A Diamond That Doesn't Shine

Pink Steven

For weeks, Y/N had been overwhelmed with responsibility. Juggling the complex politics of Homeworld, managing the delicate balance between the Diamonds, and trying to lead Steven through his transformation into the next Pink Diamond without pushing him too far—it was taking everything they had. The weight of their decisions was suffocating, but there was no time for hesitation. Y/N had promised to restore Pink Diamond, and that meant pushing Steven to the brink.

Steven had spent most of his time in Pink’s old room, isolated from the world outside. He was surrounded by relics of Pink Diamond’s past—old dresses, jewels, and artifacts that once represented the vibrant gem she had been. The room was suffocating, a constant reminder of what he was expected to become. And yet, Steven’s human side was still very much alive, lingering beneath the surface and making everything feel like an impossibility. He wore Pink’s clothes and had been exposed to the gems who worshipped her, all while trying to maintain some semblance of who he was, but the pressure was mounting.

Then came *the incident*.

Steven’s body couldn’t take it any longer. The pressure from all sides, combined with the strain of trying to embody a diamond that wasn’t truly him, had caused his human body to break down. When Y/N rushed to his side, they were horrified to find him barely conscious, pale and weak, the toll of the transformation process leaving him in a delicate state. His injuries were beyond their usual healing abilities, and Y/N felt the panic rise in their chest. They needed to act fast.

An idea struck them like lightning—an idea that filled them with dread. What if they removed Steven’s gem and then rejuvenated it while he was unconscious? They could merge the gem and Steven together, but this would require a drastic change. The thought made Y/N’s stomach churn, but they couldn’t afford to think too much about it. The pressure to bring Pink Diamond back was immense. Without her, the Diamonds would never accept Steven as the new Pink, and Y/N would bear the brunt of that punishment.

They couldn’t afford failure.

Y/N placed their hands over Steven’s chest, focusing on his gem. It felt too risky, but they had no other choice. Gently, they began to separate Steven’s gem from his body, feeling the raw power of the gem pulsing in their hands. They steadied themselves, carefully manipulating the energy to ensure that both Steven and the gem would survive the process. They took a deep breath and braced for what was to come.

As the gem separated from Steven’s form, Y/N felt a surge of energy pulse through them. It wasn’t just the gem that was changing; something else was happening. The pink gem began to glow brightly, almost blindingly so, and in that glow, something stirred. And then, it happened. The shape of Pink Diamond appeared before them, shimmering in her full glory. But it was fleeting—before Y/N could even react, the figure shifted and twisted, changing into Rose Quartz’s form, only to be replaced by something entirely new.

A glowing, pink figure—Steven.

Pink Steven stumbled out of Y/N’s grasp, a wild expression in his eyes. His glowing pink skin was now more vivid than ever, the form of Pink Diamond still faintly lingering beneath the surface, but this being was not Pink, nor was it fully Steven. This entity seemed caught between the two. Without a word, Pink Steven stumbled toward the bed where the real Steven lay unconscious, his body cold and lifeless.

Y/N’s breath hitched in their throat as they watched the glowing figure move closer to Steven. They knew that they couldn’t allow this to continue—this wasn’t right. They needed to reunite Steven and the gem before it was too late. But before they could act, a small figure darted past them.

Spinel.

With a sudden and unexpected movement, Spinel jumped in front of the glowing Pink Steven, pulling out the rejuvenator and aiming it at him. The device clicked to life with a bright, pulsating glow as Spinel used it on the entity. There was a brief flash of light, and in that moment, Pink Steven faltered, the glow from his body dimming slightly. Spinel grinned triumphantly.

Y/N didn’t waste a second. As the opportunity presented itself, they swiftly used their powers to shrink down and position themselves just beside Steven’s body. The gem, now slightly dimmed, was still glowing with an unnatural energy, and Y/N knew this was their chance to fix everything. With a concentrated push of their energy, they conjoined Steven’s gem back into his body.

The moment the gem touched Steven’s chest, something shifted. A deep hum filled the air as the gem and Steven’s body began to sync once more. The transformation was beginning, but it wasn’t smooth. Y/N could feel the energy being pulled in all directions as Steven’s body twitched and changed, his skin shimmering with the same soft pink hue that had once belonged to Pink Diamond. His body glowed, but it was more muted, as though the essence of Pink had fused with Steven’s original form.

The gem, now firmly back inside Steven’s body, had taken the same shape it once had when Pink Diamond was in control. The transition was rough, and Y/N could see the strain in Steven’s face. He was changing—his body was adopting the same signature pink skin and glowing features that Pink Diamond had once worn, but something was missing. Unlike Y/N, who had inherited most of Black Diamond’s memories (though many of them blocked), Steven had barely gained any memories from Pink during the process.

It was as though he were a blank slate.

Y/N stood over Steven, their heart heavy with uncertainty. They had done what they had to, but the result was not what they had hoped. The transition had been difficult, and Steven’s mind had not absorbed the fullness of Pink’s essence as Y/N had feared. The lingering power of Pink Diamond was there, but it was faint, and it didn’t feel like Steven was fully present yet.

But they had done it.

Steven, now laying still in the bed with his pink skin glowing softly, was no longer the human boy he once was. He was something new, a fusion of Pink Diamond’s power and Steven’s human heart—but for now, that was all. The transformation was far from complete. The road ahead would be long, and Y/N couldn’t shake the feeling that the true Pink Diamond might never truly emerge from Steven.

For now, all Y/N could do was wait.