Beyond The Gem

Five

     Blue rolled her eyes at Pink. "At the few hours you spent in your private chambers, you didn't even begin? That's unlike a Diamond."

     "If I were you, I would've sent an army to each of my colonies to learn information that you haven't found us." White retorted. Yellow didn't move, she simply stood there next to the two, hands behind her back, completely silent.

     "I'm sorry, I was caught up in private matters." Pink Diamond lied. I gazed up at her, and thankfully, I couldn't see it anywhere written on her face that she wasn't telling the truth. "There was some troubles with my zoo."

     "With your zoo?" White cocked her head back, snorting a laugh. "You have a zoo called Earth, why bring another one with you? The humans there aren't even the same. What kind of problem would there be?"

     Pink tapped her foot, and I gently touched her hand to calm her down. At my touch, she flared her nostrils and her muscles losened. "There was a mechanical issue with the creation of plant life. The atmosphere temperature was decreasing, and my mechanics had to take time to tranquilize the inhabitants while they fixed the heating system."

     I almost whistled low. What a colorful excuse she'd made in a matter of seconds! But I bit my tongue and glanced to Yellow, who was still unnaturally still. Yellow Diamond caught me staring at her, and instantly, I bowed my head in respect. She grimaced, then looked to White and held up a hand. Yellow nodded her goodbyes and walked out of the throne room, Yellow Pearl following. Her Pearl had the same, vacant expression, and I found it unsatisfyingly intriguing. I almost followed them.

     In my fog of thoughts, I missed the conversation. Pink grabbed me by my shirt and shoved me alongside her, letting go when I was finally able to catch my balance. Once we were out of earshot of the throne room, she looked down. "I'm sorry, did you hear any of that? When I looked down at you for comfort, like I always do, your face was blank and you were starting where Yellow was."

     I frowned, ashamed of myself. "I'm sorry, My Diamond. I was...wondering why Yellow Diamond and her Pearl were acting so strange. Yellow normally interjects her opinion, but this time..."

     Pink raised a hand, something I found offense to. I thought we were closer than that...closer than holding hands up to shush someone. "It's none of our business. I want to go to Earth and spend time with the humans. It's been an Earth year, has it?"

     "Just about, I believe. Three hundred and sixty five rotations and one revolution around the sun. We should get back on your ship, My Diamond." I held my head high, not allowing the one move to anger me. If Pink was going to learn anger soon, I was going to learn it too. "On the way there, we can practice."

     Pink nodded, and we continued onto the next room we were summoned to in silence. The former Tiger Jasper was finally back, and Pink's soldiers held her in an interrogation room. It was unlike what Pink had originally had in mind, where no soldiers were to come in contact with her, but when the entered the room, she sat in the center with her wrists chained to the floor.

     I summoned my holographic pad, then typed her name and stood in the corner where Pink could see me if she needed comfort. Though she had just quieted me rudely, I was still going to be there for her.

     Because I was her Pearl.

     And though I did not want it in the beginning, I bowed down to her. And I enjoyed it much more than I thought. So I stood there and flashed her a smile as she stood in the room, hands folded in front of her and face stone cold. She glanced up at me, and beneath those pink eyes I saw a returning smile, even though one did not tug on her lips. Her guards took their posts by the door, their pink armor glistening.

     "Tiger Jasper. I believe last time I saw you, you enlightened us about a gem named White Tanzanite. Is this true?"

     And last time I saw you, my head was in the clouds and Yellow Pearl had to pull be back onto the surface of Homeworld. I thought. I shook my head, focusing. There was no other Pearl in here to keep a record with me. It was just me, alone and independent.

     Jasper was silent, her head bowed. Pink cleared her throat. "I believe I asked you a question." When Jasper didn't answer, Pink stomped her boot on the floor right in front of Jasper, causing her to nearly jump out of her chains and look up. "Answer me!"

     I coughed to get Pink's attention. When she looked, I held my hand up, then pushed it down, as if I was pushing something into a box. She had to calm down. This was one of many places she could not shift no matter what. She nodded and closed her eyes, then opened them a moment later.

     "That's true," Tiger Jasper said. Her voice sounded different, and though her outfit hadn't changed a bit, I noticed that her face was a little more gaunt. Her voice was hollow, lifeless. That's just what the Diamonds do to your mind after you've been tortured mentally. Even when you poof, gem soldiers of all the Diamonds can crack your gem in certain places, then heal them to remind you that you are not safe. To remind you that once you come out, you will possibly be killed.

     Pink smiled at her voice. Not at the hollow sound, but at the fact that she answered. "Now, can you tell me where...he...is?"

     Tiger Jasper stared up at her. I glanced towards her hands to see that they were shaking violently. So much, actually, I was surprised that her chains weren't making noise. "I don't know where White Tanzanite is."

     Pink nodded, then began to circle her. Jasper stared forwards now, her hands shaking even more. "Very well. We will not torture you, I believe it is cruel to do so. Just know that if another gem is killed by another one of White Tanzanite's soldiers..." Pink stopped in front of her, then kneeled to meet her eyes. "You'd be worth nothing to me. Absolutely nothing, and you would be discarded for lying against the Diamond authority, and also for showing disrespect. Discarded, like a certain Fluorite's shards. Who was killed in a certain market, in a certain place."

     I began to sweat. Pink was going to get ahead of herself. Yet she continued, standing up straight and circling once more.

     "I understand that you don't want to die, and I don't want to come to that conclusion. You can be set free, all you need to do is tell us where your patron, White Tanzanite, is. After that, we will not release you until his shards are in the Diamond authority's possession. After that, you can live a normal life. Live one where your only care is what transportation you take to training."

     Jasper took a shaky breath and looked up, her brows furrowed. "I don't know where he is. That's the truth, I promise you, My Diamond."

     "You must be lying! How else would you be able to receive such a colorful murder?"

     Jasper slammed her hands on the ground, her chains rattling, and she stood. Her arms were pulled back from the chains, but she looked up at Pink and screamed, "I told you I don't know! I don't know, I don't know, I don't know! I have no idea where any of them are!"