Fate: and other things that change

Chapter 1

The palace was cold. There was no way it could have been anything else. The design was modern and tasteful, and as the architect had pointed out; a fire place would have ruined the aesthetic. It was also cold because there were no people there to give off heat as they do both literally and in spirit. And it's single occupant did little to improve either. 

Sapphire had come to terms with her boring lonely life both as it was and as it would be. That was the price of being one of the rarest, most strategic, gifted gems in the universe, she'd think almost every day, That was the price of being a Sapphire. She truly believed this, and yet sometimes she wished she had been given a choice. Everything about her life seemed to have been forced upon her. The single blue gem stone that sat in her right palm had condemned her to this fate, and the fact of it was Unavoidable.

Today, like most days, Sapphire was sitting in her library with a book in her lap. However, unlike most days, she was not reading it. Instead she was Staring out the decorative glass windows into the city beyond. In general Sapphire was anti-social, not that life would have been any different if she was, but centuries spent alone had taught her to value company when the opportunity came. And the opportunity, she knew, would come today. 

Once a year Blue diamond held a meeting among her court: a small group made up of 8 Sapphires. All of them were respectable and talented. Sapphire appreciated this, but that didn't mean she particularly like them. In her eyes they were all stubborn, and a great deal prouder than they ought to be. Sapphire of course possessed these very traits, although she would never admit it.

Sapphire closed her book and placed it neatly on one of the polished blue shelves. Then, she glided down the three flights of stairs which connected the library to the main entrance. Before leaving she took a moment to admire her reflection in one of the many mirrors she kept. She wore an elegant blue dress with puffy white shoulder pads and a pale blue diamond insignia on the chest. And after fixing her hair (which was already perfect), Sapphire stepped out into the city.