their hands around. "Steven is supposed to sit there and do nothing but tell the gems if they're good or bad for the entire time?"
"Why yes, to be judged by a Diamond is the highest honor a gem could achieve." She smiled at the organic. "As such, we return their favor by singing their praises and dancing in their honor."
"That just sucks out all the fun of a party." The Amethyst groaned.
The Pearl blinked in confusion "What is, fuuuun?"
"When you want to do something just because it feels good." The human male clarified.
Yellow's Pearl and Blue's Pearl gazed at each other with confusion. "I don't think we do that here."
"... Homeworld is the worst." The Bushy organic grumbled.
"Come on, you deserve to have fun." Pink stated. "You have to do what Yellow says perfectly and you have to put up with Blue's tears."
"It's fine, after six thousand years I don't even feel sorrow anymore." Her Blue counterpart let out a contemptuous smile, one that she had mastered long ago. "It's not completely terrible, my Diamond allows me to draw during the court sessions." She pulled out a screen that showed off her pieces of work.
"Don't show them that." She argued, scrolling through the images. "These are completely classified pieces of information that must be-" She paused for a picture of herself. "... Oh, that actually captures me pretty well." Yellow Pearl handed it back, shifting their position. "Try this angle."
"See, this is fun for you, right?" Pink pointed out. "She likes drawing and you like modeling, that's the kind of feeling we want all gems to have." She could feel this happy…all the time? Was that even possible for a Pearl?"
"This is what we want for a ball." The Mewman said. "It's not like we need it perfectly contained."
"We do." The three Pearls present immediately saluted the now present Blue Diamond. "What are you doing? You're supposed to be setting up the ball."
"Well, If all I'm gonna do is just sit down, then I'm already halfway done." She didn't remember Pink being this argumentative before.
"And you're going to do it in that form you still cling onto?!" The Diamond asked with a frown. "You need to get serious, we shouldn't encourage White's wrath if she does show up."
"I can't really change it." Pink rubbed her arms. "If I try, I'm gonna look even worse and horrifying."
Blue sighed. "This is why you shouldn't be shapeshifting to begin with … why are your organics here?"
"Because they're coming to the ball?" The Mewman said.
"Pink, we're already pushing it by treating the Mewman as an ambassador, something only done if a planet is uncollonizable, but the others are out of the question, even if they are your pets." Blue gently moved the small Diamond out of the way.
"They're not my pets, they're my friends.." Pink shook her head. "They're some of the strongest people I know. In words you'll understand, they're my court."
"Treating an Organic as a court …" Blue scoffed. "Even then the only acceptable gem you brought is a Pearl of all things. The Amethyst …"
"Here we go." Said gem muttered under their breath and rolled her eyes.
"Will need limb enhancers."
"Oh … those things P-dot wore … yeah, I could try it." At least this gem knew not to cause a fuss with reasonable demands.
"As for… this." Blue Diamond gestured to the fusion in destain. "Whatever it is…"
"That's Garnet." Pink glared.
"She calls herself…a Garnet?" Blue Diamond smirked with a clear mocking tone. "What does she think she'll do? Walk in with the Hessonites, the Demontoids, act as if she's on par with them? Pink, if I wasn't so grateful for your return, I'd be shattering her right now."
"I'm not going." The fusion stated, holding onto itself.
"Garnet …"
"At least the Sapphire has some common sense." Blue Diamond groaned as the fusion continued to rattle. "Seeing as you want to make this as difficult as possible, I'll be handling the crystal ball. You just make sure those organics are put on a leash, the last thing we want is a repeat of the organix infestation from the Clinite Colony."
They watched as Blue Diamond walked out, giving another salute. As soon as she was gone, Pink Diamond began to glow. "Those xenophobic bigoted giant …" Oh, looks like another one of Pink's famous temper tantrums. Some things never changed.
"Calm down, Steven. Leave holding in all the anger to us." The fusion had the audacity to pet the Diamond on the head. It was only by the merciful naivety of Pink that it lived this long. "This is probably your one chance to talk to White. Let's just get this horrible night out of the way and be done with it."
"I … you're right." Pink sighed. "I'm sorry everyone is hating you for … being you. I know you just got that fixed … again."
"Ruby and Sapphire will still care for each other even if they're separated, that'll never change." The sight was starting to make her nauseous.
"Yeah bro, if sitting on our butts is the next step to achieving universal peace, then I say, let's give it a go." The Mewman waved off. "We all know this could've been much, MUCH worse."
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Omni felt like his entire brain was thrown into a blender. After everyone called him out for the frame up and Heckapoo stuck those accursed scissors in his head, he could barely register anything that was going on around. "Ugh…my head…" And once again, due to the interference of the Butterfly family, he had a massive headache to contend with. "How long was I out?"
"Two weeks." The voice of Hekapoo spoke up. "Could have really used you when the Gems invaded, we had to rely on Mina and Ludo for a week straight. At least until the big ass invasion … man that would have been fun to join."
"The-what now?" A lot was being thrown at him at once.
"Blue Diamond and her forces invaded Mewni while Yellow Diamond invaded Earth." Rhombolous continued. "Since we didn't want them potentially messing with Space Time, we spent the whole time hiding, keeping your traitorous butt safe. Steven and his friends fought back the entire thing, so we're good there."
"Of course they did." He rolled his eye sockets. "So the Diamonds actually managed to be destroyed?"
"Actually … They convinced them not to destroy Mewni." Rhombulus said hesitantly. "Funny story actually, not hah hah funny, more like it's gonna mess with your head even more, so it'll be funny for us to watch."
"You currently have everything from the neck down frozen." Omnitraxus deadpanned, recognizing his predicament. "All I am at the moment is a show for you two."
"True." Heckapoo snorted without remorse. "Turns out Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond."
"... Pink Diamond?"
"Yep."
"The same Pink Diamond that tried to remove life from Mewni?"
"Turns out she did it in an attempt to save Earth, but changed her mind." Rhombulous nodded.
"... So she played both sides."
"Yeah, the lady was still kind of a bitch." Heckapoo affirmed.
"And now both of the other Diamonds are leaving our planet alone for the sole reason …"
"Being that they now have a clean method of Colonizing the multiverse." The rock man winced. "But seeing as how Steven's Pink Diamond now, and managed to do the impossible and talk them down, there's a fifty-fifty chance that won't be an issue."
"We're doomed if we have to leave the universe's fate in the hands of that brat." Omnitrackis mumbled.
"Oh yeah, speaking of …" Rhombulus gestured to him. "You're gonna be on ice."
"Right, for a week?" They expected some sort of punishment after the incident.
"More like for the next hundred years or so, depends on if we're merciful or don't forget." Heckapoo said as she filed her nails. "You almost killed an entire audience of Mewmans, we ain't forgiving or forgetting that anytime soon."
Ah … this was a bit more serious than he originally thought. "You do realize the moment space time destabilizes you're going to have to break me free, right?" Omnitraxus tried to weasel out of it."
"We know, which is why Paradox and the Bunny Miraculous user agreed to work double time." Heackapoo responded. "Best part about the latter is that we have more than one version working at the same time."
"You're trusting space time in the hands of the species with the biggest record for breaking it!?"
"Well humans seem to be the only ones able to do anything about major crises that always seem to happen, so think of it as an experiment of faith." Rhombulus nodded. "Plus since we can't stop them from breaking it, we might as well have them clean up the mess themselves."
"You're making a big mistake!" He shouted as they began to walk away.
"Sorry, I can't understand you! I don't speak traitor!" Rhombulous yelled back.
"You'll need me when the Monster threat gets out of hand…"
"Monsters aren't evil!" He almost stopped breathing hearing those words come out of Heckapoo. "...Not all of them…Not if we're able to treat them right."
"What the heck happened to you two?" He asked. "If Lekmet heard you now-"
Rhombulus aimed a crystal lance at his skull. "Never … say his name … again … or I'll show you why I only crystalize my enemies." They threatened.
Omni stood silent as his family….no…as those BASTARDS walked away from him like he was nothing, as if the milinia of good will they had between them didn't even exist. "Damn them…Damn the monsters, damn the Butterfly Family…and DAMN YOU Steven UNIVERSE!"
"Finally, someone agrees." He turned to see …
"Mina Loveberry?" He asked with confusion at the Mewman grinning from the hole in the wall. "What are you doing here?"
"I have this weird habit of connecting with people that hate Rose just as much as I do, finding them whenever I wander around aimlessly." The centuries old warrior laughed maniacally. "I was on my way to kill you all for abandoning Mewni in its time of need, but it seems the pictures are much more dark then it looks." She grinned as she swung her red lightning shaped sword at him, which chipped away at the crystal.
"What … how is it-"
"Solaria's special scapple for surgically fixing problems. Most notably monsters … by the way, don't get too close to the cut parts of your prison or you'll be wiped from existence."
"Good to know." Omni realized the potential of this opportunity and couldn't help but grin. "I take it you want to wipe away the slate on Mewni as it were?"
"Yeppero! I already have a small sect of the population loyal to Solaria's cause! If only Moon was a traitor, the Solarian program would be back in business like in the glory days!" Well … it seems like it was time to break out the little piggy bank he saved for a rainy day.
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Amethyst wobbled as she tried to get into position. "One step … two step … how did Peri move in these things?" She asked.
"At least you don't look degrading." She glanced over at Kelly, who had a collar on her neck. "How are you handling this?" She asked the calm looking Marco.
"Not the first time I've been degraded, treated like an animal, or wore a collar as a strong woman holds the leash." Star glanced at him and hit him on the back of the head. "Not by choice, I assure you! There was no arousal to be had during that time in the Neverzone!"
"This is so humiliating." Kelly groaned as she sat down next to Steven. "I know they don't see us on the same level, but do they have to treat us like dogs?"
"Trust me, this was the only way I could actually get you here." Steven replied. "They're still whispering rudely about it too." He gestured to the small bits of commentary held off at the side.
"Is that really Pink Diamond?"
"Much smaller than the murals depicted her?"
"Why are those organics here?"
"They say she used to keep a lot of pets. Maybe they'll do tricks for the audience later."
"They look so weird and creepy. Why does that one resemble a fauna?"
"So yeah …" Steven sighed. "I'm sorry guys."
"It's cool, we just need to talk to White, and we're good." Star replied with a nod.
The crowd quieted down at the sounds of a trumpet. Turning to the entrance as Yellow Pearl stood there with a cocky smile. "Everyone behold! The daunting elegance that is Yellow Diamond!"
The Diamond came out as soon as the curtains lifted, others whispering gleefully as she sparkled. They took a seat, turning to Steven. "Nice turn out Pink, besides the organics this looks like your most orderly ball you've had in a long while."
"I…appreciate your attendance, Yellow." Steven reluctantly filled his role and respectfully bowed to the oversized giraffe.
Next was Blue Pearl, who gave a cough. "Everyone, prepare yourselves emotionally for the overwhelming glamor that is Blue Diamond."
The Diamond gently moved aside the curtains, walking as a few gems in the audience let out tears. They took their seat, smiling at Steven. "You're doing great!"
"Glad to be of service, Blue." Steven quietly responded with a forced smile.
The entire room turned dark, a single spotlight landing on the now present White Pearl that gave her the shivers. "To those in attendance of the Era 3 ball, White Diamond …" This was it. " Has more important things to attend to."
"Wha-I-Ag…" Steven was fuming with his face turning red, before looking at Kelly's hair. "Sorry, I need to scream." He buried his face in her bushy mane before muffled yelling was heard in place of it."
"Therefore I shall oversee the ball in her place." They moved in a bubble to White Diamond's throne. "And will make sure to remove any trouble that is brought upon this day." Flashes of light were spread all over as everyone except the group themselves were cheering. " Welcome, to Era 3!"
"I should … go dance." She said awkwardly, seeing the Pearls glancing at her.
"Yeah, you do that." Steven groaned as he stopped screaming. From there, the dancing starts, if you call lightly shifting side to side while tapping the ground with your toes dancing. "This was a terrible idea."
"There could've been worse plans." Pearl looked over to the audience, where Sapphire had her arms in the diamond next to other Sapphires while Ruby did the same vice versa. "We could've just rushed into White's head and demanded she change her mind."
"I mean, it's not like she's leaving it herself." Star noted with a hint of disappointment. "All that planning, all that talk about how this'll get her attention, and nadda! We can't even dance."
"Not sure if we'd want to anyway." Marco pointed to the crowd, most of them looking like they were shaped like clock parts, spinning and rotating like they were a part of a machine. "This isn't exactly our kind of scene."
"Why were they made this way?" Steven muttered. "Made to just … suck the joy out of every little thing in life?"
"Hey, we've seen Gems before once they were out of the system this whole planet creates." Kelly noted. "Rosie, Peridot, Lapis, the Off Colors, I guarantee you all the gems here deep beneath these shells they wear are just itching to come out at any moment."
"Maybe, but it's not like we can just force it out of them, especially in a place as miserable as this." Steven grunted as he lazy watched the party with a bored expression.
Kelly took one look at the area around them and smirked. "Come on, let's dance." Steven's girlfriend pulled him by the hand.
"Wait, no, we need to handle this carefully-" Pearl tried to stop them before the situation got out of control.
"Since when do we ever do things carefully, and since when does that ever work?" Kelly laughed as she twirled Steven across the room.
"Kelly, we're making a scene." Steven gestured to every gem whispering and pointing at them.
"I don't care about what everyone thinks about me…you helped me realize that." Kelly smiled as she brought the boy in closer. "I want to help you realize it too." And they glowed … oh boy.
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Kurtz suddenly felt so light and carefree…and they weren't ever fighting! Every problem just didn't seem to exist anymore, even with everyone gasping and the Diamond's glaring daggers at them. "Pink, what are you doing!?" Blue yelled at them
"I'm singing and dancing!" The fusion laughed. "Within this world, we're just a bunch of different Mixed nuts…stuck in a bag." They called out to the large variety of an audience. 'Now everyone, get in tight, cozy up.Take a breath and laugh, we're in here together now!" They were all together in this, nobody here had to feel alone with what they felt!
"We've gotta break out of these tiny shells like a peanut! We're breaking free!" They grabbed Sapphire and spun them right into Ruby's direction. "We can't pretend we're not a little nuts! It's working out for you and me!" With a simple nod, the two gems fused, reforming into Garnet!
"Happiness is not just a template, It stays under the surface." They pulled Pearl into the mix. "Don't pretend that it's always picturesque." Kurtz pulled Amethyst in with her other hand. "You can't always be what you want to." She gave the thin gem a twirl, making them laugh. " You can call someone to help you, try it!" She lead the two gem's hands together and jumped in the air , laughing as Opal came into the dance floor.
"Now hand in hand,....et's raise a glass to what's been done…..! They gestured to the two fusions in the room. "One day you'll find you're not alone! The secrets that you hold….!" Kurtz was about to do something else until …
"YES!" They turned to two Jades fusing. "I knew I wasn't the only one!" … Unexpected surprise, but not unwelcome.
"They're not your home…You know!" Kurtz danced on top of the crystal ball and swung around so that everyone could get a good bright look at how much fun they were all having.
"Scream and you cry! " They jumped and grabbed hold of Marco. " I will dry your eyes!" And threw him overhead and let Star catch them. " Yeah, I'll hold you tight….Won't let you go for the night!" They gathered
"Emotions running high. Can't let them take control of my whole life...And I know!" More and more gems were looking towards each other, letting go of the their stiff and and mechanical stances, some of them even fusing more and more as the music got louder.
" I can see my story." Star continued on, twirling her boyfriend around. " Now it's flying outside my window. So trust in me, come take my hand." She held out her arms to the gems.
"And I'll show you the truth!" Kurtz took back the stage. " You'll be free, won't feel no pain no more!" Star and them looked at each other as siblings, smiling and having fun like a real family would with each other. "I've got a family with you....!"
Kurtz smiled, turning to the Diamonds … Blue stared at her with horror and Yellow with disappointment. White's Pearl … just frowned. They frowned and stared at them with soulless eyes that would eradicate their worthless nature. "Fix this."
The moment she said those words, all merriment stopped, gems keeping still or slowly backing away. This … this was a mistake.
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Blue was disappointed. Pink had come back, and it seemed like they finally matured … but she was making the same old mistakes as always. She turned to Yellow, who already had their hand raised, sending a blast at the abominable fusions first, reducing them back to their base gems. "Pink, this time you have gone too far!" Blue chastised as she stood from her throne.
"Hey, what are you..!" Pink's abominable form tried to shout, only for Yellow to grab her by the waist.
"And here I thought you actually learned your lesson after six thousand years!" She shouted, dragging them away.
"Let them go!" The Mewman tried to futilely run after them.
Blue grabbed the human and Mewman, carrying them away. "Wait, where are you taking us!?" He shouted.
"Where I should've placed all of Pink's pets." She groaned as she placed them into the grasp of a couple Amethyst guards. "Take them to the Zoo."
"What, no!" The Mewman shouted. "You're not separating us!"
"Keeping Mewni and Earth in one piece was a mistake." She said coldly. "All it's done is encourage Pink to keep repeating the same mistakes."
"You can't do this to us, to Steven!" The human shouted as they were taken out of the room. "There has to be some part of you that knows what your doing is wrong!"
"What I'm doing is protecting Pink from her own mistakes!" She shouted back, her emotions shooting out of her body as a few gems fell victim. "They're the ones in the wrong!"
"Now now, Blue. You know better than to get so hysterical over a couple of meaningless organics." White's Pearl warned. " Once Pink spends a couple of cycles in the tower, everything will go back to how it was before."
"Yes, I understand." She gave a small bow, restraining herself.
"This is what you think is perfect!?" The Mewman shouted. "This is your idea of justice and fairness! What is wrong in that sick little head of yours to work for someone that hurt you like that!?"
"….I don't work for White, I serve her…I love her." Blue answered, a bit more slowly and hesitantly than she expected to. She only watched as they were dragged away … clenching their fists and restraining everything of their being … they had to do this for her.