Steven Universe: The Diamond Legacy

Chapter 10

The next day continued as nothing had ever happened. I woke up and ate breakfast, going to work after lunch where I'd stay until six at night. My parents had acted normal so I would feel better, I knew they were trying to assure me that things were okay, but the tension and fear rippled beneath. Not just from the argument, but the events in the mountains.

The whole day I couldn't take my mind off it. Even when I was working at the orchards my body felt like it was on autopilot, doing the tasks i knew from habit but my mind always drifted on the events of last night.

"Nora are you listening to me?"

I jerked when Skyla tapped on my shoulder, nearly dropping the seeds I was meant to give to her. "Sorry! Sorry. I didn't hear you. I was lost in thought." The Lapis Lazuli gave me a look of concern. "You've been zoning out a lot today. Is everything all right?"

"Yeah." I exhaled a deep breath. " I had some family drama last night. We're all on good terms now but I can't easily forget about it. I'll be okay."

Skyla nodded in understanding. We were on lunch break and I decided to sit with her on a bench under the apple trees. I'd brought my lunch of a double jam sandwich (blueberry and raspberry) with cookies and iced tea. Skyla had a lunch of strawberries and sunflower seeds. (Gems don't need to eat but some enjoy it, and Skyla said it gave her the excuse to sit and keep me company on break.)

"Hey Skyla, do you know any Gems called Aragonite and Gypsum?" She looked at me perplexed. "No."

"What about a Gem named Lady Tanzanite?"

"Not the slightest clue. Why?"

"I'm wondering if they have anything to do with my grandma's rebellion thousands of years ago, if they were fighting on Homeworld's side and had a grudge against my family."

" I wouldn't know any of that Nora, I'm an End-Era Gem." I nodded understanding.

End-Era Gems were the last series of Gems to emerge from the Kindergartens, shortly after the beginning of Era 3. They were last Gems ever to be created and knew only of the world without the Empire, free to do as they wanted without the memories of the war or tyrannical hierarchy of the centuries before . The End-Era Gems were often called 'Kindergartners' by older Gems, a derogatory name referring to the birthplace of their race and the extremely young age of the generation. (Gems lived thousands of years, and this series was less than thirty years old, practically babies in the span of their lives despite being born as full-formed adults.)

"I wonder if Gala does?" I asked.

Skyla didn't answer, looking intently under the shade of the apple trees. "Nora. Isn't that your pet?" I peered out at the shape she was pointing at, a large shadow as big as the trees themselves. The distinctly feline shape turned his head towards me and prowled my direction.

"Lion?"

The magical beast rubbed against my side, head butting me in the chest. "Awww !" Skyla giggled. "What's he doing here?"

"I have no idea." I answered muffled when Lion rubbed his mane into my mouth. "Ahhh cut it out! Lion, why are you here!?" He bowed his head and I immediately understood. "You've got something in your mane?" He chuffed and blinked. I guess so.

I reached my hand into his mane, pulling out a note from his head. "Did I mention my family pet has a pocket dimension in his mane?" I chuckled at Skyla's gaping mouth. I looked at the note. "Hmm, this is Mom's handwriting."

Lion is going to stay with you for the day. I will explain when you get home.

"Nora. Is everything okay?"