Stars, Roses, and Scars (a Steven Universe Fanfic)

Chapter 2

It's been almost five hundred years since Rose found Agate.  The rebellion has started, calling themselves the Crystal Gems. Pearl and Agate were the only ones that knew Rose was actually Pink, but she faked her own shattering to reform as Rose Quartz. Pink's final command as a Diamond was to never speak of it to anyone. Even if they wanted to tell anyone, they couldn't, since a direct order from a Diamond had to be obeyed. If they tried, their mouths wouldn't say the words.
Pearl was mastering her sword. She would able to defeat entire battalions if she didn't throw herself in front of Rose all the time. Pearl spent much of her time with Rose, organizing battle plans, and in her free time, practicing with her sword or meditating.
Agate preferred spending her time by herself. She did allow Rose to teach her how to use her abilities safely and battle tactics in case she needed it. She let Pearl attempt to teach her a sword technique for beginners once, but Agate just wasn't focused. She did meet a Crystal Gem named Garnet. She was a fusion between a Ruby and a Sapphire, and they fused not for power, but for love, though she was much stronger than a fusion between two of the same gems. Garnet got along with Agate; she knew how to help her calm down and she respected the fact that Agate didn't like to be held. Some days they would meditate together.
There were many other gems in the Crystal Gems. The Amethysts, for whatever reason, liked the idea of Agate being a tiny Quartz. They always tried to hold Agate any chance they had, and it drove her crazy. The Aquamarines were bossing everyone around, and Agate preferred her peace. Sapphires could see futures and possibilities, and sometimes their predictions were just dumb. Some days it was, "Be careful; I saw a few possibilities of you falling and cracking your gem," or, "You might be a little too small to wield that weapon." The Rubies were just oblivious. The Bismuth's, those were okay. The other Agates seemed judgemental about her being so small and one did confuse her for an off-colored Aquamarine.
Agate was practicing her hydrokinesis when Rose approached with a Milky Quartz. "Do you have a day or three?" Rose asked. The Milky Quartz had a calm expression and her gem embedded in her left cheek.
"If you need it. Whos this?"
"This is Milky. She's one of the newest members. She needs you to show her around," Rose introduced.
"Okaaaaaay, but why me? We have hundreds of gems that can do that better than me." Out of all these years, Agate hasn't introduced one gem to the planet earth.
"I think you two could get along. And you're always alone unless you're with me, Garnet, or Pearl. It would be good for you to at least try to meet some new gems."
"But Rooooooose!"
"No buts."
"Do I have to?" Agate wailed.
"Yes." Apparently, Rose was determined. Milky watched amused.
"Fiiiiine."
"I need to help Bismuth test some weapons. Holler if you need anything," Rose said, turning to leave.
"So, uhhh, you new to earth?" Agate said, realizing she acted like a human child in front of someone.
"I've been to earth a few times, but this is my first time being here as a rebel. I just need to know rules and expectations."
"Oh. Well, there aren't very many rules. Most are just things like, "Don't start an unnecessary fight" or "Don't harm anything alive if you can help it."
"Sounds easier than Homeworld. Homeworld can get a gem so grounded in work coffee will envy them."
"What's coffee?"
"I think it's some kind of liquid humans make out of some kind of crushed bean."
"Oh. Anyway, what is Homeworld like?" Agate may know who the Diamonds are and what her purpose was, but she never actually knew what life on Homeworld was like.
"You've never been to Homeworld? How's that possible?"
"It's....complicated...." Agate said, remembering how horrifying her first day of life was.
"A lot of stuff is complicated these days."
"Yea...so what is it like?"
"It's very overbearing. Especially since Pink was shattered. Since that happened, all of the Diamonds have been shattering gems if they messed one tiny thing up. They've been giving us more work and harder tasks. Gem production increased like mad. But hey, I'm out of there and eventually, more will escape, and we're gonna win this war." Milky said that last sentence with optimism. Something Agate doesn't talk with very often.
"That's...harsh...with the Diamonds and all."
    "So what's it like here?"
    "Well, Rose lets us make our own choices. She never forces a gem to fight her war, and if they find something they enjoy doing, she encourages it. If a gem found someone they liked...she lets them show their feelings. It's very free here.''
    "Anything you like?"
    "...Stars. While listening to the sound of running water."
    Normally, it would take time for a gem to get Agate to give them answers like this, unless it was Rose, of course. Though she was close to Garnet, she still kept some secrets to herself. But there was something about this Milky Quartz that was different. She hadn't pointed out Agate's defectivity, after all.
    "Maybe we can do that together sometime," Milky suggested.
    "Sure...?" Was she just invited to spend time with someone she just met? And she said yes? She remembered it took a few decades for Rose to get Agate to actually make friends with Garnet and Pearl. But she only knew Milky for a few minutes!
    "Nice! I haven't had the chance to sit and look at the stars before," Milky looked excited. She carefully picked up a beetle.
    "You never had time to look at them!?" Agate gasped. "How are you alive!?"
    "It's tough to have a few seconds of spare time if you're a Homeworld soldier."
    Agate inhaled. "Well, we have time tonight." It was official. Homeworld was evil. How could they keep gems from watching the stars!?
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    "-and now we're gonna watch some stars tonight," Agate finished. She was telling Rose how meeting Milky went. Rose's eyes were sparkling and she looked genuinely happy for her.
    Agate wasn't surprised when Rose hugged her tightly and squealed happily. She didn't like hugs, but she learned to tolerate it when it was Rose. "You're trying something with someone new! I'm so proud!" She said, letting Agate go.
    "But I watch the stars every night. I see them any chance I get."
    "Yes, but you're watching them with someone other than me, Garnet, or Pearl! You're interacting with gems and you might actually relax."
    "Who says I'm not relaxed?"
    "Your body language, your tone, the rest of the Crystal Gems. They're worried about you."
    Agate didn't say anything. Why should anyone worry about her? They should be more worried about getting through this war.
    Suddenly a fusion that looked like a Jade, an Iolite, and a Nephrite came by. "There are a few dozen battalions by the mountains up north! We need backup!"
    "Get Snowflake, Garnet, Tiny, and Biggs. They and I will gather help," Rose commanded. The fusion nodded and ran away. Rose went to get her sword and started gathering gems.
    Pearl saw what was going on and went with Rose to rally gems.
    "Another attack?" A Condor Agate asked.
    "Yup."
    "So much for a week's peace, huh?"
    "Mhm. You one of the fighters?"
"No, I craft weapons and tools. Well, I should get going."
    Agate walked away to the tree she agreed to meet Milky at. Another night, another twelve hours with the stars. She just hoped no one would be shattered.