Opal, Ruby, Sapphire AU | Steven Universe

Past-Vision

"I predict I will meet my Diamond soon," Padparadscha smiled, gazing up at Pink. Pink's eyes sparkled. Yellow was scandalised.

        "A pink Sapphire?" she murmured, unbelieving. "But. . . this is unprecedented!"

        "Wow. . . you're so. . . special!" Pink breathed, and took the tiny Gem's gloved hands into her own. "You're perfect! Yellow, look! She's just like me!"

        Yellow remained unconvinced.

        Padparadscha held onto her Diamond's hands and gave a small curtsey. "I am glad that I please you, my Diamond."

        "Of course you do!" Pink cried. "How many pink Sapphires do you think are made every millennia? I think you're the first!"

        She scooped her up, inciting a fit of delighted giggles. "Oh, I can't wait for you to meet Pearl! She'll love you just as much as I do!"

        "Pink," Yellow said uncertainly. ". . . This Sapphire was made in a hurry. Are you sure she will be able to do her job?"

        "Yes!" Pink smiled. "That and more! My own pink Sapphire!"

        "I predict my Diamond will invite me to meet with her Pearl!" Padparadscha said, delightedly.

        Yellow frowned.

✧✧✧

"I predict it will be a beautiful evening on Homeworld," Padparadscha announced.

        From her seat on the balcony, Pink Diamond glanced out over the landscape and smiled. "You're right as always, Padparadscha!"

        "Pink, Pink!" her Pearl cried, prancing up to them. "I know it's only been a few hours, but. . . would you like to play? I want to try out the ribbons you gave me!"

        "Of course!" Pink grinned, hopping down from the railing, and was struck with an idea. Excitedly, she turned to Padparadscha. "What if we customised you, too? We could dress you up! I could. . . find you a weapon, like Pearl!"

        Padparadscha looked uncertain. "Do I displease you, my Diamond?"

        "No, no, of course not," she said softly, and knelt down to meet her hidden eye. "But. . . I think you should be allowed to have some fun, too. Would you like that?"

        "Yes," the smaller Gem replied immediately, and behind them, Pearl clapped.

        "Yay!" she cried. "We can leave right now! I'll secure a warp!"

        Beyond the tall doors to Pink's room, she heard loud footsteps and quailed. "Oh no. Blue and Yellow."

        The doors slid open a second later to reveal the aforementioned Diamonds standing tall. Pearl withdrew nervously to stand against the wall. Padparadscha remained beside her Diamond.

        "I predict Yellow Diamond will be displeased with me," the small Gem said nervously.

        Yellow shot Pink Diamond a pointed look. "You can't have a Sapphire like this! She's off-colour, Pink!"

        "That's not her fault!" the youngest Diamond snapped back. "I like her! I want to keep her! She's. . . I'll find a use for her! I promise!"

        "Pink. . ." Beside her, Blue Diamond pinched the bridge of her nose. The gesture reminded Pink her of her counterpart. "If you want to be a Diamond you can't have defective Gems in your Court. It's already been a decade. Sapphires are made to tell the future, not the past! We know what has happened already!"

        "Thank you, my Diamond," Padparadscha said, curtseying to Pink. Blue sighed.

        "Just, please, let me keep her! It's not her fault she came out as a Padparadscha!" Pink paused, eyes welling. "I'm defective, but you didn't throw me out."

        Blue took a step back, eyes wide. Tentatively, Yellow took her hands in her own and growled. "You are a Diamond, Pink. By definition you cannot be defective."

        Pink glanced at the tall, spiky-haired mural on the wall and said nothing.

        "We need to take her, Pink," Blue said, voice unbearably soft. The youngest Diamond did not resist as the older knelt down, taking the pink Sapphire into her hands. She stood and turned away, avoiding Pink's heartbroken gaze.

        "We already have another Sapphire for you," Yellow assured, and led Blue out of the room.

        "Goodbye, my Diamond," came Padparadscha's voice, already retreating down the hall.

        The doors slid shut behind them. Pink Diamond stood, fists clenched, in the centre of the room.

        Her Pearl edged nervously closer.

        And Pink screamed.

✧✧✧

Her new Sapphire had been glued to her side for a couple of months now. She was perfect in every sense of the word, hair long and tufty, dress emblazoned with the Court insignia, and the gem on her palm a deep blue. She had become her shadow since White had taken Pink's Pearl away.

        In the beginning, Blue and Yellow had insisted on creating a new one for her, but Pink turned down their every offer. She didn't want another Pearl. And she didn't need another. Pink Pearl was gone, and she would not replace her with some cheap, tri-coloured copy. She'd heard whispers of a new Pearl made for her already, but she had allegedly been given to some high-ranking Sapphire instead.

        "Are you thinking of something, my Diamond?" her own Sapphire asked her, seated comfortably on her vanity.

        Pink sighed, inspecting one of the smooth rocks she had collected. "I just. . . It's so lonely, all the time. If I could just have some friends. . ."

        Sapphire seemed resigned. "You have me."

        "I know." She gave her companion a tired smile, but said nothing else.

        Sapphire perked up a little. "Do you know how the other Diamonds create Gems, my Diamond?"

        Pink's sad eyes flicked up to her. "They use their essence, don't they?" She reached out, gloved fingers brushing a pink vial on her vanity. "That hasn't worked for me. Maybe it's because I'm defective."

        "You are not defective," Sapphire said, firmly. "Your tears are perfectly capable, I've seen that myself. But new Gems aren't created with the essence of just one Diamond. It's a combination of all three— or all four."

        Pink paused. "You mean, if I. . ." The pebble was still in her hand, and she turned it over. "If I ask for. . .?"

        Sapphire nodded, and, eyes lighting up, Pink leaped to her feet. "I'll— I'll be right back!"

        "You'll be back sooner than you think," Sapphire smiled.