Fractures

11. Reunited

- Pink Diamond goes home.

---

The ship gently touched down on the barren, dead ground. Once upon a time, it had been a gigantic pair of legs, but it had been dismantled and reassembled into a more respectable form. An insignia was molded into its side; a rose, with a square diamond at the center of its petals.

The gangplank extended out, and a pink gem stepped out alone. She was tall, barefoot, with a graceful dress and a lot of fluffy hair. She paused, grimacing at the sick feeling churning in her stomach.

This was not the first completed colony she had stepped foot on. She wanted to stop at each of the other diamonds' colonies to search for off-colors and other gems that had been left behind and welcome them into her court. She also scooped up abandoned supplies, or took what she needed. To their credit, her sisters did nothing to hinder her, even though she sometimes interfered with their operations.

But this place, this place was different. All she could see was that which had once been alive here.

This was Earth.

She stood frozen, trembling. She would normally go with her scouting crew to help search and explain things, but she didn't think she could manage this time.

Gems began to emerge behind her. A long caterpillar-like fusion put her hand on the diamond's shoulder. "We'll handle things, dear," she assured.

Pink Diamond nodded, moving out of the way. She watched the others set up camp, too dangerously close to shutting down to assist them.

Ru, Tile, Rhodonite, Fluorite, and various others went off to begin combing through this sector. She worried, though she knew they could take care of themselves now. Padparadscha stayed with her, clinging to her dress. Pink was glad; she needed at least one of her closest friends to be nearby right now.

There was nothing left, not even a single plant to sing to her soul. There was only gray dust and rigid cracks and chasms.

Tonight, she would breathe life back into the planet with her stories.

---

Pink Diamond was looking through a manifest when a voice cut through the peace and quiet of the camp.

"Rose!"

She stiffened, the manifest falling out of her suddenly limp grasp. She knew that voice, she knew that voice!

Many seconds passed before she dared turn around. The gem was ranting and raving at her in an entirely too familiar way.

Her hands covered her mouth as she met the gem's gaze. Close behind her were Ru and Tile, looking abashed, accompanied by a baffled jasper with mottled, earthy colors painting her skin.

The impassioned gem also froze, shocked into silence by the damage on Rose's face.

"Bismuth...! Biggs...!" the diamond whispered, trembling as she fell to her knees. A steady stream of tears fled her wide-open eyes as she bent so far down that her forehead touched the dirt. Her arms wrapped around her middle, grasping tightly enough to leave bruises as she broke down completely.

The gems around her, all kinds of off-colors and fusions, were not afraid to approach Rose. Many laid their hands on her back or rubbed her shoulders, offering comfort. They eyed the intruder disapprovingly, wondering why and how she had upset their diamond.

"Oh no, everyone!" Padparadscha spoke up. "I foresee that an old friend of Pink Diamond's will confront her and cause a severe emotional meltdown!"