The New Diamond (a Steven Universe fanfiction)

Spinels Discovery

"One month. One month since lovely Spinel came to stay with us. And one month since Steven rejected his throne."
White Diamond glared down at Blue, Yellow and Spinel, who had been unfortunately caught in the middle of the Diamond's latest argument.
"White, be patient," said Blue. "We've been searching for a new Pink Diamond-,"
"and the process would go a lot quicker if you pitched in!" Yellow interjected angrily.
"I already explained while I can't. While you two are out flying across space-,"
"per your orders-,"
"- I am running Homeworld in your absence. I would really love to join you, but if one of us doesn't stay here, our planet will descend into chaos!"
"Fine!" Yellow Diamond drew herself up angrily. "Then you go out and search for a suitable replacement Diamond, and Blue and I will run Homeworld. We managed fine without you for a whole era, we can survive a little longer."
Shocked and hurt, White Diamond opened her mouth to argue back. Spinel quickly intervened.
"I don't understand. Why can't I be the new Pink Diamond?"
The largest Diamond bit her lip. "You aren't really... suitable Diamond material, starlight."
"What do you mean?" the Gem demanded angrily.
Blue Diamond laughed. "Can you imagine yourself sitting on a throne, dealing with Gem politics or opening balls?"
Spinel laughed a bit too, and then sighed. "I just don't feel like I'm contributing much... I feel like a big drag..."
"Of course you're not!" Blue insisted, smiling at her. "Without you, we'd still be up here, miserable and lonely despite being nicer. You've improved our lives no end, Spinel."
"Blue is right," added Yellow. "You don't have to contribute anything! Your being here is help enough."
Spinel sighed, staring at the ground. She wished she could be even more helpful and do anything other than loaf around and to the occasional handstand for Yellows entertainment.
"What are you thinking about, starlight?" White asked, scooping her up.
"It's just a little boring for me, as well. I mean, my entire existence revolves around playing games but with you three busy all the time, I have no one to play with. It's just really mundane."
"If you like, I could get Pearl to play with you," Blue Diamond smiled.
"No, that's alright, BD." Spinel hopped down and began to walk out of the room. "There are so many different things I want, but I'm not going to get them."
"Like what?"
"Like a friend. A proper use." She cocked her head, grinning. "A colony."
"What?!" blasted Yellow.
"It was a joke, it was a joke," clarified the pink Gem hastily.
Yellow crossed her arms. "Well it wasn't funny."
Spinel gave an apologetic grin and exited the room, leaving the Diamonds to return to their argument.

As soon as she left the room, the Gem sighed.   She extended her arms up, and pulled herself up to look out of the window. The noises ceased and the three giants came out. White, looked dissatisfied, Yellow smug. Blue just sighed, shaking her head.
Immediately, White scooped Spinel up again. "No use in just staring out there like that, starlight. You know you're not allowed out there without an escort."
"Why can't one of you come with me?"
"We're busy."
"One of the Pearls?"
"They're busy, too."
"Being manslaves," muttered the Gem.
"What was that?" Yellow Diamond demanded.
"Nothing, Yellow. I'm just happy they came back from Earth."
Yellow frowned.
"If you want someone to go outside with you, why not get your own Pearl?" Blue asked.
"Because it's slavery. I don't encourage Gems to encourage other Gems to waste their entire lives going "yes my Gem no my Gem whatever you want my Gem!"
"Spinel, we've been over this," Yellow frowned. "Pearls enjoy spending their lives in service."
"Because they're brainwashed! Just like everyone else on this planet!"
"Perhaps if she had a friend, she would stop all this nonsense." Yellow murmured to Blue.
Spinel bit her lip. It was true. Everyone on this planet was happy- apart from her. She just wanted to be able to go outside, and to have a friend to play with.
Suddenly, an idea slapped Spinel in the face (she slapped it back and Yellow quickly shattered it for assaulting her.)
"Hey, Blue, Yellow, can I come out and look for a new Pink Diamond with you?" Spinel said, looking at the poor idea sympathetically.
"Actually, White's doing it now." Yellow said, smirking and nudging the other Diamond, who sighed, and then plastered a fake smile to her face. "Well, I better be going! See you later!"
Spinel hopped onto her shoulder only to be brushed off.
"You are staying put."
"What! Why?"
"For the same reason you are not allowed out of the palace. Some Gems have become jealous that you are staying with us."
"So what does that matter if you're going to other planets!"
White hesitated. "Starlight, I-,"
"No, I get it. You don't want me to copy Pink."
"That's not what I-,"
"You think I'd run off to another planet and leave you here alone."
"Spinel, I-,"
"You think," said Spinel, voice catching for a second before pouring out in a rush of anger. "YOU THINK I'M LIKE HER!"
"Spinel, that's not true!" Blue cried. "You're-,"
"I'm what? Barely adequate? Here to replace Pink Diamond? Is that why you put up with me? Because I remind you of her?"
The Diamonds hesitated. Yellow broke the silence with "well, yes, but-,"
"But what! I'll never be as good as her? Is that what you were going to say?"
"She was going to say that we love you too," said Blue Diamond gently. "Not just because you remind us of Pink but because you're so wonderfully... Spinel."
The little Gem paused for a moment, reflecting on these words, before glancing away. "Yeah right. You love me. Yet you still don't trust me."
"Spinel-,"
"Save your breath. I'm going to the garden. Don't follow me. I want to be alone."
"Starlight, if you like, you can come with me, tried White.
"No, thank you. I don't want to travel with someone who probably won't let me put one foot outside the ship."
The Diamonds watched in agonised silence as their little friend walked away.

Spinel stomped along the corridor, growling under her breath. Something like "- sick of them.... don't trust me... spend five minutes playing a game with me? No..."
This went on all the way to the warp pad, which she immediately hopped onto, blasting away at the speed of light. Less than a minute later, she was standing at the top of the staircase that led down to her overgrown garden. Humming the lyrics of "Drift Away", she wandered through the long grass and between the cracked pillars, remembering with sadness her former best friend and what she did.
Suddenly, the Gem heard a long wail and suddenly noticed the wreckage of a ship. How could she have missed it before? Quickly, Spinel ran over to the remains of the rocket and began searching through it for the source of the noise. Suddenly she noticed it. A small human, young too, by the looks of it, was lying in the wreckage, wailing loudly. As soon as the youngster noticed Spinel, she visibly brightened, and held out her thin arms. "Mama!"
Spinel was about to reach down for the infant when she noticed something strange. Her eyes.
Pinks eyes.
Clapping her hand to her mouth, the pink Gem turned and sprang through the garden back to the Warp Pad, with only one thought in her mind.
Get to the Diamonds.
ASAP.

"Spinel, are you sure about this?" Blue asked.
"Just trust me, BD," the pink girl replied.
When Spinel had found White, she was just preparing to leave. It hadn't taken much to convince her to postpone her departure. Together, the two of them had tracked down the others and told them to come to the garden
"because I found something you won't believe!" Spinel gushed.
Now, the Gem was leading the Diamonds to the Warp Pad. The smaller gem could almost feel the other's curiosity. Spinel practically bounced up to the pad leading to her garden, while the others just stepped on like normal Gems. When they arrived, Blue and Yellow, who had only seen a small part of it, looked shocked at how it appeared now. White Diamond looked around with an obvious look of disgust on her face. "This is where you played with Pink?"
"But it's so... dilapidated," said Blue.
"I'm sure we made it nicer than this!" Yellow frowned.
"It used to look a lot prettier than it does now." Spinel explained. "It kinda went to seed after Pink left. But that's not the point. Follow me."
Hesitantly, the three giants tailed Spinel as she walked confidently across the ruined garden towards the wreckage. As soon as it was in sight, White Diamond clapped her hand to her mouth. "Oh my stars, a ship crash!"
Blue strode over in just a few seconds, bending down to peer at the twisted pieces of metal.
"This is what you wanted to show us? A wrecked ship?" Spinel could practically hear Yellow Diamond rolling her eyes.
"No." The Homeworld Gem reached inside, carefully lifting out the baby. Blue gasped. "Can I...?"
Spinel offered the baby up to the giant, who took it carefully. "Oh, how precious..."
White and Yellow came over to investigate, with the latter asking "what is it?"
"It's a human infant, I think." Blue Diamond smiled as she lifted the baby girl carefully up to eye level.
"Why did you want to show us a carbon based baby?!" White demanded.
Spinel smiled. "Look closer."
Yellow snatched the infant from her colleague, narrowing her eyes as she peered at it. Suddenly, they went huge. "Pinks eyes! She has Pinks eyes!"
"Pinks eyes?" Blue curiously peered over Yellows shoulder.
"Well, this is great! It saves me a trip!" White exclaimed."
"Wait, what?" Spinel exclaimed, but the other two were nodding like sheep.
"A baby Diamond! How adorable!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Blue. We're not putting a baby on Pink Diamonds throne."
"Then what are we doing to do with her?"
"Well I don't know!"
"Well, we could-." Blue hesitated before saying "we could keep her. Raise her to be a Diamond."
"Wonderful idea, Blue." White was very receptive to the idea.
"I can't wait to start!"
"Of course you can't."
Spinel collected the infant. "We're going to have to give you a name, little girl."
"Name? Nora, Nora!"
"Nora? Spinel tilted her head to one side. "Then Nora it is. We're going to be best friends, aren't we, Nora?"
"Mama!" The baby girl beamed. Spinel smiled. "I'll take that as a yes."
She stepped onto the Warp Pad, a warm, content feeling filling her. "We're going to have so much fun."