Fractures

4. Starlight

- Pink Diamond fights for her life.

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White's summons was abrupt, as always.

She was in the middle of training when the white bubble reared up beneath her and swallowed her alive.

Pink Diamond cursed under her breath, hastily straightening her appearance. She hardly had any time to prepare before she was deposited in White's room.

"Ah, there you are, Starlight."

Pink suppressed a shudder, staring up and up and up at her mother's luminescent face. Her skin crawled with the ghosts of those who had died in this room.

She was supposed to salute, to say "My Diamond." Instead, she bit out a terse "White."

White Diamond clucked. "Have you learned your lesson? Are you ready to behave now? Everyone is so very eager to have you return to us."

Pink said nothing, did nothing, tried to keep her expression blank. White always asked the same questions.

White seemed to lean a little closer. Pink bit down on the urge to shrink away.

"Come now, Pink. You were so excited to finally get to your duties. What happened?"

I just had my eyes open, is all. She kept her silence. Her hands unconsciously balled into fists. The sound of that saccharine voice echoed through the empty room.

"Surely you're not still upset that you lost that little game of yours? It's been 5000 years, after all. When are you going to learn?"

It wasn't a game it wasn't you took everything from me

The same answer she always gave escaped her in a whisper. "Never."

White's eyelids lowered, just slightly.

She was crying again. She bent her head, trying to hide her tears. There was just so much, her heart couldn't contain it all. They all lived in her, now.

"Oh, Starlight..." White Diamond's voice was hushed. "What a shame."

Something in the tone triggered her instincts. Pink looked up. Before she could react, White's enormous hand wrapped around her, squeezing firmly. The ground fell away as she was lifted up to eye level.

"My patience has run out."

Pink felt nothing but utter terror. She had never, ever seen White move. She loomed close, much too close.

"Wh-White, what are you-"

"Well, we'll just have to fix you up, won't we? We'll just take away all those nasty little thoughts and then you'll be better."

It suddenly clicked. Her pearl, her first pearl-

She tried to struggle. "No! You can't! White, please!"

White bent her head and increased the pressure. "Now now, Starlight. It'll all be over soon enough."

White's thumb shifted, covering her mouth, pressing into her left eye socket. Pressing, pressing, the sharp fingernail piercing her skin. White's glowing gem dominated her sight, mere feet away. Everything was growing brighter, harsh light blooming in her vision, engulfing her.

She couldn't see, there was nothing but white no! no! she couldn't

Pain burst through Pink's entire being. She screamed. She could feel everything slipping away, slipping right through her fingers. It was all being replaced by a sense of cold blankness, sung in a never-ending song.

You will fulfill your purpose. You will do as I say. Nothing else matters but me. You will fulfill your purpose. You will do as I say. Nothing else matters but me. You will fulfill your purp- no

You will- NO

She saw pink sparks.

A thousand faces, a thousand experiences filled her mind. Smiles, and laughter, and the heat of battle and comfort afterwards. And love, so much love.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME FORGET

She fought with everything she was, struggling blindly against the invading force.

She managed to get her arm free and-

crack

Everything stopped, all at once. The white light dissipated.

White's eyes were blown wide, shocked. A hairline fracture marred her gem.

Pink was frozen, a dull pain radiating from her clenched fist.

The crack widened. White's form began to glitch.

"P-Pink! Please-!"

White was afraid. Pink could save her.

But Pink Diamond did nothing. All she could think about were the gems who had suffered at White's hand, and the terrible thing she had been about to do to her.

The crack spread, faster and faster, branching out until-

There was a deafening concussive blast, and the room went dark as the dust faded away.

Pink Diamond fell soundlessly to the ground, accompanied by the tinkling music of White Diamond's shards.

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A/N: I don't know if mind-wiping is something White Diamond can actually do, but I wouldn't put it past the realm of possibility. She terrifies me.