//------------------------------//
// Rose Bud 
// Story: My Little Universe II 
// by EquestrianKirin 
//------------------------------//

Steven Universe had been keeping himself busy for the last five days. Walking down the beach, one keeping one box balanced while the other was marching along with another box in hand, Steven and Twilight headed right from the Gem Temple, heading off towards town, each box itself filled with a number of items for tonight's big event that was good ol' New Years Eve. Twilight's box had a few good fireworks in them, all rockets aiming high in the air, and Steven had a lot of utensils in his box. Pans, bells, chimes, whatever can make some sort of racket when either shook or hit. It's a celebration they've done a few times now, more so than Hearth's Warming, so they didn't need to really explain what they have to do. Well, except for a few new Gems that is.
The beach they settled down in was right next to town, plenty of other residents of Beach City also out in the chill night air, minutes away from midnight and settling down on a towel for both the sand and snow.

"Hey Twilight, bring those right over here. THIS New Years' going to be the best," called Trixie, who for this year was in charge of the New Years fireworks. The Alicorn dropped the fireworks off by the blue show Unicorn, who was joined by Starlight Glimmer in setting up the rockets for the show coming up.

"I think we got enough fireworks set up now," said Starlight, checking out some of the rockets in question before setting them up right along the shore.

"Are you kidding?" said Trixie, "The motto is to go big, or go home. And I'M going right for the top for this New Years. So I'm going for big ben," Trixie said in confidence, made more apparent as she levitated a VERY big rocket right out of the box, the rocket itself as big as a pot. Starlight Glimmer stepped back seeing that.

"Let's not and say we did, Trixie," insisted Starlight, quickly putting that big ben away before Trixie could explode the sky.

"Your loss," Trixie shrugged. They got more than a ton of Fireworks all set up anyway.

As Starlight and Trixie were doing that for the event, not too far away, Steven and Twilight were giving their own "equipment" to the others sitting and waiting for the clock to countdown. Pans, pot with wooden spoons, some bells, whatever it may be, Steven made sure there was enough to pass around and to work with.

"So what do we do with these things?" Spinel asked, holding what looked like one of those Buddhist bells in hand.

"Part of the tradition. We gotta make lots of noise for the new year, and what better way than this?" explained Steven, holding a pan himself and knocking on it, already hearing the sound the pan made on each small hit.

"Give it a whack, Spinny. New Years isn't gonna wake itself up," encouraged Pinkie, who herself was covered in bells. All she needed to do was shake, and she had more chiming than Hearth's Warming bells. Spinel glanced to the bell she was holding and, with the spoon she had with her, gave the bell one good hit.
The lingering *ding* gave Spinel shivers.

"Whooooooa," she shuttered. "Deep ring."

"You want something else?" offered Rarity.

"Nope, nope, I'm good. It sounds neat," Spinel said, giving the bell another little tap just to hear the soothing sound of the bell. Steven sat down over by Greg with a set of pans, Lapis who had a bell, and White Diamond who decided to join them as well, holding a set of pans too. Like Spinel, she wasn't sure how this really worked, but the process seemed simple enough: just make some noise when new years comes.

"Now this is more like it," Steven said, relaxing with a sigh as he looked up to the clear starry night. As there's no sudden surprises before the fireworks could go off, he could safely say that this holiday wasn't going to be interrupted by anyone trying to kill him, or otherwise.

"So guys? What's the new years resolution this time?" asked Lapis Lazuli.

"Resolution?" asked White.

"It's something you promise to do for the new year," said Sapphire.

"That's it? Well that one should be simple for me: My resolution is to be a better leader, and to not torment or torture anyone again," White Diamond said. A bit disturbing, but they didn't question it given what she was trying to do.

"MY resolution I think is to try and get some of my hair back," Greg said jokingly, some of the others chuckling with him. A far simpler goal for the new year than White Diamond's goal.

"How about you, Steven? You have a New Years resolution?" asked Fluttershy to Steven. Steven looked over to them for a moment, and then got to thinking. Honestly, he didn't have to think very long.

"Me? Well, actually there's a lot of things: Little Homeworld getting built, making sure everyone's happy and back to normal … I think my New Years resolution is basically doing what I'm trying to do: help everyone have a better future," Steven concluded, seeing some of the stars sparkle up above them, as if the stars were agreeing too.

"Good life goal," said Sapphire.

"Just try not to forget yourself in that better future, eh?" remarked Rainbow Dash, giving Steven a nudge and a smile.

"Don't worry I won't," Steven chuckled. They all could use a better future at this point, and if there was a way they can make that happen, then that's what they're gonna do.
After that everyone was settling down for the upcoming fireworks display. It felt pretty much perfect on paper, but little by little, Steven looked around the beach for a bit. He knew well that not everyone was there to celebrate with him for one reason or another (most of which because they probably don't remember what that even is). He could see a number of the residence: the Frymans together and looking a bit more happy with Ronaldo's accomplishments as a teacher, both the Millers and the Barrigas together with Sadie and Lars side-by-side, the Maheswarans not too far away all bundled up with some hot chocolate. The distant sound of the countdown from ten started to ring out, though something felt out of place for Steven as he saw all of this. As if something … wasn't there.

"... Wish everyone could be here," Steven though, though he wouldn't say it out loud. After all, he was the only one that didn't have his entire family with him. Connie, Lars, Sadie, Peedee, they all had everyone with them for this. But not him. Not quite. …

"3 … 2 … 1 …"

And then the fireworks went off. Sparkled by Trixie and Starlight, the sky was soon filled with bright colors and explosions as one firework after another blasted off into the sky. Shortly after this everyone started to get their instruments out and started making their noise, though Steven, wrapped up in the thought, didn't do it right away.

"Happy New Year, Steven. … How's my volume?" White asked, though she was barely touching her instrument of choice, as Pinkie Pie cart-wheeled nearby the ring her bells.

"Don't be shy, White, give it a good hit. Good and loud," insisted Emerald, demonstrating as he was ringing some cow bells around him. White looked to the pans she was holding briefly and -

*DING*

It wouldn't surprise anybody if Homeworld heard THAT.

"How's that?" White asked.

"You got the memo," murmured Spinel, the only one giving her a thumbs up, but NOT the only one stunned along the stretch of coastline.


~~~~~~


"See you in the morning, dad, we'll celebrate more then," Steven said once the main night event was over.
It was fun to keep ringing objects and hang out with friends, but there always was the time when it had to stop. She for Steven, it couldn't have come sooner. You know, given it was the middle of the night, and he needed some sleep for the Little Homeworld stuff anyway. The Beach House, for the midnight hours, was very quiet and content with the trio of Harmony Gem pets sleeping within it. Lion and Nora got themselves a comfy spot on Steven's couch, with Nora on the armrest as Lion basically took up the rest. Steven yawned and got himself right over to bed, faithful dog Blue sleeping by the foot of the bed as always. The only Gem with him was Spinel, but she was still full of energy compared to Steven.

"So, Steven, what're we gonna do now? It's the new year," said Spinel, wondering what other traditions they're gonna try. Steven though was too tired to notice.

"Let's catch that up in the morning. I need some sleep," Steven yawned.

"Already?" Spinel asked. Steven would go through his night routine, but he was too tired to really care about that. So instead, he got off his winter clothes, took his shoes off, and just flopped right down onto bed.

"Humans don't have Gem energy, so I need to get my hours worth before the sun comes back up," Steven said.

It didn't take long for him to get himself under the covers, and go right off to sleep. … Or at least he would've, but a few moments later he began to get a weird feeling over him. He tried to keep comfy, but it just wouldn't go away. All he could do was open his eyes, and there was Spinel kneeling by his bed.

"Spinel. What're you doing?" Steven asked, though he could suspect an answer already as Spinel tried to think of something.

"Oh, uh, what I'm doing? I mean, that's a VERY GOOD question, my buddy, you see uh ..."

Spinel couldn't think of anything. 

"Can I watch you sleep? It makes me feel better," she bluntly asked.

Steven paused. After a good ten seconds of silence, he got himself under the covers again.

"No thank you, Spinel. I'm a young adult, I can sleep by myself," Steven informed, ready to go back to bed.

"Oh. Uh ... okie dokie, you just do that, and I'll be over here," Spinel said, embarrassed as she took one LONG step from Steven's bedroom to the kitchen, having herself a seat, holding her hands together and just waiting from afar. Well at least she asked to watch him sleep, unlike Pearl who just did so on a whim.

"Alright. Goodnight, Spinel," Steven yawned, going back to sleep.

"Night, Steven," Spinel simply replied. She wasn't gonna try and go to sleep herself though, at least not yet. For the first ten minutes or so, Spinel just sat there and waited for Steven to wake up again, one leg resting on the other as she played with her fingers, kinda like if she was waiting for an appointment. The animals weren't bothered by her, and at least here Spinel can see Steven so he wasn't gone somewhere. Still, she kept seeing him stir once or twice to get comfortable.

"How can I help him sleep? ... Hmmmmm ..." Spinel started to wander a bit with her vision, and soon spotted the O so familiar painting hung up on the wall above the door. Rose Quartz. Spinel might have never met Rose Quartz outside of White Diamond informing her about the rebel, but the best friend looked between that and the boy in bed.

The painting was moved over to the back of the room, turned around to face the wall than towards the bedroom.

"There you go, now no one's looking down on him while he's sleeping," Spinel told herself, wiping her hands on a job well done before sitting back down.
In a way, it kinda worked because Steven stopped stirring shortly after that was moved. Job well done as far as Spinel was concerned. She was so preoccupied, and Steven was so sound asleep, that neither were noticing the Pink Diamond gemstone starting to stir as well, a very faint glow growing from within as it was resting in its towel nest in the bathroom after another cleanup.

…….

The night itself went on slowly and with no trouble, despite it being cut in half, but eventually the morning sun for a brand new year. It had to start at some point. For Steven DeMayo Diamond Universe, the new year began with a ring from his alarm clock.

"So soon?" he mumbled, worn out from the night before. His hand reached out and tried to find the alarm clock. But lucky for him, his best friend Spinel clicked the clock before he could reach it.

"Morning, Mr. Universe," said Spinel, "How'd ya sleep?"
Steven took a moment to wake himself up, sitting up and stretching his arms a bit, a good yawn escaping his open mouth. Spinel simply stood there as Steven got to his feet.

"Actually, I slept great. I only wish I got the rest of those eight hours," Steven said, rubbing his eye.

"Uh, you can just hop back in bed and get the rest of them if ya want," offered Spinel.

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll just make up for it tonight," Steven replied, getting himself more awake. As much as that would work, he had other things to do. But as he got himself downstairs, he then asked the question.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Steven asked. Spinel ... kinda clammed up. Steven knew exactly what this meant.

"You did watch me through the whole night, huh?" Steven correctly guessed. Spinel quickly recovered.

"Y-Yes, but in my defense, I was in your kitchen, NOT right next to your bed," Spinel said matter-of-factly, even sitting back on the same seat she parked herself for the whole night. Steven took a breath. If Spinel wasn't a Gem, this could've ended rather badly.

"I'm just worried, okay? I mean you were just kidnapped by some Dragon last week," Spinel admitted.

"I know, and I get that, but I can take care of myself too Spinel. You watch yourself, I'll watch myself, and we'll both be okay," Steven explained. Spinel rubbed the back of her head, but her eyes then glanced over to the open space over on the wall, which Steven did eventually notice when he looked.

"Spinel. ... The painting?" Steven asked.

"I moved it. You were still trying to sleep, and I saw her kinda looming over you, so she's over there," Spinel explained, pointing over to where the painting was of Steven's mother. Or at least, the "old version" of his mother.

"Did I goof again?"

"No, it's fine. Come to think of it, I've been meaning to move this portrait of my mom ever since I got back home, but I never got the time to do it," Steven explained, he and Spinel walking over to the portrait as Steven picked it up, "I didn't know if I wanted her hanging over us after everything, you know?"
Spinel felt like she was in the clear now, sigh of relief.

"What is the deal with her and you anyway?" Spinel asked. Steven placed the portrait back down where it was, still turned away and facing the wall rather than them.

"It's … complicated. But don't worry about it, I'm moving on from that," Steven said again, though not as angry as before.

"Traumatic?"

"I don't wanna talk about it. But no, not exactly."
Steven didn't feel up for going into detail about it though, so he left it at that as he went over to the bathroom. Spinel was still curious about it but she decided to not push it further. What kind of best friend would keep prying in like that anyway? Besides, they got an entire day of New Years to get to.

"Let me just get into a good shower, and then we'll go to Little Homeworld and see how they're doing," Steven said. Spinel had to play the waiting game again, and Steven opened the bathroom door …

…

Steven looked ready to faint.
Before Spinel could ask, Steven backed up as someone else was standing right at the door of the bathroom, patiently waiting for the door to open apparently. Not a member of the Crystal or Harmony Gems, nor the Elements of Harmony, but she indeed was a Gem of some sort. She stood fairly tall compared to Steven and Spinel, a Human-like skin tone with even lighter pink hair that was both poofed like cotton candy with a few curls in it. She wore a Homeworld-esque two-piece outfit, colorations mimicking a darker tone of pink. And the worst part … she looked EXACTLY like the same girl on that portrait.

A ROSE QUARTZ.

"... HOW'D YOU GET IN HERE?!" Spinel shrieked, shocked as well but less on the person. The Rose Quartz stepped out of the bathroom, looking around the Beach House for a bit. She spoke not a word, mostly exploring a bit like a young child would. Blue, Nora, and Lion were taking it in more stride than Steven and Spinel were though they were a bit surprised seeing someone just appear out of nowhere all the same.

"Steven, who's the new girl? I didn't see anyone come in all night! … Steven?" Spinel's quiet words weren't going through as Steven was just stuck staring at the Rose Quartz, his eyes wide like a dead fish. He didn't know WHAT to think, say, or do. Out of all the surprises he had been struck with already, this one topped em all. Steven didn't come back around until Spinel waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him out of it.

"I-I don't know how, who're you?" Steven immediately asked, looking directly to the Rose Quartz on the question. The Gem turned back to them as she was checking the fridge.

"Rose Quartz. … I think. Is that what I am?" the quartz wondered, the name kinda just coming to her without thinking of it first. She took a minute to check herself, observing her body and seeing if her cut's curves matched that of a Rose Quartz. Something just told her she was correct about it, but as she was doing this, Steven and Spinel then saw the gemstone cut she had on her stomach. Typically a Rose Quartz would have a more circular gemstone. SHE however had an upside-down Diamond gemstone.

"Pink Diamond," Steven hushly said. Immediately, Spinel went to the bathroom to check, and sure enough when looking in there, she did not see any gemstone anywhere. Not even a shard of one.

"Oh boy," Spinel gulped, Steven looking into the bathroom and seeing the missing gemstone himself. The two looked back towards Pink Diamond, who still was seeing her new form a bit. Steven and Spinel stood close, and actually pulled him in the bathroom for a moment, closing the door.

"THAT'S Pink outside right? Why does she look like a Rose Quartz? Rejuvenators don't do that," Spinel asked.

"About that … that's not Pink Diamond," Steven finally admitted.

"... say wha?"

"We've been building up to it, but … well, she's right here," Steven explained, pulling up his shirt and showing Spinel his gemstone, "But let me be clear, I'm not her, I just have her gem. I'm her son, and I got her powers but that's as far as it goes. That's kinda why I didn't remember you when you first showed up."
Spinel stared at Pink Diamond's true gemstone before her, but then another question came to mind.

"Wait wait wait … if THAT'S Pink Diamond. … THEN WHO THE HECK DID I CHOP UP?!" Spinel gasped. She did NOT mean to yell, but she just couldn't help it. Pink Diamond standing over nearby was startled as well as Steven.

"You know how White was with experimenting, right? She found these shards down on Earth, and she thought they belonged to my mom, so she tried to "rebuild" her. It turns out those were Rose Quartz shards. I guess your rejuvenator finally brought that up," Steven explained.

"So … you're still freaking out over a Rose Quartz … because …"

"She disguised herself as one during the Gem war. And for the longest time she never told ANYONE about it. … Except for Pearl, which she made keep quiet," Steven said. Spinel paused. At least with White Diamond's lie, she could understand WHY Pink Diamond couldn't go back to get her. But now she began to feel a pain in her upside-down heart.

"She forgot about me anyway …"

"Huh?"

"N-Nothin. So, you want me to say hello, or you, Mr. Universe?" Spinel asked, feeling a little uneasy. This was the same gem who she did poof after all, Pink Diamond or not, but the Gem of course didn't remember that. Steven took a deep breath.

"It's not her, everything's fine. … I'll go first," Steven decided.

Time to tackle the bull by the horns. Steven and Spinel both walked out of the bathroom, and walked over to Pink Diamond, standing at attention as Steven tried to put on a smile for the new arrival.

"Hiiiiii," Steven said, hand raised. "I'm Steven Universe."

"Steven … Universe …"

"Y-Yes, that's me. And this is Spinel," Steven introduced, Spinel waving hello to Pink Diamond. Pink Diamond brought her hand out, and soon they got to shaking hands. Not even five minutes and Steven was already struggling to not just bolt away.

"Nice to … meet … you?" Spinel said, smiling awkwardly. Should this be a first-time meeting or nah? The new Quartz smiled sweetly.

"Nice to meet you too," she said warmly. Now, NORMALLY the warm aura would calm anyone down, but Steven and Spinel found it just a tad too familiar. Steven cleared his throat.

"Ok, ok. So, uh, welcome back to Earth," Steven said, treating her like a new Gem entirely. Pink Diamond looked around.

"Earth. That's where we are? … What's this place like?"

"W-Well it's very big, lots of places to go to, lots of life too," Steven explained.

"What kind of life?" Pink asked, starting to become interested in the idea of life. Could be some of her old traits coming out or just from the quartz aspects, but Steven tried answering anyway.

"There's a lot of it. Um, there's fish, birds, plants. People," Steven said, for a brief moment not feeling too uncomfortable since he had his mind thinking about something else.

"What's that?"

"What's what? Fish? Plants?" Spinel asked.

"People," Pink replied. Going right to the top it seemed. Spinel and Steven glanced to one another before one of them answered.

"Okay, well people are uh … people? I'm one of the people, a-a Human," Steven said.

"Human? What're they like?" Pink Diamond asked, actually getting intrigued even more. Steven tried not to get too caught up in it, but some things had to give. And Spinel quickly got an idea.

"HEEYY you know what'll be fun? GOING TO LITTLE HOMEWORLD, they gots a school run by this Ronaldo guy, so you can ask all your questions and concerns to whoever the heck's in charge there, great? great!" Spinel said, trying (and failing) to be as cool and chill as possible.

"A … a school? What's a school?" Pink Diamond asked.

"We'll show you! Come on, let's go. Just step onto the Warp Pad, and we'll both show you what that is, isn't that right Spinel?" Steven said (calmer than Spinel), showing Pink Diamond the Warp Pad.

"Right-o, Steve-o, lead the way," Spinel replied, joining Steven on the Warp Pad. Pink Diamond joined them on the Warp Pad as well. Steven and Spinel shared a smile, but they both were just shell-shocked if anything. Different reasons, but same reaction, as the Warp Pad went off.


~~~~~~


"And that, students, is the telltale signs of you're ever talking to a Sneople. Any questions?" Ronaldo asked his "class" as he got his pointer to the chalkboard.

For being put there on a whim, Ronaldo had been doing fairly well in teaching the uncorrupted Gems a thing or two about his findings, especially in the studies on Sneople, as Pink Diamond was figuring out as she sat and listened to him. Pink Diamond was joined by several other Gems amongst the lot, a Citrine eventually raising her hand.

"Do Sneople know their weaknesses? Maybe they can change their tactics," the Citrine asked. Ronaldo, in the moment, slapped the chalkboard (which startled the class somewhat).

"We're talking about a global species here, OF COURSE they're gonna know. Which is why we need to keep one step ahead of them and anything else that comes our way!" Ronaldo said.

"YEAH!" said a few quartz soldiers. Well at least some of them were on board with him. As Ronaldo continued his methods of teaching to the populace, Pink Diamond kept an ear open and simply watched in content. Off not too far away, Steven and Spinel still kept a watch on things as they sat among the crowd. At least from this far away they both can chill out as Pink Diamond was busy. They could actually see she was enthralled by Ronaldo's confident teaching, learning about the Sneople among other things.

"You enjoying yourself?" Steven asked after a bit.

"This is so informative. Thanks for bringing me here," Pink Diamond said, having that warm smile again that gave the two a bit of a uncomfortable vibe.

"Sure, no problem. Glad it helps," Steven replied with a similar smile, as Spinel gave the Rose Quartz a thumbs up. But honestly, the feeling was still mutual when it comes to the awkwardness, and Spinel and Steven needed to figure out what to do next.

"You reeeeaaallly sure we can't just leave her here?" Spinel whispered.

"What? No, that'll be terrible!" Steven whispered back, "Besides, why would YOU think that of all people?"

"But I can't stand it, Steven," Spinel whispered back again. The two only stopped when Pink Diamond looked back over to the two, who simply looked ahead to Ronaldo instead.

"Let's just try to let her have a good time," Steven said.

"Yeah. Fine," Spinel replied. How could she think to do that, who would know. But for now, both Steven and Spinel would just have to bare it, for Pink Diamond's sake and their own. During Ronaldo's teachings, they got themselves another visitor just coming in after driving up in his van. If they were gonna start introducing Pink Diamond around they got a good test run.
After parking off nearby the new Forge, out came Greg.

"Hey schtu-ball, you here? You said you were gonna come by town today, and Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense is getting a bit antsy over -"

One look. Greg only needed one look at who Steven and Spinel were with to stop cold in his tracks. 

"H-Hehehehe. Family reunion," Spinel said, though she felt the same awkwardness all the same. Pink Diamond looked over her shoulder and took a look to Greg herself. And what did Greg say after seeing her?

"I can feel the rest of my hair falling out," Greg muttered. That didn't make anything better, but before Greg could go, Steven stood up.

"Wait, dad. You … wanna hang out with us?"

"NOPE!" Greg said, before going right back to his van. So much for the roadie's help. After Greg started to drive away, Steven was left stunned but not enough to say this was that huge of a surprise. … He didn't have to ditch them though.

"That was our test drive," Spinel said meekly. "And we still gotta tell everyone else the scoop."

"Yeah. …" Steven simply said. But then Pink Diamond went over to them both.

"Excuse me, Steven? Is everything okay?" she asked, concerned. Steven took a deep breath.

"Let's go out to town!"

…….

That was exactly what they did after Ronaldo's class. When Pink Diamond was freed from his class, Spinel and Steven brought her away from there and towards Beach City. There were more Humans there, giving Pink Diamond more interaction with them over Little Homeworld, although they still saw a few Gems going about there as well, alongside Ponies. Steven and Spinel kept themselves ahead, talking to Pink Diamond about the town, though Pink didn't really look like she was listening.

"Ok, we got a few options today: we can try the Arcade, or maybe we can get a bite to eat? You know, if you want to learn how to eat," Steven said. But the more they walked, the more Pink Diamond started to feel that they were being watched. Pink Diamond looked around her and kept seeing some glances their way, mostly by the older locals to town. Not as much as what happened with Greg before, but it still was something she was beginning to notice overtime. Pink Diamond wasn't the only one.

"Everyone's starring a little bit," Spinel informed to Steven.

"Just go along with it, everything fine. All we gotta do is make sure -" Steven said.

"We lost her, where'd she go?"

"Wha?"
Not anymore. Steven and Spinel turned around, and it turned out Pink Diamond was actually not behind them. Steven and Spinel tried to figure out where she went off to, looking into the Arcade themselves. Active play time for the Arcade, with many of the games up and running and some of the locals checking out how things worked.

"What's this place?" Spinel asked, getting a little bit too caught up in the colors and lights. Guess they were gonna check out the Arcade after all, because they found Pink Diamond walking around inside, checking everything out.

"Guess it's the Arcade. Come on, Spinel," Steven said, he and Spinel going inside the Arcade. It didn't take them that much time to catch up to Pink Diamond, looking around at all the lights and colors with a sense of bewilderment. They both could tell she was amazed in a way.

"It feels so … lively in here. Is it like this all the time?" Pink Diamond asked.

"Eh, it's actually its slow time. It gets more lively during summer," Steven explained, speaking from experience himself. Pink Diamond could only imagine how lively it would be then, but for now she started wandering around some more, going over towards some of the arcade cabinets. She eventually stopped over by a purple-colored cabinet.

"This one doesn't look very lively," Pink Diamond pointed out.

"Maybe it's just not plugged in that's all. Let me ask Mr. Smiley, he can hook it up for you to try," Steven suggested. He was just about to go and check on Mr. Smiley, but before he could do that he glanced back to the arcade cabinet and caught a glimpse of something about said cabinet. Namely the screen. Though, even if he didn't see that, Spinel glanced behind the cabinet and found something else odd about the cabinet.

"Hey, didn't you say these games have something called a cord to them? I don't see it," Spinel said. Steven and Pink Diamond checked, and sure enough there wasn't a cord to be seen. It wasn't as if the cord was cut away, or removed by the owner, but more rather it never had one to begin with. Steven got suspicious.

"Hang on a second. I think I know who this is," Steven said, stepping back.

"You mean "what" it is?" Spinel asked. Steven didn't answer, and instead went over towards a neighboring gaming cabinet. He looked to the cabinet and despite the game screen, he saw his reflection off of the glass. As for the purple one, he check the screen and he saw nothing. No reflection.

Steven gasped. And the cabinet gasped too!

Amethyst returned to her default shape shortly after this, startling Pink Diamond and Spinel as the small Quartz sat there on the floor, blank faced and staring.

"Amethyst! Oh my gosh, so much happened I forgot about you. I-I'm so sorry," Steven immediately said in worry. However …

"I-I'm so sorry," Amethyst repeated, matching Steven's tone and worry to a tee. Amethyst was still a living parrot, and as far as she knew now, there wasn't exactly anything to be sorry about. Pink Diamond looked down to her.

"She's so small … hello there, little Amethyst," Pink Diamond said. Amethyst felt Pink Diamond's hand gently land on her head, as if she was a small dog. Steven and Spinel took a step or two away, but honestly Steven was actually thinking A LOT about this, especially since Amethyst was staring directly at her. 

"Why isn't she saying anything? Amethyst knew Rose Quartz longer than I ever could, shouldn't this make her remember something from the past?" Steven thought, both startled yet confused at to Amethyst's lack of response. By all rights this should've at least triggered SOMETHING in the Gem's head. But as the seconds ticked by, Amethyst seemed oblivious. Blank-faced. Curious maybe, but that was about it.

"... She's so small …"

Amethyst started to shapeshift.

"Oh please no," Spinel and Steven thought. But unfortunately, Amethyst was soon on her feet, her form growing bigger, bulkier, and her hair stretching out behind her. After completing the shapeshifting, well …

"Hello there, little Amethyst," said Rose Quartz 2.0. Pink Diamond actually found this almost funny.

"That's adorable. Did you see that?" Pink Diamond asked.
As if dealing with one Rose Quartz wasn't hard enough, now they got TWO?! If they didn't look ready to faint before, their traumatized eyes sure looked it now. Pink Diamond was actually smiling a little bit. Now Pink Diamond knew something was wrong, but she didn't know what.

"What's wrong, Steven?" Pink Diamond (and Amethyst) asked. Steven clammed up, eyes darting back and forth over and over again. He had to quickly regather himself, despite two Rose Quartzes side-by-side with him.

"NO, I'm all good, really!" Steven insisted, "I know, why don't you twwwooo play that for a bit?"
Saving grace, Steven found a two-player Arcade game off not too far away. Meat Beat Mania. The two Rose Quartz look-alikes walked over to the two-player competitive game, the game already started up with the signature happy pig on screen, ready for the players to kickstart the game. Pink Diamond curiously picked up one of the mallets, Amethyst doing the exact same thing.

"All you gotta do is time your swings to the beat, and match the pig on the screen. The more you get right the more points you get and the more tickets you earn," Steven explained. He even gave the curtesy of getting them tokens so they can play the game. Just a minute later, and the game itself started right up for them. Pink Diamond held both mallets in hand (which were hams) and Amethyst copied her and used chicken legs for the P2 controllers.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Spinel and I will be checking out the rest of the Arcade if you need anything," Steven said. The game soon began, and following what Steven said, Pink Diamond went into the game. Since it was 2 players, the concept was who can last the longest, so Amethyst was gonna give Pink Diamond a tough time with her copycat technique. Steven and Spinel meanwhile walked off a good bit until they were just outside of the Arcade.

"This is getting super weird," Spinel finally admitted.

"Spinel. … Of course it's super weird," Steven said, "But we can't keep going like this. Pink Diamond just got back, the least we can do is try to tolerate her."

"But looking like that?" Spinel asked. Steven looked back to Pink Diamond, hearing what she meant. Steven gulped.

"I know, but she had nothing to do with you or me. If anything she only looks like her, but here we are trying to ditch her standing outside the Arcade for that reason?"

"Hold it, I'm weirded out because she practically is Pink Diamond in a Rose Quartz body. If White wanted to remake Pink, give her a reward because she did a REALLY good job," Spinel admitted, getting a shiver in her own body. Steven placed a hand on Spinel's shoulder.

"Ok, look, you can just stay here if you like, but I'm going back in there and make sure she has a good time," Steven decided. He only took a step or two before Spinel grabbed his arm.

"I didn't say I wanted to leave," Spinel said, sounding surprisingly sincere in what she just said.

"You don't really have to do that if you don't want to Spinel," Steven admitted.

"Even if it's super weird, I want to stay with you. I'm not gonna let you be freaked out alone," Spinel promised.

"Spinel I'm not -"

"Steven!"

Well that was fast. After their game, Pink Diamond walked out of the Arcade, and the two had won A LOT of tickets! By a lot, the ball was big enough to cover Nora if Pink Diamond wanted to. Spinel was left mouth agape, hands on the side of her head in sheer surprise. How'd they get so much so fast?!

"You were right," said Pink Diamond with a smile, "we followed just like you said, and look at how many tickets we earned."

"Yeah? That great, really great," Steven said, not expecting this to happen by a long shot. He even glanced behind her and was seeing quite a few people checking out the score they made. They must've gotten pretty high on the leaderboards for getting this many tickets in just one shot.

"Glad you're having fun. Why don't you s-stick around for lunch?" Steven offered.

"Huh?" said Spinel.

"If it's just as enjoyable of an experience as this, then I'd be happy to," Pink Diamond decided. She didn't knew what "dinner" was, but heck with it she was having fun, why stop now? Her choice of words though didn't sit well for Steven's stomach, echoing from someone that used to live here.

Again.

…….

"Here's you go, guys. Enjoy," said Kiki once she brought the order of cheese pizza for Pink Diamond, Spinel, and Steven to have. Fish Stew Pizza didn't have that much customers lately, outside of the Harmony Gem group. Besides the three, they also got Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Pinkie, and Fluttershy.

"So this is the "pizza" you were talking about? Do they only come in this yellow stuff," Pink Diamond said, looking at the clean cuts of the pizza in front of her.

"Nah, you can put whatever you want on top of them, and make it delicious however you like," Pinkie Pie explained, as she took a slice of pizza and actually sprinkled some … well, sprinkles on it. A weird choice of pizza topping, yet still proved her point. Pink Diamond picked up a slice of pizza herself, but she had a bit of trouble keeping the slice together as she only held it by the crust, the rest dangling downward and making it a little hard to eat properly.

"Hold it like this," Steven said, showing Pink Diamond how to hold her slice with both hands before he took a bite of his pizza. Pink Diamond followed his lead, and took a bite of it herself. She also took an extra step and copied him swallowing it. The Gem's eyes sparkled.

"Oh my stars," she gasped, "It's … amazing. And you do this all the time?"

"Well I've been doing it for at least sixteen years, and I kinda have to to live, so yeah," Steven replied, taking another bite of the cheese pizza. Pink Diamond saw Pinkie and Spinel enjoying their meal, and even Fluttershy having at least one slice of it, but Lapis and Sapphire were just sitting there, keeping quiet. Their plates were empty, not even touching the pizza in front of them.
Pink Diamond got two slices, one for each plate, and placed it in front of them both.

"Don't you want to try this stuff? It's pretty amazing," Pink Diamond offered.

"Uh, We're good here. But thanks anyway Ro - oooooooossse." Lapis suddenly found her mistake, struggling just to say the word with Sapphire sitting right there. Sapphire though didn't show that much expression on her face except for a strained line for a mouth.

"Are you feeling okay?" Pink Diamond asked, a little troubled.

"We're totally fine," Sapphire stated, not changing expression apart from a small smile.

*slip* *SLAM*

Passing by to clean up one of the empty tables, Kiki accidentally got some air time when her foot made contact with a patch of ice on the floor, connecting from the same chair Sapphire was sitting on. Kiki was alright, if not a bit dazed from the fall as she rubbed her head.

"Oh my, you alright Kiki?" asked Fluttershy, helping Kiki up to her feet and off of the ice.

"Yeah, I'm good," Kiki replied, rubbing her head still. As for Sapphire …

"I'm going to the bathroom," Sapphire said, getting off her chair and going to the bathroom in question to try and figure things out. The ice along the floor started to melt away as she left, albeit a little slow in doing so. One player out of the game. Pink Diamond didn't say anything on it, having another bite of her pizza slice.

"You forgot your pizza. Um … I'm just gonna wrap it for you later. Anybody got a bag?" Spinel said.

"I'll go get a carry out box," Kiki said, before walking to the back in order to fetch one, watching the ice this time so she wouldn't flip over her head. Pink Diamond wasn't sure what to say now that wouldn't drive someone away. Fluttershy decided to talk.

"How're you enjoying Beach City?" Fluttershy asked kindly. Pink Diamond decided to go off that subject instead.

"It's nice. Steven and Spinel were so kind, they showed me around Little Homeworld," said Pink Diamond, though she tried not to put them on the spot too much and be a little careful with her words. Steven and Spinel just went on eating their pizza, biting their slices at the same time.

"Yeah, we had fun," said Steven humbly, Spinel keeping her mouth shut with pizza being shoved in there. Pink Diamond started to feel a pattern going on here, not exactly willing to point it out just yet.

"Am I eating this right?" Pink Diamond asked.

"Yeah, you're doing fine. You know, maybe I should check on Sapphire, see how she's doing," Steven said, standing up. Pink Diamond felt humbled again.

"Let me come with you," Pink Diamond said.

"T-That's okay. You just wait here and enjoy your pizza, I'll be right back," Steven said, walking right to the bathroom. Spinel didn't need an invitation to go and join him, both heading right to the bathroom door of Fishstew Pizza. Steven readied to open the door … it now somehow stuck.

"What? She locked the door?!" Steven thought, trying his best to open it. It didn't really feel like Sapphire locked it, but more like something was keeping it stuck in place. Whatever it was, he couldn't open it himself no matter how hard he tried to open it.

"I'm gonna go help them," Lapis decided, walking over to lend a hand with it. Pink Diamond didn't really answer that time, looking down to the pizza in front of her with two ponies for company.

"So what games did ya play today?" Pinkie asked.

While the ponies were with Pink Diamond, Lapis, Spinel, and Steven finally managed to get the bathroom door to open up for them, taking all three of them to force it open. Looking into Fishstew Pizza's bathroom, it was very clear that Sapphire's ice was covering everything, all of them sliding a bit on the ice as they tried to keep their balance. The sink, the floor, some bit of the wall, even the mirror had a bit of ice on it as Sapphire just stood there quiet, looking more visibly stressed.

"How're you doing in here?" Steven asked, he and the other two Gems finding some balance as Sapphire gave a shiver.

"I'm sorry for stressing outside. I couldn't help it," Sapphire admitted.

"It's weird and all, believe me, but she's going to be miserable if we keep this up. She's already looking let down," Steven insisted.

"I know it's wrong, but … I'm overwhelmed," Sapphire stated.

"Come on guys, you can do this. You didn't freak out when I came to Earth … as much," Spinel said.

"Well that's different, Spinel," said Lapis Lazuli, "You might've known her, but she is like her, both Pink Diamond and Rose Quartz. She was made in her image and everything."

"I thought I'd be more ready for this," Sapphire said. 

"Alright, you two can wait here until she leaves," Steven decided. Sapphire, stressed, could only agree to that detail. But as Steven opened the door and went back out, turned out Steven found his company standing right in front of him, Steven bumping into Pink Diamond by mistake. It was enough to make him gasp, wondering how long she was actually standing there.

"Everything's all good!" Steven immediately said, smile and all. But Pink Diamond wasn't feeling too up for it anymore.

"Maybe I should go. I don't want to worn out my welcome," Pink Diamond said, ready to just walk out. Steven immediately took action, jumping in her way before she could just go off on them.

"Wait, wait, no don't do that, we're all having fun!" Steven insisted.

"You sure?"

"Sure I'm sure. In fact, y-you should … stay over!"

"For the night?" Pink Diamond asked, surprised a little bit. Steven felt like he was digging into a hole, his lips clamped shut at first, straining and almost trying to hold back what he was about to say.

"ssssssSSSLUMBER PARTY!"

"Oh Steven," Sapphire thought.

There was no doubt about it. Steven was forcing himself to do this. And with this whole thing going on, no one saw Amethyst looking in from the front window. Mimicking what they've done, and hearing everything they said.


~~~~~~


What a long afternoon. Nightfall couldn't really come faster for Steven and Spinel, now spending the rest of the day hanging out in the Beach House instead of just wandering around the city. They tried keeping themselves busy throughout the time (having snacks, playing board games, watching a movie or two) and so far it seemed like they were doing … decent.
Pink Diamond didn't call em out, at least.

"Everybody comfortable?" asked Steven. He himself was laying in bed as usual, Pink Diamond taking the couch for some sleep as Spinel happily stayed right next to Steven in the bed (in a sleeping bag). Nora, Blue, and Lion too were amongst the group, Lion sleeping on the main floor as Blue found his typical comfy spot and Nora finding a sleeping spot on the table.

"I'm comfy over here, Steven," said Spinel, snuggling up in her own sleeping bag. "Yep. Super cozy."

"And you?" Steven asked, looking down over to Pink Diamond. Pink didn't answer at first, just laying there.

"Yes, I'm good," Pink Diamond replied.

"Good. I'm also very comfortable. Goodnight everyone," Steven said. Everyone else said goodnight to Steven in their own way, Spinel the only one actually speaking as the others just made an animal noise. Pink Diamond though didn't respond, but she followed their lead and just closed her eyes. For Steven, he didn't waste much time in getting to sleep, no longer as uncomfortable given no one was going to sit by and watch him the whole night this time. That didn't technically mean that he was fast asleep straight away, opening his eyes briefly and glancing over to where he knew Pink Diamond would be.

"Can't sleep?" Spinel asked bluntly. Steven jumped when he saw Spinel was awake too, but he quickly recovered and laid back down, this time facing her.

"I don't know. I want to help her out and get her memories back, but … ugh, how can I do that?" Steven admitted, quietly so Pink Diamond couldn't hear him. Seeing her as her usual self was one thing, but this form was a matter he was failing to keep with. The whole day basically proved that.

"We ... could give her to the Diamonds?" Spinel quietly suggested, "They know pinkie better than we do, maybe they can do somethin?"

A good thought, but Steven sighed.

"They only know half of her life. Besides, White already said she can't do that even if she wanted to," Steven said. Spinel grew wide-eyed on mention of White.

"Oh. Right," Spinel murmured, her mouth covered by the sleeping bag she was curling up in.

"Maybe tomorrow will be better. Goodnight Spinel," Steven said.

"G'night Steven," Spinel murmured, closing her eyes and starting to drift off into dreamland again. Steven glanced back one more time to Pink Diamond's direction before he began to drift off to sleep himself.

"Help everyone have a better future," he thought.

…

She couldn't stay asleep. A good hour into the night of trying to stay asleep and Pink Diamond just gave up on it. Everyone else was just fine though, as sleeping soundly as she turned and stared up at the ceiling. Everything around her was quiet, nothing but the sound of the wind outside with no one but her awake to disturb that. All day she had been seeing Steven and Spinel acting troubled whenever with her for anything: Little Homeworld, Beach City Arcade, Fishstew Pizza, and now back here again. That vibe still hung over her, and Steven and Spinel were probably still uncomfortable about everything that happened today.
The Gem sat up on the couch, and got up to her knees to look over to the Human and Gem up in bed. Steven and Spinel weren't awake, Steven fast asleep under his covers while Spinel was curled up like a caterpillar in its cocoon. As Pink Diamond watched them she replayed the events out in her head, namely every time she tried figuring out what was wrong only to be met with denial or something else. It wasn't much at first, but now …

"I can take a hint," she sighed to herself. With that now in the air, Pink Diamond swung herself around quietly, and stood up. She made sure each of her steps weren't making too much noise so the animals wouldn't wake up, the Gem just managing to make it to the door. She only paused when her hand held the door handle, just to look back to Steven and Spinel one more time.

She took a breath. And walked outside.

Outside, the cold winter wind was already biting at her skin, Pink Diamond looking up towards the night sky this time as she rested on the edge of the porch. She simply stood there for a bit, her gaze looking down to the floor and the snow. The snow was less inviting and more bitter now. She picked up a bit of the snow in her hand, blowing it so it went off into the wind. So now what? …

*meow*

Pink felt something rub against her leg, and looking down as it turned out, Nora was awake and keeping Pink Diamond company. Animals always had sharper senses than people do. Nora only got a few rubs before Pink Diamond started walking away, making the cat fall into the snow. After getting back on her paws, Nora saw Pink was already walking down the hill towards the beach, and Pink Diamond only stopped again when she heard Nora meowing at her feet again.

"You don't have to follow me. I can take a hint already," Pink Diamond said. Nora looked up to Pink Diamond, tilting her head and ear twitching.

"Look, I understand. They don't want me here. They do not like me," Pink Diamond said, starting to walk away again down the beach. Nora meanwhile stood there for a short bit, but eventually Pink Diamond heard Nora start making her way back towards the Beach House, the very faint sound of the creaking door moving.

"I'm sorry you have to be around me," Pink Diamond said gravely.

She went off walking again, thinking that was that, but this time it took less time for her to pause as she felt a cold nose touch her back, making her yelp and turn around. This time it was Lion who was standing there, a "smiling" cat Nora poking out from Lion's mane, and further behind Blue trying to bring something over to them.

"I told you, you don't have to be with me. No one else does," Pink Diamond said, "... I don't even know why."

Lion gave a grunt towards her, getting Pink Diamond's attention again. By this point, Blue caught up with them all, the object he had dragging in the snow with him. It wasn't too damaged from the tug along, which was what Blue was hoping for, as he placed it over by Pink Diamond. A quick little bark later, and he went over and sat by Lion.
Pink Diamond paused, but soon she picked up what Blue brought her.

Rose Quartz's portrait painting.

"Hmm … who's this?" Pink wondered. Seeing the picture alone wasn't gonna be enough for her, nothing triggering anything, so Lion simply did a more brutish approach and began pushing Pink Diamond towards the water's edge. Even in the dim light of the night, the reflection in the water was still visible in the soft waves at their feet. It was the first time today she actually saw her own reflection more clearly.

"What? What is it you're trying to say?" Pink Diamond asked Lion. However, Lion of course didn't answer through words.

"You want to tell me something, what is it? Just say it," Pink Diamond insisted. Lion didn't answer anyway.

"... You can talk, can you?" Either way, Lion didn't have to talk as he got the portrait again and placed it nearby Pink Diamond, giving the confused Gem a side-by-side comparison between herself and the painting.

For a minute or two, the animals just sat aside from there and allowed Pink Diamond to work it out at her own pace, the mother Gem looking at her face, her hands checking her hair curls, the typical works. Little by little, she was slowly beginning to see the connections: same skin, same hair, same face, same … almost everything. The only actual difference that Pink Diamond could see was her clothes and the gemstone shape. The pets wondered if this was getting through to her yet, the pink Gem not exactly saying anything.

"She looks a lot like me. … A whole lot like me," Pink Diamond said, "But what does this got to do with -"

*roar*
Nearby, Lion laid down onto the ground, looking right to Pink Diamond. Blue and Nora sat off aside, giving Pink Diamond and Lion a clear path. Lion didn't talk, but he did gesture her to get onto his back.

"Oh? … Um … ok," Pink Diamond said. She was a bit unsure of this at first, though mostly it was because she was practically as big as Lion (being a Quartz and all), but Lion didn't seem to mind even when Pink Diamond sat down on top of his back. Heavy? Naturally. Weird? Possibly. Lion took a minute before he lifted Pink Diamond off of the ground, as Nora hopped on as well. For the first time all day, it was Pink Diamond's turn to now look uncomfortable, small awkward frown on her face. As for Blue, Lion moved Pink Diamond's hand to the dog, and the Gem hound went ahead of the group, sniffing the snow under him.

Blue then barked, and pointed.

Then Lion began to run.

"AAHHH!"

Pink Diamond immediately fell forward and held onto the cat tight as Lion raced down through the snowy beach, Blue actually keeping ahead as if guiding Lion to wherever the heck they were going. Blue kept the lead ahead of Lion in the run, but Pink was too scared to notice as they kept running along the beach, eyes tightly shut and gripping onto the large feline.
Lion himself didn't stop running until they started passing into town again, stopping on a dime. The sudden stop made Pink Diamond fall forward again, this time flipping off of the cat and onto the ground.

"I hope you had a good reason for scaring the stars out of -"

Someone was still there. Soon as Pink Diamond looked, she saw she was back in the same pizza shop she was at earlier that day, but this time there was only one person left there. She was sitting by the door, holding a plate and some leftover pizza she managed to grab. The pizza itself looked cold, and somewhat smeared on both the plate and on her face.

"It's you. The little Amethyst," Pink Diamond realized. Nora, Lion, and Blue moved over towards Amethyst, the small gem not really seeing them until Blue nudged her side, wagging his tail and overall just happy to see her. Nora and Lion settled down near her, somehow knowing that the Gem was pretty cold sitting out in the winter. But then Amethyst's eyes moved over towards Pink Diamond.

"The little Amethyst," Amethyst repeated, same tone and everything despite having her mouth covered in cheese. Pink Diamond, no longer so giddy like last time in the arcade, now found her repetitive speech a bit confusing.

"How cute. But, shouldn't you be at Little Homeworld? It's a little bit cold out here," Pink Diamond asked.

"It's a little bit cold out here," Amethyst repeated.

"Yes it is. So why are you still outside?" Pink Diamond asked, a little concerned. Unfortunately, Amethyst shape-shifted into Pink Diamond right then and there.

"Why are you still outside?" Amethyst asked, again mimicking the Gem in front of her. Pink Diamond didn't really buy it though, and was being more serious about things.

"No, no, why are you still outside?" Pink Diamond asked.

"No, no, why are you still outside?" Amethyst repeated.

"Nevermind me, I'm asking you," Pink insisted, not sure if she should be worried or annoyed.

"Nevermind me, I'm asking you," Amethyst repeated again, with the exact same level of worry/annoyance in her voice. Pink Diamond readied to respond again, but she couldn't say anything. Amethyst probably would just copycat her again, so maybe just talking to her wasn't gonna cut it for her. Not as easily, anyway. Pink Diamond then looked at the pizza slice again.

"You … hungry?"

"Hungry?" Amethyst repeated. This time though she tried to actually eat the pizza, but she couldn't seem to make it work as well as she wanted it to. In a sense of Deja Vu, the pizza slice was only held by the crust, the rest dangling down. If Pink Diamond couldn't get her inside, she could at least help her eat the pizza. So, she sat down in front of her.

"Here, try it like this," Pink Diamond said. She sliced the pizza in half so they both could try it. Pink Diamond then held the pizza the same way Steven taught her: one hand on the edge and one holding the crust, as she proceeded to take a bite out of her piece. Be it either by actually learning or just mimicking in general, Amethyst did exactly how Pink Diamond showed her. She took her bite, but while she mimicked the chewing Pink Diamond did, she didn't exactly swallow it, only letting it slide right back out onto the plate.
Gross.

Pink was confused, but suddenly remembered the extra detail she forgot to present.

"Huh. Oh wait, watch this now," Pink Diamond said. She went and took a bite, but this time she lifted her head back to show the swallow motion in her throat. Amethyst bit into her pizza, this time copying the first gulping motion she saw.

It might've taken her all day, and the pizza was plenty cold by that point, but at last she finally, properly, learnt the taste of pizza. It was still enough to give Amethyst sparkling starry eyes. Amethyst didn't know what to say, except doing it over and over again until the pizza was gone inside her, but biting her fingers at the very end. A typical rookie mistake in eating. Amethyst yelped, covering her mouth as she looked to her hurt hand and Pink Diamond reached towards Amethyst's hand.

"You're hurt! Here, don't cry, let me try and help you," Pink Diamond said.

What she did next she herself didn't realize she did. In the heat of the moment, Pink Diamond leaned down, and gave Amethyst a kiss on her hand. It was sudden. Unexpected. And somehow working its magic. It wasn't until after that the motherly Gem quickly realized what she just done and backed away.

"Uh, sorry, I don't know what came over me," Pink Diamond quickly said, but Amethyst didn't resist it.

In fact, Amethyst just sat there. Staring right down to where Pink Diamond kissed her. There wasn't a bite mark on her hand anymore, not even any cut or anything as if she never bit into her hand at all. The only thing Amethyst was seeing, initially, was the small sparkles left behind by, hovering around her hand like small fireflies, and just as sparkly.

"Amethyst?" Pink Diamond asked, moving in closer. Amethyst, still starry eyed, moved her gaze upward from her hand to the face of a Rose Quartz. Pink Diamond wasn't sure if she made matters better or worse for the small Amethyst.

".... R …. rrrr … Rose?"

Then she began to glow.


~~~~~~


Next morning. One day after the first day of the new year, and Steven and Spinel hadn't been interrupted the whole night. The time of day was actually pretty early for them to get up, at least an hour before the initial alarm could actually activate on them to wake em up, but it wasn't a messed up alarm clock that woke em up. 
It'd been a long night, but as they slept, Nora hopped up onto the bed and started rubbing herself against them. Steven being a human actually needed his sleep, so Nora (under Lion's "instruction") went and rubbed Spinel instead. Spinel mumbled a little bit, trying to stay asleep, but the feel of a cat's fur on her face was just too much for her to stay quiet, groggily waking up.

"H-Huh wha? Kitty, it's too early," Spinel whimpered, ready to go back to sleep. Nora was a determined cat though, and she started using her tail to "hit" Spinel in the face. But it didn't work really well, and eventually Spinel just went back to sleep. Nora looked down from Steven's bed to Blue and Lion, who were both sitting in the main room, waiting for either of them to wake up.
Lion HAD to intervene though when Nora opened her mouth and ready to bite one of them awake. There're much easier and less hurtful ways to wake people up.

Like a good ol' roar.

"GAAHH!" exclaimed Steven and Spinel, after Lion's guttural roar shocked them awake and off the bed. Not one of his better ideas, but heck it works. Steven was the only one who stood up, as Spinel just sat up, both ears ringing.

"Lion!" Steven snapped, "I taught you NOT to do that."

Lion ignored that remark, and jumped down to the main level of the room.

"What's wrong with the big cat?" Spinel whined.

"He probably just wants out. Hang on Lion, I got -"
Steven immediately stopped altogether on the stairs when he glanced towards the couch. He expected Pink Diamond to be sleeping there, probably fast asleep. But now … nothing. Not even the sheets she was using as a blanket were left there on the couch.

"... Pink? … Pink!" Steven said, trying to see where she was. But there wasn't a response from the Diamond anywhere. He looked all over the main room but there was no sign of her anywhere. He even bolted to check the bathroom for some unknown reason, but nothing there either. No signs, or indications on where she might've gone off to. As he kept doing this, Spinel sorta dragged herself over to the edge of the bedroom, crawling like an inchworm.

"What's going on?" Spinel yawned. Steven raced out of the bathroom.

"Pink's gone!" Steven exclaimed.

"W-What?!" Spinel yelped, falling over the edge and flopping onto the couch. Well that proved to Spinel Pink Diamond wasn't on the couch, and as she sat up Steven discovered something that ultimately confirmed her whereabouts. Looking off into the Warp Pad area of the Beach House, Steven not only didn't find Pink Diamond, but the portrait was also missing.

"Oh no," Steven gulped.

"Don't tell me she found the painting," Spinel said worriedly. Steven didn't answer right away, making Spinel stretch her neck until her head rested on Steven's shoulder so she could see the missing painting as well. Well this wasn't good at all.

"Come on, we gotta go. To the Warp Pad," Steven said, being the first to hop right up onto the Warp Pad. Where else would Pink Diamond go? Steven hopped right onto it, trying to activate it, but like everything else he once found easy the Warp Pad wasn't just click-starting for him. All that he got was a flickering light on the floor.

"I can't even use the Warp Pad now? That's the second easiest thing I do!" Steven shouted in disbelief. But this misfortune may be a lucky break, because it gave Lion time to get their attention with another roar, him laying on the floor same as last night to Pink Diamond. Steven knew what that meant, and he went right over towards the big cat.

"Good boy. Let's go Spinel, we gotta find her," Steven said, getting onto Lion's back.

"I'll be with you in a second, just gotta get out of this nap sack!" Spinel said, now hopping around as she tried getting herself free of the comfy sleeping bag. She squirmed and shook around, eventually falling onto her back. They didn't had time for any of this, and Spinel knew it so she had to take some more drastic measures: AKA springing right out from the face hole of the sleeping bag, and landing right behind Steven on Lion's back.

"LET'S GO!"

With a mighty roar (after Spinel opened the door of course), Lion charged right out of the house, with a mighty leap off the porch and towards the snow-covered sand below. Blue and Nora sat this one out, watching the two caretakers race off on their mount.

Pretty soon, Lion reached Beach City on the request of his riders, hardly even remotely slowing down his run by the time his paws touched concrete. They had a lot of the town to go look through first, but it was impossible to really say where Pink Diamond could've gone to since last night, especially with the Warp Pad technology. Steven and Spinel didn't care how chilly the morning was, more focused on figuring out where Pink Diamond had ran off to than anything else, and making sure to call her every spot they went to.
Their first stop in their search was along the boardwalk, stopping by the eateries of Fishstew Pizza, Citywalk Fries, and other such places. It was way too early for any of these places to be open, not even the lights in the businesses being on or anything. The only exception in this case was Peedee Fryman getting his food truck opened up for the day, but that was about it.
Next stop after a few minutes was out of Beach City and into Ponyville, getting into town with an easy Lion portal roar. Like Earth's Beach City, it was far too early for many ponies to be up and awake to do anything fancy, even for the clouds to move. The sun didn't actually go above the horizon until they were done going through the whole town.
Their third stop was in Little Homeworld, this time taking the Warp Pad rather than Lion portal. The Gem settlement here was a little more active, a few Gems still up and about making some slight changes and renovations to the place as best they could. Good news, they even found Peridot off not too far away, studying some of the material.

No Pink Diamond anywhere.

In their search, they started heading out to the countryside just outside of Little Homeworld, Lion's running now into a walk as Spinel and Steven kept trying to find her, as Spinel was holding something else they picked up on their travels.

"Pink Diamond! We got some pizza for you, so come and get it!" called Steven, Spinel holding up a slice herself so anyone could see. Again though, Pink Diamond didn't show up at all, not even to the savory scent of cheese and sauce.

"Worth a try," Steven sighed, "Dang it, this is all my fault. Why did I have to feel so awkward around her? Of course she would think we don't like her after all of that."

"It's not like you're the only one," said Spinel gravely. ""Hey Steven, let's just ditch her at the Arcade! Steven, let's leave her with the Diamonds so they can fix her!" What kind of friend keeps ditching her friends anyway? Stupid *bonk* Stupid *bonk* Stupid -"

"Spinel, stop it!" Steven said, making Spinel quit hitting her own head out of anger. "Ok, we both messed up, we just need to fix it. Where could she be? …"

Lion suddenly stopped after walking around. One, to give his paws a minute to relax as he just stood there, and two for the fact he heard something going on just ahead of them.
Their walking through the countryside brought them from Little Homeworld, and now towards the Barn House. At this point there was plenty of light for the morning, but even so there still was plenty more activity going on here than many of the places they've been to so far. They didn't see all the Off-Colors there for the moment, but they did see a Gem sitting just outside. They finally found her after a whole morning of searching.

"There she is. Onward, Lion!" Spinel said, pointing ahead. Lion felt like they went on long enough though, and instead sat down, making Steven and Spinel slide off of his back. Spinel personally made sure she held the pizza box so no slices slid out. The stumble though caught the attention of Pink Diamond, her turning around to see both Steven and Spinel not too far away, Lion sitting aside. She didn't know if the cat was planning for this or not at this point, but either way Pink Diamond still felt a bit beside herself in this situation. As both Human and Gem got themselves moving towards her, Pink Diamond was looking ready to walk away when Steven spoke.

"Wait! Please, please don't leave like this!" Steven pleaded. It was just enough pleading to make Pink Diamond stop moving, but she didn't turn around just yet, looking down to her own feet.

"W-We're really, really, REALLY sorry," began Steven, "It's not like we don't like you or don't want you here. It's just that... you look so much like her; like my Mom."

"Your … mom. … The Rose Quartz."

"Yeah, her, that same girl on that portrait I failed at hiding," Spinel said, "UGH, it's stupid but you don't just look like you, you act like you, you're … her, I guess. We didn't want to say anything, but it was just so … weird."

"And it still is," Steven admitted, "I thought I was ready to move on and not have her hanging over me anymore, but I can barely be in a room with you because I still feel all twisted up about her. I've been pretending that I'm fine because it's not your fault, but... I'm not fine..."

"...…. I've been pretending too."

Everyone looked over to Pink Diamond.

"To be fine. All day yesterday I've seen everyone feel awkward, or uncomfortable, or just … didn't want to be around me. I didn't want to say it because I thought it'll just make it worse, but it was still there. You too. I can tell neither of you wanted anything to do with me anymore, and you still don't. I'm sorry you had to put up with me."

"No no no, it's not your fault we feel so weird about it," Spinel insisted, "It's not like you're meaning to do that! But please, if you're gonna leave, don't leave hating us for this."

"I don't hate any of you. I don't expect you two to understand though, and I don't blame you for hating me either …"

"Are you kidding? Of course I understand. If ANYONE knows what you're going through, it's me," Steven realized, a strained breath got out of his mouth as he brought his hands to his face. On all this revelation though, Steven slowly began to realize something else too, looking to the Rose Quartz with a different kind of view.

"You mean that?"

"Of course I do. … You know, all yesterday I've been seeing you as just my mom, but we're really more like siblings."

"Siblings? What's that?" Spinel asked.

"Well we're both created by mom, which means we'll always be related to her. So in a way, we'll always be related to eachother. Does that make sense?"

"I think so. … Do you still want me around?" Pink Diamond asked once more. This time though there was no more hiding, and Steven and Spinel answered her on the level.

"Well. I admit that it's gonna take a bit to get used to, but I don't see any big reason to not let you stay here. No pressure," Steven admitted. Pink Diamond could tell he wasn't pulling her leg this time, and she just smiled.

"Thanks."

"Alright, group hug, come here!" Spinel said, stretching her arms out and wrapping them around both Steven and Pink Diamond. She really couldn't help it, it was just too good to pass up. The hug itself kept there for a bit longer until Spinel decided they got enough of a hug for the morning.

"So what's going on out here, Rose?" asked a voice.

It was a bit out of nowhere, but still familiar to the three Gems standing just outside, strolling out from the barn itself on hearing the racket. They saw the same Gem Steven was familiar with, same height as usual, and long lavender hair going down her back. However, there was something a bit different with her: She wore a dark mauve jacket with white buttons and shoulder epaulets, lighter mauve leggings, small black boots, and a mauve and black hat with a small white star in the middle. A completely old, and different outfit from her typical punkish-kinda look.

"Amethyst?!" asked Steven.