Steven Universe: The Diamond Legacy

Chapter 9

Amethyst landed on the mountainside with the Warp Pad. With a flare of her wings she changed to her normal shape, hugging me tightly and telling me to get home as soon as I could before transforming again and flying off to the aid of her comrades.

"I should be there." I murmured looking out at the now dark valley. It's my fault they are risking their lives for me, but there was nothing else I could do. I stepped on the Warp Pad and arrived on the outskirts of Gardenville. I got nervous, why didn't it leave me on the one in the clearing?  Then I remembered, I disabled that warp pad when I fled. It won't be operational again for another twenty four hours.

It's better this way, the last thing I needed was to deal with a million questions and reprimands from my parents right now. How the hell am I gonna explain this to them? 'Oh hi Mom and Dad, sorry I ran away after you broke my heart into a million little gem fragments, by the way I accidentally poofed a runaway Pearl and now there are two murderous Gems out to get me!' Yeah this isn't going to end well.

I held the Pearl's gem in my hand as I slowly meandered into town, walking silently under the streetlamps passing warmly lit houses and dark fields. A dog barked somewhere off in the distance,  and someone was having a raucous house party a street away. I was the only one out at this hour, but I wasn't scared. This was a safe neighborhood.

My stomach growled in a throbbing ache. It occurred to me I hadn't eaten anything decent in hours. Using the map on my phone, I followed the route to a local Quikkie pharmacy. It was quiet inside, which was okay because I didn't want to deal with anyone else tonight. Taking  a ready made club sandwich, chips, and soda, I paid up front at the register without saying more than I needed to.

On a table outside I ravenously dug into my late night meal. Savoring each bite while trying to ease myself into not eating so fast and getting a bellyache. I felt a resurgence of energy with food in my stomach, but my mind was wiped. I didn't want to go home right now and I was fine with that. I'll stay here until I'm ready, however long that takes. I'm in a safe place, I know where I am, and when I'm capable , I'll make my way home.

I discreetly took the gemstone out of my pocket, hiding it from view the palm of my hand."Why were they after you anyway?" It would be my stupid luck if I harbored an intergalactic criminal. This day can't get any better can it?

My skin flashed pink when a police car pulled into the lot, flashing it's lights and nearly disorienting me. A jolt of fear went through my nerve and I quickly hid the Pearl's gemstone in my pocket.

"Hello. Is your name Nora?"  A Ruby policewoman approached me. I clenched the gemstone and nodded.  The Gem made a curt nod and called to the other policewoman in the driver's seat. "She's here."

The woman got out of the car and approached me. I flinched, easing out of my seat ready to bolt. "It's okay. You're not in any trouble." She reassured in a voice one would speak towards a frightened child.  "May I sit down?" I nodded and pointed at the bench across  from me. I squeezed the stress ball when they both sat down.

"Your parents are really worried about you." The Ruby cop said. "They want you to come home." "I don't want to go home." I said quietly. "I did something very wrong." 

"No."The woman said quietly. "You didn't do anything wrong. You were upset. They aren't mad at you anymore, they're very sorry about hurting your feelings."

"I don't want to go home."

"Then why don't we go back to the police station?" The woman cop suggested. "It's very late to be out at this hour."

My skin flashed pinked. "You're arresting me!?" The officers backed away. "No no no!" The Ruby exclaimed waving her hands. "We just want to take you where you'll be safe! We don't arrest kids for running away from their parents. We know you've had a big fight and you're very upset, but you can't stay out here all night."