Chapter Text
Today, right here, right now, she was found. Spinel truly believed it this time. There was no doubt in her mind that this was going to be a perfect new beginning for her as she was carried into the Diamonds’ Ship.
Upon entering the ship, White Diamond raised her hands to let Spinel sit on her shoulder, to which Spinel caught it ahead of time and stretched her leg far off to place herself onto the shoulder of her new best friend. White Diamond fashioned a polite chuckle through her nose, still maintaining her professional stature as a leader.
It remained silent during take-off. As they were whisked away into hyper-space, Spinel, not used to the intense velocity, stumbled a bit. She stretched her limbs to wrap herself around White Diamond’s arm to prevent from slipping away.
“You’ll learn to get used to that,” said White, breaking the silence.
Blue Diamond spoke up, right after. “Oh,” she said, “we’re so excited to have you along with us, Spinel. We can’t wait to show you what wonders await you in the palace!” She was so giddy, she could cry. Although, she tried to remember and respect what Steven had told her about crying and how it would affect every other gem near her. So, she held back her tears.
“I do find that the extraction chamber will do you some good after a hard day of playing and stretching around,” Yellow Diamond chimed in. “Very exfoliating.”
"Yeah," responded Spinel with a smile, not really knowing what else to say after that. She was still pretty surprised that the Diamonds had accepted her so quickly. She didn't even have to try and fight for their approval, like she thought she would have had to do with anyone after how badly she had messed things up with Steven. They had enjoyed her company on the spot. She didn't really feel like she deserved it.
Although, she, too, was excited as Blue had expressed and was ready than ever to finally be in her new home with new friends who would love her in a way she had never been loved before.
Finally, some new friends to play with, friends who wouldn't leave her behind.
After many moments of cruising through space, Spinel perked up at hearing White Diamond's voice.
"There it is, Spinel," she said. "Welcome back home."
Spinel was caught in awe for a brief moment until a certain chill ran down her spine upon getting a real look at the planet in its entirety, something she hadn't gotten the chance to do upon taking off with the injector. The split in the planet had reminded her just how broken she was, almost just as broken as the planet had been. After a moment, she allowed herself to accept this, trying to find a sense of comfort in it. Yes, she was broken, but she wasn't defined by it just as the planet wasn't defined by it. No one can change the past or the damage that was done by the actions taken, but that doesn't mean that there can't be a remedy or redemption from it. She had known that, better than anyone, by now and, in remembering this, she began to find comfort in the broken planet.
Finally, they had landed, scattering each piece of the massive ship in their designated parking areas ending with White Diamond's head.
Exiting the ship, White Diamond left Spinel on her shoulder as they all transported in White's bubble to a part of Homeworld Spinel had only briefly passed by through a hallway before being sent to the garden where she had eventually met Pink Diamond.
The Diamonds had spent hours with Spinel, giving her a tour around the castle. They did not dare go anywhere outside of it, which was essential for the Diamonds, as far as Spinel understood.
They had ended the tour with Pink Diamond's human zoo, which had been kept as it was given the fact that, even though the humans had no reason to be there anymore since Steven brought peace and understanding amongst the gem race, he had felt that they would feel more comfortable in their natural habitat with their traditions.
"I keep this zoo maintained, personally," said Blue Diamond. "It helps me to feel a little better, knowing I could keep up something Pink had wanted. I feel a little closer to her here, even though she's gone.."
Spinel had that prickle down her spine, once again, at the mention of Pink. She tried to ignore it. She could understand their grieving process as well as she could understand her own grief. Even so, Pink was the cause for her grief, not necessarily the subject of it. As messed up as it was for her to think it, she would have rather not heard of Pink again.
After finishing the grand tour and spending some time with her in the throne room and Blue Diamond's pool, the Diamonds brought Spinel to the room she would be staying in.
There was something oddly satisfying, yet disturbing about being given Pink's old room, as well as coming to terms with the fact that this was going to be the first time she had been left alone since being in the garden. Although, she had supposed it was ideal since she was a last minute change in the original plan for Pink's son to inherit the room and she was going to have to get used to the fact that she would be left alone from time to time and it would be okay. This was her room now, no matter who it belonged to or who was supposed to get it and she understood that there were perks to come with being left alone, every once in a while.
Above all, she was home.
"We hope you find everything to your liking," said White Diamond. "The Pebbles left the room as it was when Steven was last here, but if you would like anything to be changed, they should be able to accommodate."
"Yes," said Yellow. "Be wary of them. They're all over the place."
"We'll see you very soon, Spinel," said Blue with a reassuring smile.
Spinel smiled in return, stretching her legs up to reach the Diamonds and her arms to fit around all three of them.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," said Spinel, unable to contain her elation. She collected herself and cleared her throat, bowing her head and giving them the salute of their kind. "My Diamonds."
Yellow laughed, "Oh, please, Spinel. You don't have to be that way with us."
"You're one of us now," said Blue.
They all took a bow before her as she stood with a stunned expression on her face, which then formed into a grin before the Diamonds found their way out.
As the door closed behind them, Spinel held onto her grin and was so filled with excitement that she began to jump and do stretched out back flips around the room until she made her way to the balcony and landed with her elbows placed at the edge as she gazed down upon the empire.
She was so happy, she could sing about it. For the first time in thousands of years, she was beginning to regain that hopeful feeling she had long since let go of. Nothing could ruin this perfect moment for her. Everything was okay, now. She was at peace.
After many moments of admiring a portion of the unseen parts of her home planet, Spinel unwound herself as she plopped down on her new bed with a relaxed sigh. She stared up at the ceiling for a little while until she saw something come out from a sudden small opening in the wall beside her.
She furrowed her brows and shrugged it off, for now.
Then, it happened again.
Spinel stared at the spot, fixing her eyes on it, until it happened again.
Pebbles.
They started to appear all around her from holes in the wall and the ground that they, apparently, we're creating. She noticed how they started to construct little towers around her to meet her height.
"Hello," she told them, suddenly fixed in the curiosity as they began to build small towers in the room. "Did you build everything in this room?"
They didn't respond directly, to her. They only started chattering amongst themselves.
Spinel brought herself down to their level. "I love what you've done with the place," she said to them with a small smile. She could tell they were expecting Steven and not her to show up.
"Uh… I'm Spinel. Sorry I'm not what you were expecting, but I promise I'm friendly." she tried reaching out a finger to greet one of them, but they reacted in fear and retreated back beneath the surface. Soon enough, the rest of them followed.
Spinel let out a frustrated grunt, realizing that not everyone would be as friendly upon first glance as the Diamonds were.
She, then, heard a knock at her door.
"Come in," she told them.
Entering the room was a Pearl that had Spinel stunned where she stood. This Pearl was pink, like her, like her former best friend. The first other pink gem she had seen, besides Pink and herself. She had a crack in her eye, like her form was damaged, but not enough to have poofed her. She figured this was because she had once belonged to Pink, but something must have happened to her that got her replaced with the Pearl back on Earth with Steven.
She didn't know why, but, for some strange reason, she began to feel nervous around this Pearl as if there was something about her that made her feel like she couldn't control the tremble in her fingers or the impediments in her speech.
"Uhh.. Wh- Hi! Name is my Spinel er.. Sorry haha…" She cleared her throat then twisted her arm in a Spiral from where she stood to extend her hand out to the Pearl and greet her. "Nice to meetcha! I'm Spinel and you're a Pearl- I means... And you… are… a Pearl." She slapped her free palm to her face, mumbling "Sorry," underneath it.
The Pink Pearl ignored her extended hand and bowed before her. "Forgive the intrusion, dear Spinel. The Diamonds sent me to make sure I could take care of anything you may need or answer any questions you may have."
Spinel was a bit surprised, given how the Diamonds had informed her that each gem was now free to do as they please, equal to every other gem. "... But I thought... " she began, but couldn't form the words.
"Yes," she responded, already knowing what she was going to say. "Us Pearls are now free to live our lives freely and equally amongst other gems, however, it is with great loyalty and grateful servitude that we still answer to our Diamonds when they are in need of assistance."
"Alright," responded Spinel. Then, it stayed quiet for a few moments before she realized that the Pink Pearl was waiting for an answer.
"Oh. Uh…" Spinel had so many questions, many began to form as she allowed herself to revel in the thought, but she could only fully form few into words, which the Pink Pearl was happy to answer, although her blank expression didn't show it.
"Is there anything else?"
Spinel snapped out of the daze she was in, half paying attention to the answers she was being given as she was distracted by the physical similarities of pigment in the Pearl and how it correlated with Pink, causing her to revel in the thought of her.
"Oh, I uh… guess that's it." Spinel looked away, pensively, trying to form another question or any other reason to get the Pearl to stay. For some reason, she lost the comforts of being alone as soon as they'd come.
Although, the Pearl bowed and said, "I'm happy to be of assistance," before leaving and, as the doors closed behind her, Spinel's forced grin had faltered into a desolate frown as she had fully felt the same wave of loneliness from the garden wash over her.