Diamond Times

Shattered

Six out of the eight members of the Diamond Octet were crouched on the floor of the massive room, clutching their heads and emitting continuous groans of helpless agony.

Why can't Red stop her?!

"You brought this upon yourself." White Diamond informed them calmly, sweetly, sickeningly so, a smug and disturbing smile on her face. "You couldn't possibly think that you could take me down? Really, you were doomed to fail from the very beginning."

Watermelon nearly gave up all hope on the spot; if six fully grown Diamonds couldn't even shake this colossal goddess, what hope did she, a pint sized runt, have to help at all?

White's next gloating words brought her down to Earth.

"I think you all just need a time out for a while." The Diamond finalized with satisfaction. "You've been very naughty, my little stars." She ran her knife-like nails down the side of Red's agitated face; Red growled and managed to lift her head to snap at White's pale hand.

"Ah, ah, ah." White crooned, shaking her finger in the younger Diamond's face. "That's not how we behave, my darling Red."

"Don't call me that." Red snapped. White frowned in disapproval, and when she lifted her hands to invoke even more pain on their already strained minds, Watermelon made her decision.

"No!" She shouted. Her voice echoed through the large room, and White stopped what she was doing for a moment to look for the source.

"Who is this? Another starling?" White purred. "My dear stars, did you really think you could win with someone so tiny?"

Red broke free from White's control again just long enough to shout, "Watermelon, NO!"

"Nah ah ah." White crooned for the second time, bringing her hand down to touch Watermelon's mother. "You've really been far too much trouble, Red. I think it's time to start your punishment for running away all those years ago."

"NO!" Watermelon shouted again, this time, much more demanding.

"No?" White tilted her star tipped head. "She deserves this, starlight. She's only getting the punishment she's deserved all these years for being such a bad starling to her poor mother."

"I don't care!" Watermelon shouted, looking deep into the titan's black, void-like eyes. Her dagger was concealed behind her back, lined up with her wrist and pointed down in preparation. "Red is the best mother I could ever have! She's brilliant and smart and sweet and I can't let you hurt her! I can't let you hurt my family!" Her teeth were bared as she screamed at the Head Diamond.

"Starlight, all the family you need is right here." White crooned. "Just give up and join mama White."

Watermelon felt the slight temptation to just drop her dagger and bow to her superior, but she realized it was White's mind influence and angrily stomped her feet against the floor.

"Never." Watermelon gritted dangerously, her eyes glowing dark pink with anger. "Never, will I ever join the likes of you."

White blinked at her and sighed dramatically. "If that's what you want, starlight, I suppose there isn't anything else I can do."

And with a quick movement, she bent down and smooshed Watermelon between her thumb and index fingers.

"WATERMELON!" Red shrieked, tears of sadness and fury dripping from her vividly glowing red eyes. She began to lift into the air, but White easily pulled her back into her mind control.