A Diamond That Doesn't Shine

A Single Decaying Flower *rewritten*

*$^@*!&$ before the accident.

On what appeared to be a beach on Earth, two figures sat together-one tall and the other much taller. The scene felt familiar somehow. Suddenly, they began to shine, their forms merging, and in their place emerged a baby, replacing the two gems.
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I awaken, but it's not in my own body. There's a gem embedded in me... a Pearl.

"Pearl... why must you be mine, to be owned by me?" I lift my head and see a towering black figure before me.

My mouth moves on its own accord, declaring, "My Diamond, you are a gem far greater than any other. And as a Pearl, I exist to serve you." My voice sounds hollow, like nobody is home.

The tall gem laughs sadly and speaks again, "Do you ever wish to be free, Pearl?"

"I am just a lowly Pearl, My Diamond. I do not have such thoughts." Even though the Pearl I inhabit notices the sadness in the tall gem, my body feels constrained, as if I can't move without permission. "However, My Diamond, as long as I am yours... I am content." Why do I sound so broken? Tears fall, not just from me, but from the towering gem before me.

"Pearl... I should never have conducted this experiment... I should never have shouted at you. Both our lives are going to end because of my anger. Pearl, I'm sorry." Our lives are going to end? What did this Diamond do?

"My Diamond... you were angry for a reason after what Pink Diamond did... after that revelation, you had to make a choice, as all good gems must. I just happened to be part of the outcome." Fear starts to creep in. Choices, Pink Diamond, this voice, this body I'm in-it's all too much.

"I used my ability on you, Pearl... an ability I cannot undo, no matter what. Once all the conditions are met, then... you will be compelled to do something that will end you..." Ability? Conditions? What is she saying? I feel my face lift into a smile, and words come out, but I cannot hear them. As the world starts to darken around me, I see one last thing before the scene shifts.

The body I inhabit... she was pregnant.
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"You were supposed to be watching her!" I roar, slamming my fist against the wall, shattering it. Why? Why can't I control my own body? I remember falling asleep at home in my bed. What is happening? And my voice-it sounds different now, not broken like before.

"M-My Diamond... I swear I was, but she-" the Pearl stammers.

"THERE ARE NO BUTS, PEARL! I came back here to celebrate the conquest on Earth, and now I find out Pink has been missing for two days!" My body moves on its own again, muttering, "Why did I place my trust in a Pearl?" The Pearl hears and collapses to the floor in tears, defeated.

"I can't afford any more mistakes! It's time you and that incompetent Diamond learned why I was created."
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I jolt upright on the couch, looking around frantically and even giving myself a slap to confirm I'm awake. Was it a dream or a nightmare? Was it even real?

"Y/N! You scared us," Perry exclaims. I scared them?

"My Y/n, it's such a relief to see you awake," Spinel adds, appearing genuinely relieved. Wait... Spinel?

"How long was I asleep?" I ask, noticing Spinel and Perry exchange a glance before both looking down at the floor. Andesine bursts into the room.

"Y/N, you're awake! Are you hungry? Normally you eat every few days, but it's been a little less than a week."

A week.

Wait, I remember something! I stumble over to my backpack, fumbling to open it and pull out a small picture. It's eerily similar to the first image I saw in that dream... The figures in that dream and the figures in this picture...

"Moms..."